Back in the day

I am in the process of adding some new content to my website to showcase my portraiture and more commercial style work.  So I have been digging through my archive of photos.  My lovely wife Christine, who is also a photographer offered to help, so we tackled the digital mountain of images together.  It was refreshing to have another person look through photos that I have stared at for hours and hours.  She came at them with a new fresh eye which gave me a fresh appreciation to photos that I had grown tired of looking at.

One of the photos is posted below.  I remember the assignment, I was asked to photograph a small tight knit neighborhood located in Brookline Village.  It was effectively a group photo of some of the neighbors.  But I was just starting out as a photographer and always wanted to go above and beyond on an assignment (still do!).  I took a few photos of the handful of neighbors that had gathered for the story and then went and hung out on the quiet street with them for a little while.  I attempted a series of portraits against one of the remaining brick row type homes that lined the street.  First up was a woman who was walking home from grocery shopping.  She was a little shy in front of the camera but I think it worked. 

Brookline, MA - October, 2005: Street portrait.

*****UPDATE**** There was a cat too!


Just found another photo from the same take.  Sorry there is no name but that was scrubbed when I re-saved the photos years ago. 

Holga AKA the original hipstamatic

Boston, MA - Boston Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis signs autographs before a game at Fenway Park.  Photo by Matthew Healey

The medium format TLR that I usually keep in my car has temporarily bitten the dust, so I have been shooting with my Holga again AKA 'the original hipstamatic'.  I've talked about it on here before.

The Holga is made of plastic and has a set apeture of 'around' f13 and a shutter speed of around 1/100th of second.  So the only way to adjust the exposure is to use different film, or try and modify the aperture hole.  I usually load it with 400 iso black and white color process film and try not to shoot when it is too bright out to avoid overexposing. 

There are moments when I am using the holga, usually after I get a roll developed, that I question why I should even bother.  Especially when I can shoot an unlimited number of photos that look almost the same for free by using my cell phone.  I think I still like to use film because it brings back that old feeling I used to get before I had a digital camera.  The anticipation.  I know what I shot, I know what to expect, but there is always a surprise thrown in there.  Which I guess is the beauty of the camera.  Forgot to wind the film after you shot something?  Oh well you just made a double exposure (see below).  Pointed the camera into the sun, yeah welcome to lens flare city (same).  Shot from the hip while walking back to your car, actually, that wasn't too bad. 

I learned pretty quickly that the dreamy effect that the camera gives to your photos can only get you so far.  The old rules of content and composition still apply.  A boring photo, even one that looks like it was shot through vaseline, is still a boring photo.  I should know, I have a lot of them.  But every now and then I get one or two that I think are worth scanning.

Boston, MA - A young Boston Bruins fan poses for a photo before a Stanley Cup game against the Vancouver Canucks at TD Garden.  Photo by Matthew Healey

Boston, MA - A young Boston Bruins fan poses for a photo before a Stanley Cup game against the Vancouver Canucks at TD Garden.  Photo by Matthew Healey

Boston, MA - An Occupy Boston participant speaks before the group marches on Dewey Square.  Photo by Matthew Healey

Boston, MA - An Occupy Boston participants march through the Financial District.  Photo by Matthew Healey

Boston, MA - An Occupy Boston participant poses for a photo on Dewey Square.  Photo by Matthew Healey

Boston, MA - A Occupy Boston tents on Dewey Square.  Photo by Matthew Healey

Boston, MA - A man smokes a cigarette in a doorway.  Photo by Matthew Healey

Foxboro, MA - New England Patriots double exposure.  Photo by Matthew Healey

Foxboro, MA - New England Patriots.  Photo by Matthew Healey

The bottom line is, the Holga is fun, and gets me to slow my shooting down, if only for a little while.

A note on scanning: I don't have a medium format film scanner so I have been laying the negatives on a light box and then taking a photo of them with my digital camera.  I then invert the images in photoshop and tone them properly.  Results aren't too bad but the cropping makes the images a bit softer than they are. 

Weekly Rentals - Tiffany and Jenna

West Yarmouth, MA - Tiffany Rose walks her one year old daughter Jenna Marie Rose in front of the motel on a cold spring day.

