To make a photo, you need two ingredients: light and time. How you use them is up to the person who releases the shutter. Yesterday, I decided to experiment with some new lights and really take my time. I used Lume Cube light sticks and a cube — all adjustable through an app where I can dial in whatever colors I want.

Exposure times ranged from eleven seconds to three minutes, depending on the shot. The model is Chloe, someone I’ve been photographing for years. She was a fantastic partner for this project, bringing her own ideas and suggestions to the table.

I’m actually in each of these photos too, moving and spinning lights while Chloe stood perfectly still until I called it clear. I’ve got even more ideas I want to try with this setup — and I’m always looking for more models. If you’re interested, drop me a note!

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I worked for Roche Bros. Supermarket for about 6 years in my teens. One of the best jobs I ever had, I met the owners Pat and Bud Roche on a few occasions and they treated me with respect and as if I were an adult, and I remember them that way to this day. So watching the Demoulas story unfold brings a lot of those memories back, especially the idea of standing behind someone who has treated you right. Now in full disclosure, I kick and scream if my wife tries to drag me to Market Basket.  I can’t stand the place, purely on the amount of people there at any given time. The impatient, introvert in me can barely deal with the parking lot, forget about navigating the masses in the aisles. Though, today was a great day to visit, I had the place to myself… it was just me and one other customer. I am not taking sides here, I just like to shoot abandoned properties, and that is what this is. A business abandoned by both parties, the owners who have walked away from listening to the voice of their workers and workers who have abandoned their posts in the name of Arthur T Demoulas.  For the sake of all involved I hope that this is rectified soon.

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My wife and I found ourselves in Westfield, Massachusetts today. While talking to some old friends, I was told to head down to the next town over and check out the view of a small mountain from a bridge that crosses the Westfield River. I believe the directions given were ”if you pass the abandoned mill, you’ve gone too far”.  I’m pretty sure that my wife realized as soon as I heard the word “abandoned” there be no doubt that we be heading that way. So we found the bridge and it was a beautiful view of a small mountain beside the river, but unfortunately the lighting and the time of day just did not make for a nice photo. Besides, I was more interested in this building. It was a beautiful thing, vacant, historic and all locked up.  There was one guy working inside, I saw him walk in while I was on the bridge. It looks like someone is in the process of fixing up, or renovating the building. If I had more time, or even if my wife was not with me, I would try to work my way into the building somehow, but instead will be happy with this shot. From looking in the windows you could see the wide open space, the old architecture, brick walls, it was very cool.  Slowly these buildings are disappearing, either being renovated and turned into something different, or simply being destroyed or burnt. I would take any chance I could have to get in some and photograph them before they’re gone. Thanks to Gianca & Amy for the suggestion, I hope to get out your way again, take some more shots and visit longer.

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1/160sec, f10, ISO400, 98mm, Nikon D700