Portraits • Headshots • Plymouth, New Hampshire

Life’s Work in Paris Call for Subjects in Montmartre, September 24-25

On Monday & Tuesday afternoons, September 24-25, I’ll be photographing people in Paris (Montmartre) for my personal portrait project, “Life’s Work.”

I’m looking for workers in their work clothes: a tattoo artist, delivery driver, waiter, soldier, sommelier, or any worker whose look is identifiable with a trade.

If you will be in Montmartre, or you know someone there who might be interested in sitting for a portrait, please email maundy@maundymitchell.com for more details.

You can learn more about the project and see last year’s workers in the U.S. and Paris here: http://maundymitchell.com/lifes-work/

Life’s Work, Part XXIV Robert, Plumber

It’s the first anniversary of Life’s Work!  This is a personal portrait project about people and their work, and about the evolution of trades and professions.  You can read more about why and where, and see more portraits in Parts I-XXIII here: http://maundymitchell.com/lifes-work/

Robert has been a plumber for nearly 35 years. He has been our plumber for more than ten years. He’s family-oriented, sociable, has a great sense of humor, and he loves dogs.

Robert, plumber, Plymouth, NH

Life’s Work, Part XXIII Zepherin, Chemical Technician

Zepherin, “Zeph,” works for an aerospace company that builds, cleans, and inspects parts which often go into jet and rocket engines. “My job is to use a variety of chemicals to clean material off these parts. [It’s] dangerous, but thorough training and the right protective equipment helps keep us safe. It’s exhausting at times, but I take pride in this work, whether it’s cleaning parts to help keep planes in the sky or rockets in space.  And someday, maybe even farther.”
Zepherin, chemical technician, Laconia, NH.  Photographed in Plymouth, NH.
Zeph’s sister, Kacey, helped him with his gloves.

You can see Parts I-XXII here: http://maundymitchell.com/lifes-work/

Life’s Work, Part XXII Maryann, Ice Cream Shop Owner

“Plymouth is a very special place. It’s something my family and I have felt since the first day we drove into town. One of my favorite shop experiences happened on a warm Saturday afternoon in the spring. Our shop was abuzz with customers. There were five girls from a visiting lacrosse team at the bar, a table full of university students, a group of long time residents, and another group of families with small children. There was laughter and smiles and stories being shared, and of course lots of ice cream. I still remember the warmth of the pride I felt for helping to create such a moment. Someone once wrote a review of the shop and said we are the ‘Cheers’ of Plymouth, a place where ‘everyone knows your name.’ That’s the kind of shop we want to be.”

Maryann, ice cream shop owner, Plymouth, NH

You can see Parts I-XXI here: http://maundymitchell.com/lifes-work/

Life’s Work, Part XXI Josh, Carpenter

Josh started carpentry when he was sixteen years old. He took a job remodelling historical buildings in New Orleans in 2001 when he was twenty-three. He did fire and flood restoration in New Orleans in his middle twenties.

Josh is also a musician. He plays guitar, drums, and conga drums. He plays rhythm guitar for The Uncle Steve Band in New Hampshire, and lends vocals when needed. He is best known, though for playing the harmonica.  He also recently won the local Dancing with the Stars competition in support of Voices Against Violence (doing Hip Hop).

I asked if he could switch carpentry to part-time and music to full-time, would he? He said no. The best thing about carpentry is he gets to make things, but “music is for fun, and somehow doing it full-time might ruin that.”

Josh has a B.S. in business, and runs his own company, ReFurbish Construction.

Josh, carpenter, Plymouth, NH

You can see Parts I-XX here: http://maundymitchell.com/lifes-work/

Life’s Work, Part XX Ellyn, Veterinarian

Dr. Ellyn Tighe has been one of the veterinarians at our clinic for many years.  She has cared for our animals through their entire lives.  If you’re like me and you need a vet who will let you know it’s okay to cry over the loss of your animals–even your pet chicken–she’s got your back.

Ellyn helps animals in the office, she performs surgery, and she travels to farms to work with large animals.  The job can be tough.  Once, she said, while helping a cow to calve during the winter, her clothes got so wet that she became frozen to the ground.  Another time, she lucked out when a bull who was charging her stumbled and got its horn stuck in the ground, which gave her enough time to draw its blood.

