Church St, Burlington, Shopping with Ms Sally

Ms Sally flashed in hot pink ski goggles from the Optical Center, zipping and zagging down the street, she snagged a Swiss Army Watch at Lippa's Jewelry shop. What a great pleasure it is

to be in a dog friendly world on Church St.

Congratulations to Freeman French Freeman for winning Small Business Award

Jesse Beck, head of Freeman French Freeman, and his team just won the LCRCC Small Business of the Year award at the annual festive dinner.  I have worked with them since the mid 1970's as a photographer.  I recently had the pleasure to photograph this hard working creative group.

OLD HOUSE INTERIORS MAG Publishes diStefano House

Fooled you!  Looks like this house is an antique! Randy diStefano built his historic house only five years ago! Old  House Interiors was so impressed with his house that they are going to publish it in two of their magazines.  OHI this month gives you a peak on the last page, and Early Home in Jan 2009 will do a full story.  Here is a preview.

Tribute to Woody Guthrie

White River Valley Players produced a lively rendition of Woody Guthrie's life and music which celebrated the lives of so many displaced by the dust bowl.  And I had the privilege of not only taking photos of the actors, but of my best friends Marie Lise and Giles.  Can you tell who are the actors and who are my friends!! Dick and Dorothy Robson directed, sang, acted, and played various instruments.  

The United States post office has recently published a first class stamp with the an image of White River Valley Players!  What an incredible honor!

LAKE CHAMPLAIN: a Natural History

Carolyn L. Bates shot the cover photo this summer from Mt Philo between major rain storms using her digital hasselblad.

This book has several of her photos of Lake Champlain within the book as well. It was published by her favorite charity: Lake Champlain Committee, that she has supported for over 35 years.

"Written in a light, engaging style by LCC staff scientist Mike Winslow, the book helps people discover and understand the lake's rich and diverse resources.  Why do clouds hang low over the lake on autumn mornings? Where do invasive species come from and how do they arrive? How might global warming affect Lake Champlain' future? How did the lake get here?" (quote from website)

Retail price $18.95, 7" x 10" 160 page soft cover publication can be ordered online from LCC's secure website: www.lakechamplaincommittee.org or by phone: 802-658-1414.

Mike Winslow and Carolyn L. Bates will both autograph the book for you.  Please call Mike: 802-658-1414 and Carolyn 802-862-5386

Beth Haggart's "Letter to Monet " show is standing room only

Beth Haggart created 30 new colors

to depict Monet's water lilies in 

her "Letter to Monet" using 400 

painted business envelopes with 

painted inserts to design her

23 foot long letter. Her opening 

at UVm was standing room only.

Bill looked for a color that

matched his tie. John took one 

photo, then another, and 

then another, and then....

Ally danced around and around.

I went three times and spent 

hours surrounded in all of her

spectacular world of colors.

Carolyn L. Bates follows famous architectural photographer Ezra Stoller

In 1941 Ezra Stoller, internationally known architectural photographer, shot St Marks Church in Burlington, Vt, for the local architectural firm Freeman French Freeman.  AIA of VT

has just presented one of its top awards for design to FFF for this church.  Congratulations FFF. 

Being the first catholic church to have a central altar with seating on all four sides, and the first shaped like a cross, it shocked the catholic world and became world famous. The story even made the headlines of the NY Times!

Now, Carolyn L. Bates, (that is me) was awarded the job to rephotograph this church for the same client Ezra had, FFF.  

I studied under Ezra at Harvard Univ. in the 1980's.  He was a genius. With an incredible gift for finding just the right mood and camera angle for each building.  Now it was up to me, to work after him, to not copy his images, yet find something very unique that expressed the church as it stands today. I wandered around and around the inside of the church, seeking a new angle, yet still showing the altar in the center, and the seating on all four sides, and the skylight above. It took me many attempts, starting first with Ezra's original interior images and slowly moving around, to find a new one.  

I used Ezra's principles for the exterior. I visited the church many times during the day to see how the light fell on it, how various features would be highlighted or hidden in shadow.  How the trees worked around it. And how I could include all the items that my client, FFF wanted. On the third day I went out, with still no real success, even standing out in the middle of North Avenue, two young men asked what I was doing.  Off of work for the day, and being "tree men for landscapers" they soon saw a solution. They hopped up very high and gently pulled branches out of my way on two trees so I could shoot the angle I wanted.  Was I lucky!  Thank you Ezra for all that I have learned from you.  I am humbled to be following in your footsteps.