Mikhail

A natural-born salesman, currently awaiting his next big thing at the Cheesecake Factory in Providence. I see big things in his future.

Kristen

She drives the Palagi's Ice Cream truck in our area, with the tell tale ring of the bell and music playing. Nothing says summer like the ice-cream lady. Kristen was game for the photo, but shy of the lens. She didn't want to look at the lens for fear of bursting out laughing. Once she did, though, she was fine.

Linda

Linda is the receptionist (of long-standing) at the aforementioned RISPCA. After making Dr. Finocchio and Marvin's portraits, I asked Linda if I could make a quick portrait of her. She was happily willing. And I'm glad I did. She really came through here, and I hope she likes it. The lighting was better than where I did the others also. I was talking with my brother-in-law about the elements of these portraits, and I told him that they come down to my skill (putting people in the right frame of mind, knowing my equipment, etc.), the light or environment, and what the subject gives. Linda gave. Thank you Linda.

Nick

Nick is an old schoolmate of my son, John. They went to school together for 5 years and were great friends. I don't know all the details, but my understanding is that Nick is a pretty impressive drummer. He was something like third in the state in middle school. So John went over to jam with him and I took the opportunity to snap this when I picked him up. We all went to see Rush last year. It was pretty cool. Of course, I remember the music from when I was their age.

Marvin

Marvin's story is interesting. Marvin is Ed Finocchio's constant companion who raises awareness for the RISPCA. He has topped $100,000 in raising funds for sick, elderly, and needy animals. Consider visiting his site and making a donation today.

Ed

The RISPCA is a tremendous organization that does important work in helping animals in Rhode Island. Dr. Ed Finocchio is the President of the organization. My daughter, Grace, is passionate about helping animals. So they've met a few times now. Today, we presented them with a check, the proceeds of a bake sale fundraiser that Grace conducted at her elementary school. Through the generous contributions of many who baked (many of whom have appeared in these pages), she was able to raise more than $100 for their cause. Cheers to the animals!

John

So this completes a troika of photos of my children. I thought it was appropriate to get them all in there (again) as I am around the midpoint of this project. In a week, half the year will be gone, and I will have posted somewhere around 160 images. Despite the daily nature of this blog, I do miss some days and my objective has always been 300 images for the year. I'm on target with a little room to spare. With summer coming (maybe) and vacations, and travel, and lack of internet on occasion, it will be harder to update so the extra frames I've taken are going to be helpful.

Brendan

This is his impersonation of Matt Parkman, from the show Heroes. Parkman's particular mutation is that he can get into someone else's mind, reading it, or controlling it as needed. In order to do so, he seems to need to stand at a slight angle to them and then intently look at them, but also at an angle, never straight on. Brendan hopes to gain this power soon.

Moira

Although I thought it was successful, Moira was unsatisfied, to some extent, with the last portrait that I made of her. I thought that I would do another while I had the opportunity last week. She was dressed up for her brother's graduation. So here is the next go at it. As a freshman, she was named to the second team All-State in Track. Congratulations Moira!

Grace

Of course, this is the first picture after the terrible tragedy. Despite what must be extreme discomfort, not to mention a sense of tremendous physical and psychological loss, Grace appears to possess a calmness and accepting demeanor. I'm not sure how it happened, but I'm proud of her nonetheless. I'm sure that she'll miss that right arm, as will we.

Alan

Not planning this. But right after I released the shutter, I told him, "You might make my blog." I'm not sure what he was thinking at that point. What he was thinking at this point was probably something along the lines of, "Just buy the lens." Or something like that. So I did. Nikon's new 35mm f/1.8 DX lens. Just what I've been needing to get more in the picture. I love the old 50mm f/1.8 I've been using and this new perspective is going to take a little getting used to. But I've been needing it for a while now. Maybe I'll get more environment and context into these shots. Maybe I can tell a better story.

Felicia

It was her 19th birthday, and she was selling fresh produce at the local farmer's market with her friend, Hannah. They were sitting in the shade of the trees at the park, relaxed and friendly. When I asked them to pose for a portrait, Hannah begged off, but Felicia was eager. Turns out she's a Fine Arts major at Rhode Island College and this is her summer job. She said it beats being in the store where people are all uptight and stressed (customers). Out in the fresh air, people are happy to be where they are. After a little more talk, Hannah confessed to being a photography major at Salve Regina College - but she wanted to be behind the camera, not in front of it. Perhaps she knows what Bob Dylan meant here ~ "It rubs me the wrong way, a camera... It's a frightening thing...Cameras make ghosts out of people."

Bill

It's hard to say something about Bill. I've known him for close to 20 years is my guess. At the same time, I don't really think I know much about him at all. Married, two kids, brother-in-law to my brother-in-law. We talk about this and that. We don't affect each other much. He's a nice guy as far as I know. Speaks his mind. Plain-living and not pretentious. I don't know much more.

