Return to Solo Saloon

Back in August, I posted images from an afternoon spent at Big Barn Studios with my friend Christian Essex from Solo Saloon. Last night I got to visit the Big Barn again and meet Christian's partner in crime, Jacob Quimby. The Barn seems to have a good vibe for making pictures, but that shouldn't surprise because Solo Saloon has a killer vibe too.

Check out Solo Saloon's new music at cdbaby or iTunes.











Big Barn Studios
Freedom, NH

Merry Christmas

Christmas Night
Purity Spring Resort
Madison, NH

Remembering Summer

Remick Farm
Tamworth, NH

The Beats and Streets of San Francisco

Life has been kind of crazy and I haven't been posting the blog as frequently as I like. So... an extra long post to make up some ground. These photos were made on a walk around San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood. North Beach is considered the birthplace of the Beat Generation and was the sometimes home to Jack Kerouac, one of my heros.


Mural on the side of the world famous beat generation bar Vesuvio.


My favorite photo of Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady seems to keep an eye on an international assortment of Kerouac first editions.
The Beat Generation Museum.


An organ formerly owned by a true Vox Humana, poet Allen Ginsberg.
The Beat Generation Museum.


The FOK stamp of approval.
The Beat Generation Museum.




North Beach street life.

Beat Generation Ground Zero

Words of wisdom

City Lights Bookstore
North Beach
San Francisco, CA

Welcome Home Dad!

Hanging at the Solo Saloon

The first time I met Christian Essex he didn't let me leave his house without a CD of his music. He isn't a shameless self-promoter, just passionate about what he does. He owns the fantastic Big Barn Studios where he produces all sorts of great music like a mad scientist at the multi-track.

This week I spent some time with my friend Christian getting images together for his latest project called Solo Saloon. Check it out and buy his music at cdbaby or iTunes. Here are a few of my favorite shots.

Happy Birthday!

Our oldest celebrates 5 years in fine style, inspiring not only images, but words to boot.

boys in swimming trunks
run laughing beneath blue sky
forging first friendships.

See more at Haiku For Mamas by Sylvie Essex.



purest of delights:
cupcakes, slip n slide, presents.
you're only five once.

Take a Dip

Rattlesnake Pool Stowe, Maine

A Walk in the Woods

It's been a long few weeks and it can be easy to feel like there is no end to the challenges that life brings. It's remarkable when you re-connect with what has always worked to help make sense of it all. Making this image I remembered what a walk in the woods can do to clear your head.

Diana's Bath
Bartlett, NH

Lupine Moonrise

Freedom, NH

Lupine and Rain Drops Two Ways

Color or Black and White? You be the judge and let me know.


“How do you see that tree? It’s green? Well then, make it green, the best green on your palette."
--Paul Gauguin


"Black and white photography is a perfect lie. We must not let colour destroy this image."
--Patrick Summerfield

Hollywood Rock Stars

I was on a business trip this week in Hollywood, California at a hotel attached to the Kodak Theater. The way back to the hotel cut across a balcony that overlooked an open air shopping complex called Hollywood and Highland. It was late after noon after two long days and I was looking forward to changing out of a suit and poking around Hollywood Boulevard with my camera. I heard live music in the mall's courtyard which wasn't a surprise because they had been setting up a stage as part of a promotional event for Indy car racing. I recognized the song as the Motorhead classic "Ace of Spades" and remarked to a co-worker that this sounded exactly like the real thing and was a good cover. When I reached the balcony railing, I realized why... it was Lemmy from Motorhead singing the song. Accompanied my Dave Navarro on guitar and Matt Sorum on Drums. These were real, big time rock stars.



Turns out the band is called Camp Freddy. They are the rock and roll equivalent of a bunch of NBA players who show up at public basketball courts and play pick-up games. Camp Freddy is a super group cover band with a nucleus of members and a cast of characters that comes and goes. Today's line-up included primary members Dave Navarro (Guitar in Jane's Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers), Matt Sorum (Drums in The Cult, Guns & Roses, Velvet Revolver), Chris Chaney (Bass in Janes Addiction, Alanis Morrisette) and Donovan Leitch Jr. (Actor and Son of folk singer icon Donovan). Guests joining the band on this day were Billy Duffy (Guitar in The Cult), Chester Bennington (Vocals in Linkin Park), Lemmy (Motorhead), Mark McGrath (Vocals in Sugar Ray and Access Hollywood host), Franky Perez (Slash and Friends), Dave Kuschner (Guitar in Velvet Revolver, Suicidal Tendancies) and Courtney Love.

Needless to say, I quickly changed out of that suit and made a big batch of images.







Click here for a slide show of more images

Something Happened at The Spider House

The Spider House sits on a quiet street in Grand Lake, Colorado. The intricate woodwork make The Spider House remarkable in form, although nothing hints at the notable history of the cottage.



The house was built by Warren Gregg in the 1890's and is a fine example of the mountain rustic style popular in what was then called Old Grand City.

Warren came west from Indiana in a covered wagon with his bride Mary O'Brien Gregg. The Gregg's lost their first and second sons during the trip and Mary never got over the grief. Other children were born to the Gregg family, but this did little to ease Mary's burden. Warren was frequently away from home and the isolation of the Colorado landscape and winter weather only intensified Mary's depression.



On a sunny day in 1904, when Mary decided she couldn't endure any longer. She used a gun to end her life and that of her children: 3 boys and 1 girl. The master craftsman Warren worked away in his woodshop, unaware of what was happening in The Spider House.



For more information on The Spider House and Mary Gregg, see these links:
http://www.kauffmanhouse.org/TheSpiderHouse.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahUN-ojRw6w

Colorado Fence Line

Aspen shadows on waning snowcover outside of Fraser, Colorado.

Bay Area View

The view from the 10th floor of the Leamington Hotel Building in Oakland, California.

A Sunday Drive Photo Expedition... On Monday

A few pictures made on a President's Day Holiday drive.


Lower Sabbaday Falls
Kancamagus Highway, NH


Upper Sabbaday Falls
Kancamagus Highway, NH


Madison, NH

Snowsuited

Broom Guitar Hero

Did I mention there was a little dry land ski boot training going on during this photo shoot?

A Weekend in Boston