I have been slow to update the blog here for various reasons.  Primarily because I have been busy with work.    Which is great, but I need to be better about putting at least one or two photos a week up here.  Cause I know you are all waiting for my updates.  Right?

Anyway speaking of updates I am posting more from the Weekly Rentals project I have been working on.  To make a long story short the town and the motel owner have come to an amicable solution with regards to the residents.  The owner promised to update the building so that it will qualify for long term stays.  The town said they had no interest in evicting residents and held a housing workshop to try in an attempt to help the motel residents find something more stable.  Life goes on at the motel for now.

I met Tiffany and her daughter on one of the my first visits to the motel.  She would often hang out in the management office during the day and chat with the manager Deb.  She has lived in the motel since October 2010 and is only able to remain because Deb has offered her reduced rent.  When I last chatted with Tiffany she was pregnant again and still not working and told me that if she is forced out of the West Yarmouth Lodgings then her only other option would be a shelter.

West Yarmouth, MA - Tiffany Rose (L) and her one year old daughter Jenna Marie Rose chats with manager Deborah Bellows. Tiffany, has been living in the motel since October 2010 and is only able to afford to stay because Bellows reduced her rent.

West Yarmouth, MA - Tiffany Rose (L) tries to calm her one year old daughter Jenna Marie Rose who was upset because her mother took away a bottle that she was playing with. Tiffany, who is pregnant and has been living in the motel since October 2010 has only been able to afford to live in the motel because the manager has reduced her rent.  If she is forced to relocate she says her only other option would  be a shelter.

West Yarmouth, MA - One year old daughter Jenna Marie Rose pushes on the door of her grandmothers car as her mother Tiffany Rose cleans out the car after borrowing it.  Tiffany and her daughter have been living in the motel since October 2010.

Hang in there

Waltham, MA: Stretching before the inaugural Moody Street 5K.  Photo by Matthew Healey

A beginning, again.

Mitt Romney announced his candidacy in New Hampshire last week and I was sent up to photograph it.  I am still new to covering presidential politics and that may be why I still enjoy it so much.  After talking with colleagues who have been doing this season after season I can understand why you would get sick of it.  It must get old fast.

Everything is staged, the candidates and their flaks are very careful about their image and try to control it as much as possible.  A well placed flag here or an old couple in the background holding a folksy looking hand made sign (that was made by someone in the campaign) sitting right behind the candidate.  Oh wait, that old couple behind the candidate looks too old, lets move them to the edge and add some hip looking 20-somethings to the background.  Yes, that happens.  What isn't controlled though are the people that go to these campaign stops.  To watch people get so excited and fired up over politics is somehow reaffirming.  It gives me hope for this country.  It can also make for some fantastic images.  I'm looking forward to the months leading up to 2012.

A well placed flag next to a bucket of cold water.  Former Massachusetts Governor and Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney formally announces his candidacy at Scamman Farm in Stratham, New Hampshire on June 2, 2011.    Photo  by Matthew Healey

Mitt Romney supporters dish up bowls of Ann Romney's famous chili before Mitt formally announced his candidacy at Scamman Farm in Stratham, New Hampshire on June 2, 2011.    Photo by Matthew Healey

Former Massachusetts Governor and Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney (C) serves up chili with his wife Ann Romney (R) just before  formally announcing his candidacy at Scamman Farm in Stratham, New Hampshire on June 2, 2011.    Photo by Matthew Healey

Supporters listen in as former Massachusetts Governor and Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney formally announces his candidacy at Scamman Farm in Stratham, New Hampshire on June 2, 2011.    Photo by Matthew Healey

Supporters listen in as former Massachusetts Governor and Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney formally announces his candidacy at Scamman Farm in Stratham, New Hampshire on June 2, 2011.    Photo by Matthew Healey

Supporters stand in front of a barn after former Massachusetts Governor and Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney formally announced his candidacy at Scamman Farm in Stratham, New Hampshire on June 2, 2011.    Photo by Matthew Healey

Weekly Rentals - John Michael

John Michael.

