Final Project

For my final project in Professor Southwick's Advanced Photojournalism class I followed Lori Brown of North Attleboro, MA. Brown has been battling cancer for the past 6 years and just began chemotherapy treatment again to treat tumors that reappeared in May 2009.

Update

Hello all!

I'm so sorry for the lack of posts this past month and a half. It's been a hectic semester to say the least, and I fell behind posting all of the stories I've been doing for my Advanced Photojournalism class. Below are the last four that I handed in for class - we have everything from rowers in the Head of the Charles to a bridal boutique that gives back to the community. As the semester comes to a close and I look back on all of the stories I can't help but realize how much I've grown as a photographer. I've learned to open up and let my guard down, and in turn, got to meet some pretty fantastic people. I hope you enjoy the stories and be sure to come back in a couple of weeks - I'll be posting my final project!

-Kristyn

Viva Amore

Located at 818 Mt. Auburn Street in Watertown, MA, Viva Amore bridal boutique opened in July 2009 with a self-proclaimed different business model than the typical dress store. Owners Mena Tuccinardi, 50, and her daughter Anita Dunn, 27, wanted to open a store that gave back to the community and made buying a wedding dress affordable in the bad economy. “When I got married, I wanted a nice dress, but I didn’t want to pay that much money,” Dunn said. Tuccinardi and Dunn developed a system that allows them to take dresses from high-end boutiques looking to move product and sell them at 50% - 75% off. In giving back to the community, they most recently gave free wedding dresses to military brides and plan to work with the area high schools to give prom dresses to girls who can’t afford them.

Owner of Viva Amore Anita Dunn, 27, and her mother, fellow owner Mena Tuccinardi, 50, search for an e-mail from a woman in Iraq that they recently sent a dress to as Tuccinardi’s father Frank Tuccinardi, 89, looks on. Mena and Dunn corresponded with the woman through e-mail, sending her pictures of dresses before sending the one she chose to her family for when she returns. In honor of Veterans Day, Dunn and Tuccinardi gave away free wedding dresses to military brides. Dunn’s brother is a former Marine who now serves in the fire department in Medford, MA.
Owner of Viva Amore bridal boutique in Watertown, MA, Mena Tuccinardi, 50, helps bride-to-be Denise Ricci, 27, of Easton, MA try on a dress on Friday afternoon. Ricci heard about the boutique through a friend that emphasized their generosity to the community and good customer service. “We’re really laid back,” said Tuccinardi, “we don’t pressure. This is a big decision, we try to have fun with it.”
Viva Amore owner Mena Tuccinardi, 50 (right) helps bride-to-be Denise Ricci, 27 (left), try on a dress as Ricci’s friend Theresa Bradt, 36, looks on on Friday afternoon. Tuccinardi prides her store on striking a balance between giving customers privacy and giving them an honest opinion about how a dress looks.

Viva Amore owner Mena Tuccinardi, 50, takes a break in between clients to dance with her father Frank Tuccinardi, 89. Frank lost his vision and hearing a year ago and joins his daughter and granddaughter at their bridal boutique during the week. “He’s our mascot,” Mena said. Mena helps Frank tango in preparation for her daughter and co-owner of Viva Amore, Anita’s wedding next May.

Owner of Viva Amore Mena Tuccinardi, 50, puts dresses back on the racks after they have been tried on by bride-to-be Denise Ricci, 27 (not pictured). Tuccinardi and her daughter and co-owner, Anita Dunn, started Viva Amore by selling used wedding dresses and have grown into selling only new dresses that have been moved by high-end boutiques. “We started with a different idea and it just blew up,” Tuccinardi said. Tuccinardi and Dunn plan to give away Prom dresses for less fortunate girls in the area come Prom season.