Ellyn, veterinarian, Plymouth, NH

Ellyn, with her dog, NicholasShe recently became a certified acupuncturist.The doctor’s bag she carries belonged to a medical doctor in Central Ohio in the 1930s.  It was a gift from her boss.Some of the tools she uses have not changed in 130 years.  Here, she holds a device that keeps a horse’s mouth open.Ellyn’s son and her friends came to watch.  Many thanks to her friend Anna for these behind-the-scenes photos!

You can see Parts I-XVIII here: http://maundymitchell.com/lifes-work/

Life’s Work, Part XVIII David, Luthier

Since the 1960s, David has been a luthier, a maker and repairer of stringed instruments. He owns the Vintage Fret Shop in Ashland, NH, and also is teaching me how to play the guitar.
When David first got this apron, many years ago, the words on it, “Master Craftsman” made him uncomfortable.  He said he didn’t feel like a master, so he decided to use a brown permanent marker to cover up that word.  Over the years, he said, the marker faded and the word master is becoming clearer and clearer.

David, luthier, Plymouth, NH

You can see Parts I-XVII of this project here: http://maundymitchell.com/lifes-work/

Steampunk Fireball Photographers Challenge

Rebecca Wipp-Ovin of Sweden chose this quarter’s Fireball Photographers’ challenge. We were challenged to a creative project called “Steampunk.” Five of us decided to participate.

I collaborated with Danee Grillo, who is the Costume Designer for the theatre program at Plymouth State University.  When Danee and I first met about the project, we showed each other images we were drawn to. Danee has always had a fascination with memento mori, or images of the dead who had been presented as if they were alive. She also wanted to incorporate machinery into the costume in a way that we haven’t seen before.

The photos I was drawn to included ones where the subject had a strong connection to the camera, the lighting was slightly flat and flattering, and the tones were earthy and yellowed, creating an antique look.

Model: Grace Brooks

Hair & makeup: Donna Cotnoir

Costume design: Danee Grillo

Photography: Maundy Mitchell

Danee designed and created all the details of this incredible costume.  She sewed the “gears” inside the clear panel of the corset.  She used the inside parts of an umbrella to create the exoskeleton of the jointed “hand.”

 

Below are some portraits from the other Fireball Photographers.

 

Corinne Hunsicker (Pennsylvania)  www.silverboxcreative.com

Hilde van der Sterren (Netherlands)  http://www.hildevandersterren.com

Oli Beer (Germany)  http://youarestunning.de/my-blog/item/106-steampunk

Rebecca Wipp Ovin (Sweden) http://www.glamourportraitsweden.se

 

You can also see more of what the Fireball Photographers created on our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/fireballphotogs/

2017 Top Nine Instagram Favorites

It was a beautiful year. Here are my most-liked images on Instagram in 2017. The very favorite was the one of me and my and my son—the sweaty, no-makeup, what-the-hell self portrait. The one where I said, “I’m enough. Our love is enough. I’m not perfect but I deserve to exist in beautiful photos.” I’m happy that so many of you can relate to that. But if you haven’t gotten in the picture in a long time—if you hide from the camera with a million reasons why you think you’re not good enough—I hope that 2018 will be your year. Your year to get in the picture and begin to appreciate how very special and beautiful you are. Happy New Year.

You can follow me on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/maundymitchell/

Life’s Work, Part XII Christiana, Créatrice de Bijoux (jewelry designer), Paris

Laurent, the fashion designer from Lab 30 (see Part XI), told us that the woman who was working there was a very talented jewelry designer, and that her work was in the boutique.  Of course, we returned to the boutique to find out more.  Christiana’s jewelry is intricate beaded work, and absolutely beautiful.  Her jewelry line is called Open to the Beautiful Bijoux Paris.  Beautiful is her favorite word.

Thanks to my friends Christina Baldwin for interpreting and Hilde van der Sterren for assisting in the studio.

 

Christiana, créatrice de bijoux (jewelry designer), Paris

You can see Parts I-XI here: http://maundymitchell.com/lifes-work/