Deb, the manager of the motel, had told me a lot about John, before I had even ventured to his room.  For one, he is an alcoholic and in her words is 'drinking himself to death'.   The other story that she told me repeatedly is from when he was living in the guest home across the street.  The guest house is part of the motel property but can legally allow for long term residents.  John was living there for awhile and people had gotten used to his routine.  One day some of the residents realized they hadn't heard or seen John in a few days, and they were starting to get concerned.  So Deb checked on him and found him on the floor in rough shape and called for an ambulance.  He spent some time in the hospital.  During that time, there was a major fire in the guest house.  Deb thinks that if he hadn't been hospitalized he probably wouldn't have made it out.

John is wheelchair bound and spends most of his days drinking, and watching movies on AMC.  He can often be seen making a regular trip to the liquor store a block away.  Residents joke that it takes him three hours.

He has been in his current motel room for over a year.  He used to live in Florida and worked as a computer repair technician.  He also spent some time as a farmer in upstate New York.  He moved to the Cape with his wife but things didn't work out, and ended in divorce.  He does have adult children but they don't live in the state and he doesn't see them often.

For food he receives meals from the local Meals on Wheels program, and sometimes from concerned neighbors.  Deb has removed the curtain to his back window so that she can check on him from the office.  If she doesn't see his silhouette in the window for more than a day then she will head down to his room and check on him in person.  She doesn't want him to die in the motel.

If he is forced out of the motel he thinks he will probably end up in a shelter.  He wants to move to the motel across the street that has been turned into condominiums, but isn't sure if that will ever happen.

Weekly Rentals - An introduction

The West Yarmouth Lodgings on Route 28 in West Yarmouth is one of many motels along that stretch of road that advertise weekly rates.  For many residents who are seasonal workers, underemployed or unemployed, the motel has become an affordable and stable long term housing option.  Unlike an apartment rental the motel does not require a renter to pay first, last, and security deposit before moving in.  The other bonus is that the utilities are all included.  The downside is that the rooms are small, they don't have a full kitchen, and they can be drafty in the winter.  There is also the matter of crime.  The Yarmouth Police are not unfamiliar with the motels and some of their residents.

In January of 2011, a Barnstable Superior Court judge ruled that the motel was in violation of the town's motel zoning bylaw that limited motel stays to 30 days or 90 days in a six month period.  The ruling came with a deadline requiring that all residents must be out of the motel by May 1, 2011.  The motel owner appealed the ruling and eventually submitted a proposal to the town to avoid a mass eviction.  He has come up with a plan to update the buildings so it will be properly zoned to allow for long term residents.  In the meantime the town is reaching out to residents by pulling together healthcare, housing, job and food assistance agencies for help.

I have been visiting the West Yarmouth Lodgings since Februrary in an attempt to tell the story of some of the residents who live there. This is the first installment of many in what is a still developing story.

West Yarmouth, MA - Februray 9, 2011: Deborah Bellows (L) Manager of the West Yarmouth Lodgings motel, chats with a resident who withheld his name.  Bellows has been managing the motel for over eight years and lives on the property.  Photo by Matthew Healey

West Yarmouth, MA - Februray 13, 2011: Phil Cripps (C) plays a video game while his wife Sherry Foster (2nd-R) talks on the phone and his 19-year-old son Nathan Cripps (R) looks on.  Daughter Jasimine Cripps, 12-years-old plays a game on a handheld device on her parents bed.  The Cripps family have been living in the motel for almost two years.  Phil is currently unemployed and looking for work but wife Sherry and son Nathan work as dishwashers at a nearby hotel.  Photo by Matthew Healey

West Yarmouth, MA - February 15, 2011: "This is my home" says Debbie Lopes, who has been living at West Yarmouth Lodgings for 8 years with her husband.  She saves on her rent by cleaning rooms at the motel.  Photo by Matthew Healey

West Yarmouth, MA - February 24, 2011: Tiffany Rose takes her 14-month old daughter Jenna Marie Rose for a walk in her stroller in front of the motel.  Tiffany has been living in the motel since October and is only able to stay because she has been offered reduced rent.  She is expecting her second child soon and said that if she is forced to leave the motel her only other option is a homeless shelter.  Photo by Matthew Healey

West Yarmouth, MA - March 22, 2011: Michelle MaCura (C) plays with daughter Neveah Martin as Neveah's dad Joe Martin (L) looks on.  The three have been living in the West Yarmouth Lodgings since August of 2010.  Photo by Matthew Healey

West Yarmouth, MA - March 9, 2011:  John Michael, who has been living at the West Yarmouth Lodgings off and on for two years, watches television in his room.  Photo by Matthew Healey

Anime Boston 2011

Boston, MA - April 23, 2011: 'Java' and his current wife or waifu, Ne Chen, share a drink at the convention hall at Hynes Convention Center during Anime Boston 2011.  Photo by Matthew Healey

Well I learned what a waifu is this weekend.  A waifu is, um, you know what I'm still not entirely too sure.  I can tell you how that word came into my vocabulary and what it means to one person at least.

