Elvers (baby eels) are setting record prices this year of $2,000 a pound. The fishermen are hushed about their favorite spots, and reluctant to welcome competition.
I went out with a small group the other night on a river in Southern Maine and came away with these images…
President Barack Obama visited town at the end of March on a campaign stop. I was one of a handful of our photographers assigned to cover America’s leader.
I was stationed inside the venue – Southern Maine Community College’s gymnasium – where I provided a live stream feed for the Press Herald’s website, along with shooting still photographs.
Here is a link to the video of his speech, and a few rectangles that caught my eye throughout the speech.
Headed to Rockler in South Portland Saturday morning. The Southern Maine Woodturners Association was there to make bowls they would sell to help benefit the Good Shepherd Food Bank. I didn’t really know what to expect going into the assignment, but once I walked in the door I was hooked on documenting the process.
It was fascinating to watch the woodturners craft these basic, simple blocks of wood into something much more. They started with a very rough looking chunk of maple wood and started chipping away.
Pilgrim Bouffard of Gorham works on a block of wood at Rockler in South Portland Saturday morning, November 26, 2011. (Gabe Souza/Mainetoday.com)
There were four lathes set up toward the back of the store where the woodturners worked, both Saturday and Sunday.
Jack Savona of Kennebunkport, far right, works with three other woodturners, Brian Libby, Don Rawnsley, and Pilgrim Bouffard, to make bowls at Rockler in South Portland to benefit the Good Shepherd Food Bank, Saturday, November 26, 2011. (Gabe Souza/Mainetoday.com)
Blocks of maple wait to be scooped up by woodturners at Rockler in South Portland Saturday, November 26, 2011. The Southern Maine Woodturners Association was on hand to make bowls to benefit the Good Shepherd Food Bank. (Gabe Souza/Mainetoday.com)
The big block was slowly whiddled down to something smaller before it started to take shape. Each turner said their shapes vary on what they feel like, and can sometimes change midway through the process.
Jack Savona of Kennebunkport fashions a maple block into a bowl at Rockler in South Portland, Saturday, November 26, 2011. (Gabe Souza/Mainetoday.com)
At first the woodchips would fly off the blocks in a ferocious sort of manner, coating everything, (including myself and cameras) in the sweet smelling shavings.
Woodshavings sit in a pile on a lathe at Rockler in South Portland, Saturday, November 26, 2011. The Southern Maine Woodturners Association was on hand to make bowls to benefit the Good Shepherd Food Bank. (Gabe Souza/Mainetoday.com)
As the workers whittled the blocks down, their moves became more finesse and the size of the wood particles became finer.
Pilgrim Bouffard of Gorham works on a bowl Saturday, November 26, 2011 at Rockler in South Portland to benefit the Good Shepherd Food Bank.
Don Rawnsley of Cumberland uses a shaping tool to whittle into the center of a bowl he made at Rockler in South Portland, Saturday, November 26, 2011, to benefit the Good Shepherd Food Bank. (Gabe Souza/Mainetoday.com)
Don Rawnsley shapes a bowl on a lathe at Rockler in South Portland, Saturday, November 26, 2011. (Gabe Souza/Mainetoday.com)
As they would go along, the artisans stopped the lathes frequently to feel their product and determine how much more work was needed and which tool they would take out of the bag next.
Jack Savona of Kennebunkport stops to feel progress on a bowl he was making at Rockler in South Portland, Saturday, November 26, 2011, as part of a fundraiser for the Good Shepherd Food Bank. (Gabe Souza/Mainetoday.com)
I soon got totally immersed in the process, put a wide angle lens on my camera, and was inches away from the spinning lathe as it whirred and chipped away at the wood.
Pilgrim Bouffard holds a tool to the block of maple he fashioned into a bowl at Rockler in South Portland, Saturday, November 26, 2011, as part of a fundraiser for the Good Shepherd Food Bank. (Gabe Souza/Mainetoday.com)
Pilgrim Bouffard holds a tool to the block of maple he fashioned into a bowl at Rockler in South Portland, Saturday, November 26, 2011, as part of a fundraiser for the Good Shepherd Food Bank. (Gabe Souza/Mainetoday.com)
As the bowl finally rounded into shape, the woodturners swapped their pointed tools for sanding bits and smoothed out the finish.