Vegetraian Food Festival

On Sunday, November 1, 2009, the Boston Vegetarian Society held the 14th Annual Vegetarian Food Festival at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center in Roxbury, MA. Vendors from all over the United States came to Boston to promote vegetarian food and products. Among them was Steve Meyerowitz, 60, of the Berkshires - also known as “Sproutman”. Meyerowitz develops and enhances ways to grow greens and sprouts without soil, something he refers to as apartment gardening. A patron tries sprouts set out for sampling at Steve Meyerowitz’s (center, left) Sproutman table while Meyerowitz, 60, and his assistant, Dan Hegerich, 44, explain sprouting to another patron at the Boston Vegetarian Food Festival at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center on Sunday afternoon. Meyerowitz was at the festival “promoting the ultimate in local agriculture - gardening in a kit, without soil,” he said.

“Sproutman” Steve Meyerowitz, 60, (left) and his assistant Dan Hegerich, 44, (right) label sprout bags for sampling by patrons at the Boston Vegetarian Food Festival at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center in Roxbury, MA on Sunday afternoon. Meyerowitz became a vegetarian in 1975 and started his sprout business in 1977. Meyerowitz invented his sprout bag as a solution for mold that would grow in jars used for sprouting. His bags cost $10 at a special festival price and last upwards of 10 years. According to Meyerowitz, about 1 pound of sprouts will grow in one bag after 5 days of being dipped in water twice a day for 30 seconds

“Sproutman” Steve Meyerowitz, 60 (center) and his assistant Dan Hegerich, 44 (left) explain the process of sprouting to Catherine Bent, 41, of New York, NY (right) at the Boston Vegetarian Food Festival at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center in Roxbury. MA on Sunday afternoon. “It takes one week to go from seed to salad,” Meyerowitz said, and provides a “good source of year round organic food.”

“Sproutman” Steve Meyerowitz, 60 (left) takes a break from promoting his sprout products to sample food from other vendors at the Boston Vegetarian Food Festival in the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center in Roxbury, MA on Sunday afternoon. Meyerowitz sampled Organic Raw Sauerkraut and Nori seaweed from Abbie Richardson, 20, (center, left) and her mother Jean Richardson, 59, (right) from Gold Mine Natural Food Co. in San Diego, CA. “[I want] to eat lower on the food chain,” Meyerowitz said. “The original source of nutrition is plant food - even fish eat algae. The lower you eat on the food chain, the purer it is and I want purity.”

Mike Kissinger, 25, and his fiancé Carrie Chandler, 24, (left) of Framingham, MA taste bean sprouts from “Sproutman” Steve Meyerowitz’s table at the Boston Vegetarian Food Festival in the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center in Roxbury, MA on Sunday afternoon. Meyerowitz (center) sells his products online and has regular clients both in the United States and overseas. His products are also sold in health food stores rather than large grocery chains because it is, as he calls it, a “niche product.”

Terrier Tip-Off

On Friday, October 23, 2009, Boston University Athletics hosted a red-carpet themed season kick-off event for the men’s and women’s basketball teams. After a dance performance by Hip-Hop group Status Quo and the introduction of the women’s basketball team, the fans geared up to meet the 2009-2010 men’s team. After a disappointing end to last year’s season and many changes in the off season - including the firing of veteran coach Dennis Wolff - Terrier Nation anxiously anticipated their first look at the revamped men’s basketball team. Coach Patrick Chambers used his brief introduction during Terrier Tip-Off to give the BU basketball fans a preview of what to expect this season. Boston University Men’s Basketball Head Coach Patrick Chambers waves to the crowd as he enters Case Gymnasium on Friday night during the season kick-off event, Terrier Tip-Off. Chambers came to coach the BU men’s team after veteran coach Dennis Wolff was fired at the close of last season. Chambers previously served for 5 years as the associate head coach for Villanova University.

Boston University Men’s Basketball Head Coach Patrick Chambers throws t-shirts into the audience and yells “stand up!” at the fans in the stands at Case Gymnasium on Friday night during Terrier Tip-Off. Chambers encouraged the fans to come out to the men’s basketball home opener against George Washington University on November 17, 2009 at Agganis Arena.