This past Saturday while working for The Boston Herald I had some time to go out and enterprise.  I heard from my sister that the anime convention was in town.   I missed the convention the past few years but finally had my chance to check it out. 

I found my way to the press table at the convention hall and managed to get a credential.  I talked to one of the volunteers and he said that they were expecting something like 18,000 participants and that Anime Boston is the biggest convention in the northeast.  

Not even ten feet out the door and I spot 'Java' and his waifu.  He was sitting in a cafe having a drink with the body pillow.  My interest was piqued so I went over and started chatting with him and asking about the pillow.  He explained to me that waifu is just the Japanese pronunciation of the English word wife.  He said that in this context the waifu is earned through a Japanese dating simulation video game called 'Love Plus'.   'Java' plays the game and changes waifu's as he plays.  He told me he doesn't normally go out in public with the pillow version of his current waifu but feels comfortable bringing it out at Anime Conventions.  As I was talking to him a handful of convention goers stopped and asked if they could take photos of him.  One even went so far to thank 'Java' for having the courage to bring his waifu out in public.  

It was a good start to what turned out to be an interesting day.  There were lots of people dressed in costumes.  Cosplay, as it's called is a big part of these conventions.  People go out in elaborate, usually hand made costumes, of characters they like or identify with from anime, video games, manga (comics).  When together in groups they may put on an impromptu performance of a scene from a TV show or movie, or video game.  

I have to admit, the extent of my knowledge of the whole anime world and cosplay culture begins and ends with Akira.  Okay, that and Ghost in the Shell, and Ninja Scroll, but thats, it I promise (totally grew up watching Grandizer).  Anyway there is obviously a lot more to it than a few popular action films.  It's a pretty interesting culture and a goldmine for photography.  Sadly I had to call it after an hour and a half, I needed to get back to listening to the police scanner.

Here are a few scenes from the day.  Leave a comment and let me know what you think and please keep it civil.  

And as always check out my website http://www.matthealey.com for my full portfolio and follow me on twitter @matthealeyphoto

 Boston, MA -  Lara Tang, of Boston dressed as Hizaki from the band Versailles, rests on a windowsill during Anime Boston 2011 at the Hynes Convention Center.   Photo by Matthew Healey

Boston, MA - Attendants dressed as characters from the video game Assasins Creed 2 march down a hallway during Anime Boston 2011 at the Hynes Convention Center on April 23, 2011.   Photo by Matthew Healey

Boston, MA - J.P. Meneide, center of Boston, rides the elevator in his Storm Trooper costume with friends Jen Torres, left of Boston, and Kurt Larsen, second from left of Weymouth during Anime Boston 2011 at the Hynes Convention Center.   Photo by Matthew Healey

Boston, MA - A character wearing cardboard boxes walks the halls during Anime Boston 2011 at the Hynes Convention Center.   Photo by Matthew Healey

Boston, MA - A convention goer walks the halls in costume during Anime Boston 2011 at the Hynes Convention Center.   Photo by Matthew Healey

Boston, MA - Lou Maldonado of New York City, has lunch while still in costume as Ken the Eagle from the anime show Gatchaman during Anime Boston 2011 at the Hynes Convention Center.   Photo by Matthew Healey

Boston, MA - Michelle, last name not given, left of New York, who is dressed as Jasmine You of the band Versaille, shops with friends at Anime Boston 2011 at the Hynes Convention Center.   Photo by Matthew Healey

Boston, MA - Todd (last name withheld) dressed as Princess Leah from Star wars, is led around by Tiana (last name withheld) who is dressed as Jabba the Hutt from Star Wars during Anime Boston 2011 at the Hynes Convention Center.   Photo by Matthew Healey