Don Rawnsley of Cumberland sands the edge of a bowl he created at Rockler in South Portland, Saturday, November 26, 2011, to benefit the Good Shepherd Food Bank. (Gabe Souza/Mainetoday.com)
Once the bowl was finished, all that was left was to stamp the artist’s name or initials on the bottom, and call it good.
Don Rawnsley of Cumberland punches his initials into the bottom of a wooden bowl he made at Rockler in South Portland, Saturday, November 26, 2011. (Gabe Souza/Mainetoday.com)
A finished bowl sits among others at Rockler in South Portland, November 26, 2011. The Southern Maine Woodturners Association created the bowls to benefit the Good Shepherd Food Bank. (Gabe Souza/Mainetoday.com)
Wow, it’s been way too long since I’ve updated this thing. A lot, and I mean a lot, has happened between now and the first kickoff of the football season. In the coming posts I will outline some of the assignments I’ve had between now and then, including this one: three state field hockey championship games in one day, in a Nor’easter, at Yarmouth High School.
Class C was up first for a 1 p.m. start with favorites North Yarmouth Academy taking on underdogs Winthrop. It was cold to start, but no snow yet.
Winthrop's Elizabeth Glover fights NYA's Katie Millett for control of the ball near midfield during the second half of the Field Hockey Class C State Championship at Yarmouth High School, Saturday, October 29, 2011. NYA won, 1-0, in triple overtime. (Gabe Souza/Portland Press Herald)
North Yarmouth Academy's Bailey Clock fights Winthrop's Lauren Kaiser for control of the ball during the Field Hockey Class C State Championship at Yarmouth High School, Saturday, October 29, 2011. NYA won in triple overtime, 1-0. (Gabe Souza/Portland Press Herald)
North Yarmouth Academy players rush the field after winning the Field Hockey Class C State Championship at Yarmouth High School, Saturday, October 29, 2011. (Gabe Souza/Portland Press Herald)
My favorite photo from the game came from my wide angle as the players celebrated their victory. It really was a back and forth game that was both fun to watch and fun to shoot. The below photo ran on the front of the Maine Sunday Telegram the following day.
North Yarmouth Academy captain Katie Millett (No. 9) lets out a scream as she celebrates with her team after beating Winthrop in the Field Hockey Class C State Championship at Yarmouth High School, Saturday, October 29, 2011. (Gabe Souza/Portland Press Herald.)
After a quick break to eat lunch and file images, and with the temperature dropping, I headed back out to the field for the Class B game between Belfast and York. While York made a strong effort, Belfast jumped ahead early and held the lead to earn the championship.
Belfast goalie Julia Ward stretches out and keeps her eye on the ball during first half action vs. York in the Field Hockey Class B Championship at Yarmouth, Saturday, October 29, 2011. (Gabe Souza/Portland Press Herald)
Belfast's Madison Cummings competes with York's Haley Spencer for control of the ball during the Field Hockey Class B Championship at Yarmouth, Saturday, October 29, 2011. (Gabe Souza/Portland Press Herald)
After quickly filing images from this game, I looked out of the press box (which on a high school field in Maine is more like a field-level shed with a couple of metal folding chairs) and saw that it was snowing. Since it was so early in the season and so few field hockey games are played in the snow, I knew it was an opportunity to make some cool images (and freeze my butt off!)