Boston University Men’s Basketball Sophomore forward Jake O’Brien (left) greets teammates (left to right) sophomore Jeff Pelage, junior Patrick Hazel, junior Darryl Partin, junior Matt Griffin and sophomore B.J. Bailey at center court in Case Gymnasium during Terrier Tip-Off on Friday night. After asking to be released from the team last year, O’Brien decided to return for his sophomore season while Hazel, Partin and Griffin will all sit out for the 2009-2010 season after transferring to BU from other schools.

Boston University Dance Team senior Jorie Larsen (center) dances with Men’s Basketball senior captain Tyler Morris during a performance of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” during Terrier Tip-Off at Case Gymnasium on Friday night. Morris returns this season after missing the last 18 games of the 2008-2009 campaign due to a torn ACL.

The Boston University Cheerleaders celebrate the end of Terrier Tip-Off as the confetti cannons go off in Case Gymnasium.

Head of the Charles

On October 17, 2009, the Army Crew team from West Point sent three boats onto the Charles River to compete in the annual Head of the Charles Regatta. Along the shore of the river, spectators watched and cheered on various teams. John Constantino and his wife Ginger from West Chester, PA set up tents and prepared food for the West Point rowers to enjoy after their race. The Constantino's daughter, Abi, a sophomore at the military academy, was rowing in the Club Fours on Saturday afternoon.

Ginger Constantino, 51, of West Chester, PA stirs a pot of meatballs and tomato sauce her and her husband are preparing to make meatball sub sandwiches for the West Point crew team when the rowers return to the dock at the MIT boathouse after completing their race in the Head of the Charles Regatta on Saturday afternoon in Boston, MA. The Constantinos and other parents of rowers set up food tents on the grass area between Memorial Drive and the boathouse and prepared the food while the teams were competing in their respective races.

John Constantino, 51, and his wife Ginger, 54, warm their hands in the cold weather over a pot of cooking meatballs and tomato sauce while they wait for the West Point crew team to return from their race in the Head of the Charles Regatta on Saturday afternoon. The Constantino's daughter, Abi, rowed with the women's four. Throughout the rowing season, parents of rowers cook food during each race, taking turns depending on who is in the area. The Constantinos always take the Head of the Charles because "it's the big one," John said. John Constantino, 51, of West Chester, PA takes pictures of his daughter Abi's boat returning to the MIT boathouse after racing in the Women's Club Fours race during the Head of the Charles Regatta on Saturday afternoon. The Constantino's son was also rowing in the Regatta for the Coast Guard Academy team."It's one of the only races where they are racing in the same event," John said.

The West Point men's and women's crew teams eat food cooked for them by John and Ginger Constantino of West Chester, PA after racing in the Head of the Charles Regatta on Saturday afternoon in Boston, MA. "It's usually good food...I really appreciate it," Tom Mussman, 20 and a junior on the team said. The Constantino's daughter, Abi, is far left.

John Constantino, 51, and his wife Ginger, 54, of West Chester, PA talk to their daughter Abi, 19, after she competed in the women's Club Fours with the West Point Crew team during the Head of the Charles Regatta on Sunday afternoon in Boston, MA. Ginger has a stress fracture in her right foot that needs to be put in a cast. She asked the doctor to wait until after the regatta to put the cast on so she would not miss bringing food to the event. "I love it, mostly because I get to see them," her daughter Abi said. " I don't get to see them often because of where we go to school."

Final Out

On Sunday, Oct. 11, the Red Sox season officially ended with a Game 3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Fenway Park. With the end of that game came the end of my internship there in the Photo Department. I honestly can't believe it's all over. I've been there since April and over the the last six months, I got into a routine. I loved being in the office and around the park shooting. The people I worked with were amazing and I feel privileged not only to have called them co-workers but also friends. I learned so much about "the real world" and had a blast doing it! I'm going to miss everyone big time, but being the photo intern for the Red Sox is an experience I won't seen forget.

It's on to the next big thing in my life - I'm shooting the Head of the Charles this weekend for my photo class (here's to hoping for a snow-free Saturday!).

I'm also looking for something interesting, unique and cool to do for my final multimedia project. If anybody has any ideas, pass them on!