Roland

I'd met Roland once or twice before. He was a coworker of my sister-in-law. I believe he is somewhere else now. Or not. So unlike many, or even most, of the people with whom I discuss this project, Roland was enthusiastic and willing to be photographed. I'm taking him at face value on that. And here, after several days, is the image. Hi Roland. I know you'll be checking. Thanks for being here.

Bob

Cheesemonger. The latest appellation for this eccentric founder of the Cool Moose Party in Rhode Island. He lives here in Barrington, and runs the Cheese Plate in Warren, and runs in most elections for Governor - although the last election he ran for Lt. Governor, with a pledge to abolish the office if elected. I say eccentric, but he's sharp as a tack. He just takes a different path than most. This past weekend he gave the commencement address at the graduation of North Kingstown High School and admonished the graduates to STAY Cool. (Serve, Think, Act, Youth). Very cool.

Joanne

Following up on the theme of idealistic volunteerism of a few days ago, here is Joanne who is famous among her friends and acquaintances for having served in the Peace Corps in Belize in the 1960s, with her husband and three children at the time. Retired now, she's a sharp wit and proud grandmother.

Mary

Yesterday was the nephew's graduation. So there was lots of family about and I took the opportunity to get a few more of these done. This is one of the sisters. There are four of them (one being my wife). Now they've all made an appearance at least once. Check.

Lisa

"Idealism springs from deep feelings, but feelings are nothing without the formulated idea that keeps them whole." (Barzun) Lisa came to the door the other evening with a smile, a request, and a freshly-imprinted certificate of Idealism that came with her B.A. in Philosophy and Literature. She's a volunteer for CityYear Rhode Island and is doing a fine job. I gave her what she wanted, and she gave me what I wanted. Perfect.

Mel

Mel is the third of her four-person family to be pictured here. In addition to being a neighbor, she is also a teacher at my son's old school, and her son goes to school with my daughter. Her daughter is here too and they are easy to picture, because they are always out and about. Active, engaged, friendly - good citizens!

John

In an interview I read recently, Thomas Ruff said about his "deadpan" portraits of friends: "people say that there's little personality in it. They say that. But in a way there is because I know all of the people I photograph. Maybe the problem is that if in the same way I had photographed a famous person, it would be a different looking picture because we know another thing about this person."

John is a milkman. Early morning rounds in his cow-painted truck. Now you know another thing about him.

Amy

She's the parent-volunteer soccer team manager. It's not a hard job, but it's one that needs to be done. Communications, organization, and all of that. She does it well. I don't otherwise know her though. It's another instance where we see people a couple times per week but we don't know them. We know something about them - one or two things perhaps. And we "get to know" them over time, if this goes on. Sometimes it does. Does it help to "know" these people to appreciate their portrait?

Robert

Mr. Abbey came to Primrose Hill Elementary when Grace was going into 1st grade, taking over for a principal who had served for many, many years. He was great, making changes where needed, changing some long-standing traditions, but really providing support and continuity. He's announced that he's leaving at the end of this school year, just as my last child passes on as well. Fun fact - I believe that last year, he and the gym teacher were the only members of the instructional or leadership teams who were males. Interesting comment on education in America.

Chip

So I'm manning one of the games at the school carnival and up strolls Chip- it had been years since we've exchanged more than a passing wave. Our sons played baseball together in their younger days and now we're onto other games, other kids. His big thing though is football. He's president of the pop warner board in town. Looks like a football guy, doesn't he?

Tanja

I guess you'd have to call her a soccer mom (as is my wife). I don't look at it that way though. She's just a real interesting, real nice woman whose daughter plays soccer. We spent the day yesterday being crisped up under the sun in lovely Tiverton, RI, watching a small tournament our kids were in. They were great, and everyone was happy with two victories. Her husband, Dan, has been featured already.

Ed

I met Ed at the transfer station. We talked about the rain and rain barrels. It wasn't a bad rain, really just some mist coming down. Good for the gardens and the moss. Ed has been nominated for the Barrington High School Athletic Hall of Fame - he's going to need a portrait done for the occasion. This won't be it. One of last year's inductees was Brad Faxon.

Joe

Joe is the one-man band of Your Bike Shop, in Riverside, RI. I stopped in today for a flat repair and we talked about local wind turbines, electric cars, and skiing. I think I bought my first bike from Joe in the late 1980s, and he's still going - 23 years now, so he says. We must have purchased at least 4 or 5 bikes from him, and had countless tuneups and odds and ends attended to. Nicest bike guy I've ever met.

Miguel

I asked my son to tell me what I could say about Miguel. So ... He's the trombone player. He's funny. He wears funny shirts. All the time? Yeah.

Eli

Drummer. Quiet, I guess. I can't really say much about him - I don't play drums and I don't hang out with him. I can tell you a drummer joke (it's okay - my other son is a drummer so I'm not hatin' on drummers). So what do you call those people who hang out with the musicians in the band, you know, kind of tag along whereever they go and stuff? ... wait for it ... Drummers. Ha. No - really, it's a hard job, as they all are.