Skowhegan's Kaitlin McKeel tries to keep the ball away from Marshwood's Karissa Boesch during a snow-filled Class A Championship at Yarmouth, Saturday, October 29, 2011. Skowhegan went on to defeat Marshwood, 5-0. (Gabe Souza/Portland Press Herald)
Surrounded by a group of Marshwood defenders and rapidly falling snow, Skowhegan captain Jessica Skillings looks for an opening to pass the ball during the second half of the Field Hockey Class A Championship at Yarmouth, Saturday, October 29, 2011. Skowhegan defeated Marshwood, 5-0. (Gabe Souza/Portland Press Herald)
Skowhegan's Mikayla Fitzmaurice tries to keep the ball away from Marshwood's Melinda Sutton during first half action in the Field Hockey Class A Championship at Yarmouth, Saturday, October 29, 2011. Skowhegan won, 5-0. (Gabe Souza/Portland Press Herald)
Marshwood defenders wait in the snow with their goalie, Jacquelyn Tworkowski, to defend a offensive corner from Skowhegan during the second half of the Class A Championship at Yarmouth, Saturday, October 29, 2011. Skowhegan won, 5-0. (Gabe Souza/Portland Press Herald)
Skowhegan showed they’d been there before and controlled play from the start of the game. The post game served as a good lesson to be ready for anything. While I was ready to rush the field with my wide angle, I noticed the players weren’t really going crazy as a group. Instead, they were celebrating individually, so I elected to hang back with my 400 mm and wait for a moment. I was rewarded with this:
Charlotte Johnstone, left, shares a celebratory hug with teammate Makaela Michonski after Skowhegan defeated for the Field Hockey Class A Championship at Yarmouth, Saturday, October 29, 2011. (Gabe Souza/Portland Press Herald)
After a couple more shots post-award ceremony, it was time to file and call it a day.
The Skowhegan field hockey team celebrates its Class A Championship win over Marshwood at Yarmouth, Saturday, October 29, 2011. (Gabe Souza/Portland Press Herald)
Skowhegan's Mikayla Toth, left, and Allison Lancaster, right, celebrate their victory over Marshwood in the Field Hockey Class A Championship at Yarmouth, Saturday, October 29, 2011, by making snow angels. (Gabe Souza/Staff Photographer)
That wrapped up a long, cold, but good day of shooting, packed with great action. I’ll be back soon with another update!
Led by Nate McLellan (50), the Scarborough sideline reacts after the Red Storm recovered a Windham fumble during the first quarter of Friday's game, September 2, 2011. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
Was psyched to get back under Friday Night Lights this week as I shot the season opener between Class A rivals Scarborough and Windham.
I did a precursor to this story two weeks ago when I took a portrait of star running back Scott Thibeault for the Class A preview.
Senior running back Scott Thibeault leads the Scarborough Red Storm into the 2011 football season, photographed on Thursday, August 25, 2011, for the Class A football preview. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
I was asked to get some football excitement/season opening type features we could use for the front of the paper and came away with these. The first one ran on A1.
Scarborough captain Logan Mars pumps up his teammates before the Red Storm's season opener vs. Windham, Friday, September 2, 2011. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
Joe Cronin, a senior at Scarborough High, waves a flag and leads a cheer as he tries to pump up the Red Storm crowd at the season opener vs. Windham, Friday, September 2, 2011. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
Turns out we previewed Thibeault for good reason. The senior rushed for 274 yards and opened the game on this 36-yard gallop.
Scarborough running back Scott Thubeault breaks loose for a long run as Windham's Jordin Allen keep up during the first quarter of Friday's game, September 2, 2011. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
Scarborough jumped out to a 14-0 lead by halftime and stayed ahead to win, 21-6. Still, the game provided plenty of good action and moments.
Scarborough's Merrick Madden puts a hit on Windham's Tony Green-Taylor during a kick return in the first quarter, Friday, September 2, 2011. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
Windham's Tony Green-Taylor tries to put a stiff arm on Scarborough's Travis Elliot (73) and Kellen Smith (21) during the second quarter of Friday's game, September 2, 2011. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
That wraps up the first night of football. So glad it’s back, stay tuned for more…
Runners break from the start of the TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10k road race Saturday, August 6, 2011. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald)
Was talking with good friend and US Presswire shooter Bob DeChiara today when he started to give me a hard time that I’m slacking off on updating the blog. But it’s so true, so, here we go again, with a much needed update on an event that happened almost a month ago.
Normally I wouldn’t blog about something this stale, but I’ve got some frames I really wanted to show, and it’s easily Maine’s premier road race, so I figured it would be good to highlight the TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10k road race.
The Press Herald used three shooters for this – me on the back of a press truck, Gregory Rec on a motorcycle, and Shawn Patrick Ouellette stationed at the finish line. The blanketed coverage worked well.
The elite runners quickly distanced themselves from the pack after the start of the race.
From left to right, Micha Kogo, Lucas Rotich, Lani Rutto, and Hosea Macharinyang, all of Kenya, lead the pack early on in the TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10k road race Saturday, August 6, 2011. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
Although there were many strong runners, it was Kogo of Kenya who proved to be the fleetest of foot, and really began to distance the gap between himself and the other runners. I liked this pocket of light I was able to use to highlight him toward the latter half of the race.
Micah Kogo of Kenya gained an early lead and distanced himself from the pack on the Shore Road en route to winning the TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10k road race Saturday, August 6, 2011. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
The Beach to Beacon drew more than 6,000 runners and plenty of spectators. Here, Kogo cruised past a group of well-wishers on Route 77.
Having already established an early lead in the TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10k road race Saturday, August 6, 2011, Micah Kogo of Kenya cruised past spectators on Route 77 in Cape Elizabeth en route to winning his first Beach to Beacon win. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
In the beginning of the race it appeared as though Kogo might set a course record, but the heat and humidity rose quickly. Still, Kogo finished with a ridiculous time of 27:46.
Micah Kogo of Kenya crossed the finish line at 27:46 to win the TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10k road race. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
After hopping off the press truck I stuck around the finish line for a minute and nabbed this frame.
As he nears the finish line, Lani Rutto looks back to assess his lead over fellow Kenyan Evans Cheruiyot. Rutto finished sixth while Cheruiyot landed in seventh, less than a second slower. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
After that, it was time to grab some features before the day was out.
Meron Carlisle, 4, of South Portland, takes a minute to cool off in the misting tent after the TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10k road race, Saturday, August 6, 2011. Carlisle's family hosted a foreign runner for the race. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
Runners trudge toward water, the misting tent, and information booth after completing the the TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10k road race, Saturday, August 6, 2011. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
That wrapped up a fun day shooting. To see all of the paper’s shots from the day, click here. Stick around and I promise the next update won’t be too long from now!
York Police Officer Adam Schmidt patrols downtown York. (Photos by Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald)
I recently spent a handful of nights with York reserve police officer Adam Schmidt for a story I did for the Portland Press Herald. It looked into the life of a summer reserve officer. Many of them, like Adam, are hired straight out of school and it is their first job in law enforcement. They are the first line of defense when it comes to all sorts of calls along the busy streets and congested beaches of tourist-filled summer towns in Maine.
Adam was great to work with and the story ran on A1 last Saturday. Here are a few more photos.
Olympic gold medalist and Maine native Joan Benoit Samuelson photographed on August 2, 2011 in front of the Fort Williams Lighthouse in her hometown of Cape Elizabeth. (Photo by Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
Had a chance to take a portrait of Olympic gold medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson last week. Benoit is one of the most decorate and famed Mainers. She set a world record in the Boston Marathon in 1983 and a year later won Olympic Gold in the first ever women’s marathon. Pretty amazing stuff.
This was for a preview for the race she’s heavily involved in, the TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10k road race. That happened this past Saturday and I also had the chance to cover that race. More to come on that soon…
A pit crew member of Dennis Spencer Jr. holds a flag during pre-race ceremonies at the TD Bank 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway, Sunday, July 24, 2011. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald)
Was up at Oxford Plains Speedway Sunday for the annual TD Bank 250. NASCAR driver Kyle Busch stole the show, taking the lead late and never giving it back. Some of the most fun in documenting the day came in playing with the late afternoon light and taking in the atmosphere around me.
The above photo struck me with the white flag and reminded me much of Dale Earnhardt and I just loved the way the sun peeked through.
I started the day by documenting pre-race activity.
John Leighton, a pit crew member for Oxford points leader Jeff White, works on removing old rubber from White's racing slicks to prepare for the TD Bank 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway, Sunday, July 24, 2011. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald)
Fans watch as drivers qualify for the TD Bank 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway, July 24, 2011. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald)
Drivers' helmets line the top of their race cars before the start of the TD Bank 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway, Sunday, July 24, 2011. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald)
By 6:30, it was off to the races. The afternoon light was just peaking so I played with it all I could to find light pockets and highlight cars in an interesting fashion.
Dave Pembroke races by fans on the back straightaway during the TD Bank 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway, July 24, 2011.
American Canadian Tour driver Nick Sweet of Barre, Vt., couldn’t quite outmaneuver Kyle Busch late in the TD Bank 250 race Sunday, July 24, 2011 at Oxford Plains Speedway and wound up finishing second.. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald)
A pack of cars dives into turn four at the TD Bank 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway, Sunday, July 24, 2011. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald)
And now, onto the big star of the day, 26-year old NASCAR phenom Kyle Busch. Busch cruised to victory in the final laps, and I made sure to get not only his winning shot, but also a nice clean one of his car. Again, the warm afternoon light really helped make the colors pop.
Eventual winner Kyle Busch speeds down the backstretch of the TD Bank 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway, July 24, 2011. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald)
Once Busch crossed the finish line, it was celebration time.
Kyle Busch celebrates with a burnout after winning the TD Bank 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway, July 24, 2011. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald)
Kyle Busch celebrates after winning the TD Bank 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway, July 24, 2011. (Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald)
That wraps up what was an eventful day at the racetrack! Stay tuned for more and thanks for stopping by…
The late afternoon light at Hadlock Field highlights Sea Dogs catcher Matt Spring as he leads off first base. (Photo by Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
Had a couple of Sea Dogs assignments this week. For anyone who knows me, that basically means awesomeness. My first game was a noontime start on Wednesday, and with no assignments lined up after the game, it meant I could shoot all nine innings. The Sea Dogs ended up with a walk off win, so it worked out well. As always, I started with some safety shots, getting the pitcher, etc.
Chris Balcom-Miller fires a pitch during the second inning of the Sea Dogs' 4-3 walkoff victory over the new Britain Rock Cats, Wednesday, June 29, 2011. (Photo by Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
I used a 400 mm to throw this background completely out of focus and make the pitcher pop. Next I focused on getting a couple of plays at second base.
Yangervis Solarte of the New Britain Rock Cats can't get the tag down in time before the Sea Dogs' Tim Federowicz slides in safely at second base, Wednesday, June 29, 2011. The Sea Dogs went on to win, 4-3, on a walkoff home run by Alex Hassan. (Photo by Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
Portland second baseman Jon Hee turns a double play in front of New Britain baserunner Chris Parmelee, Wednesday, June 29, 2011. The Sea Dogs won, 4-3, on a walk off homer by Alex Hassan. (Photo by Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
I decided to stick with the overhead view for the bottom of the ninth inning. It was tied, 3-3, and arguably the Sea Dogs’ best hitter, Alex Hassan, was coming up that inning. My gamble paid off as Hassan took a hanging slider well over the left field wall to give the Sea Dogs a 4-3, win. I went wide for one shot and tightened up for the next.
Alex Hassan receives congratulations from first base coach Mickey Jiang, after Hassan drilled a walk off home run off New Britain Rock Cats pitcher Bruce Pugh, to give Portland a 4-3 victory, Wednesday, June 29, 2011. (Photo by Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
Alex Hassan of the Sea Dogs is mobbed by his teammates after the outfielder hit a walkoff home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Portland over the New Britain Rock Cats, 4-3, Wednesday, June 29, 2011. (Photo by Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
Next up was a Friday night game. I got there plenty early to set up and let the late evening light take over, as you can see in the first shot from the post.
Used that light to highlight the starting pitcher.
After that, the light started to go down, but the action was just beginning.
New Hampshire Fisher Cats leadoff hitter Adeiny Hechavarria slides back to first base safely before earning two extra bases and making it to third base on a wild throw, Friday, July 1, 2011. (Photo by Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
My favorite photo of the night came just after I switched to my 70-200 lens. A wild throw from the shortstop whizzed right by the pitcher’s ear and toward me, resulting in a cool frame where he is basically looking back straight at the camera.
Sea Dogs' pitcher Brock Huntzinger looks back as the ball sails out of play after shortstop Vladimir Frias made a wild throw during a double play attempt, Friday, July 1, 2011. New Hampshire's Ricardo Nanita reached first base safely on the play. (Photo by Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
Ultimately, the errors and poor pitching did the Sea Dogs in, and the below frame essentially told the story of the night as the Sea Dogs’ Reynaldo Rodriguez reacted after being thrown out.
Portland's Reynaldo Rodriguez slumps and reacts after being thrown out while trying to stretch a double into a triple vs. the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at Hadlock Field, Friday, July 1, 2011. (Photo by Gabe Souza/The Portland Press Herald.)
That wraps up my time at Hadlock Field, thanks for looking and check back soon!
Recent Comments