Life’s Work

This project is inspired by Irving Penn’s 1950-51 portrait project he called “Small Trades,” (which was inspired by another photographer before him.)   My intention, like Penn’s was, is to photograph people in their work clothes with the tools of their trades. These projects have a lot in common—they are a sort of social history, combined ...

This is Part II of a personal portrait project that is as much about social history as it is art.  My inspiration for this project was a similar one by Irving Penn, which he did nearly 70 years ago.  You can read more about this, as well as some other thoughts about it, in Part I, here:  https://maundymitchell.com/lifes-work-part-i/ Jim, mail carrier, ...

This is Part III of a personal portrait project about people and their work. It’s also about the evolution of trades and professions. “Life’s Work” was inspired by Irving Penn’s similar project of nearly seventy years ago. You can read more about this in Parts I and II, here: https://maundymitchell.com/lifes-work-part-i/ and here: https://maundymitchell.com/lifes-work-part-ii/ Mary Francis, minister, Plymouth, NH.

  This project is about working people and the evolution of trades and professions. “Life’s Work” was inspired by Irving Penn’s similar project of nearly seventy years ago. You can read more about this in Parts I – III, here: https://maundymitchell.com/lifes-work-part-i/ https://maundymitchell.com/lifes-work-part-ii/ https://maundymitchell.com/lifes-work-part-iii/ Yes, that was me carrying a chainsaw up the street to my studio! Fred, tree cutter, Plymouth, NH

One of my favorite quotes is by Henry David Thoreau: “Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other’s eyes for an instant?” As this project continues, my favorite expressions are the same ones I am drawn to in the portraits by Irving Penn from his similar project of nearly seventy years ago. They convey ...

On Saturday, October 21, I’ll be photographing people in Paris (Montmartre) for my project, “Life’s Work.” I’m looking for workers in their work clothes: bakers, street musicians, delivery drivers, waiters, sommeliers, 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 ...

As a portrait photographer, I am always interested in people and their expressions.  For this project, which I consider to be a continuation of one Irving Penn began in 1950, I am also looking at how the work people do has changed.  Our little town of Plymouth, New Hampshire has five female police officers.  Penn ...

In this project, I have been exploring the work of Irving Penn by actively retracing many of his choices. As I have done so, I have begun to discover some key artistic points where I am consciously diverging from his methods. Penn once said that he felt no obligation to make his subjects look kind ...

I started photographing dancers under the guidance of photographer Lois Greenfield in NYC years ago. From that work, I learned how essential it is to direct people toward your vision for an image, even if you don’t speak their language. (I don’t speak “dance,” or French. More on the French part in the next blog ...

There were many reasons for my recent trip to Paris.  One was an extraordinary exhibition of Irving Penn’s work at the Grand Palais.  This was two floors of his printed work, magazines, video, and the backdrop he used in his project “Small Trades.” I also wanted to continue “Life’s Work” in Paris. Penn first photographed workers ...

One thing I love about this project is that it’s showing how diverse trades and professions have become, in terms of gender equality and nationality in the nearly 70 years since Irving Penn photographed working people.  Then, we would not have seen a woman minister, police officer or pastry chef.  We probably also would not have ...

Across the street from my makeshift Paris studio, I found a beautiful boutique called Lab 30. My friends Christina and Hilde and I went in. I found a dress I loved and when I tried it on, I knew I would buy it. Still, I wanted to come out of the dressing room to show ...

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 ...

One day in Paris, while returning from photographing a client, I heard beautiful accordion music echoing around the corner in Montmartre. I had been hoping to photograph an accordion player in Paris for my project “Life’s Work.” I don’t speak French at all though, so I decided to wait until my friends who do speak ...

It’s always special to see my work in print.  My portraits of Jim, the mail carrier, Regina, the farmer, and Mary Francis, the minister, from my project “Life’s Work” are published in Vol. 2 of Real Small Towns.  The magazine featured a full page with portraits and an article about my project.  There are many interesting ...

This is Casino Clogston. He began fighting fires when he was sixteen years old, when his grandfather was the Fire Chief, around 1985. Firefighting equipment is getting better and safer all the time, but firefighters still regularly carry over 100 pounds of gear while they work. The hood he is wearing here inside his helmet provides ...

Anna, Nurse, Plymouth, NH “As all good ER nurses do, I learned to compartmentalize, created an ability to separate personal life from work life…My work is challenging as a whole, that’s why I like it.  After all these years I’m still learning, still growing, still being challenged. Mentally, physically, and emotionally. If I don’t do my ...

Jeff, Chef, Plymouth, NH “I became a chef to provide people with the space and opportunity to connect with each other, to take time.  Cooking for others, and the artistry involved, is a conscious act of nurturing and generosity. I’ve been a chef for 29 years and it makes me happy to do that, even ...

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 ...

Diron is a Federal Officer for the U.S. Forest Service. He covers an area of about sixty towns in and around the White Mountains of New Hampshire. He also speaks, trains, and educates others, in an effort to protect the resources and visitors to the forest.  He is a member of the Forest Service Honor ...

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 ...

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 ...

“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, ...

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. dangerous, but thorough training and the right protective equipment helps keep us safe. It’s exhausting at times, but ...

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: https://maundymitchell.com/lifes-work/ Robert has been a plumber for nearly 35 years. He has been our plumber ...

“The really satisfying part of my job is putting people in touch with things they want to read…if I get the right book to the right person, I’m enhancing who they are.” Jon, librarian, photographed in Plymouth, NH You can see Parts I-XXIV here: https://maundymitchell.com/lifes-work/

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 ...

“Welding is in everything and most people don’t realize it.  I love what I do.  I’m building America one weld at a time.” Kevin, welder, Plymouth, NH, USA You can see Parts I-XXV here: https://maundymitchell.com/lifes-work/

When I chose this AirBnB space online, it was in part because of the way I thought I’d be able to set up a studio as I continue this project. Until now, I used the direction of the light to create shadows as a “location stamp”. The Plymouth portraits, all done in my studio, have ...

In October of last year, I was working in Paris. If you have been following my project, “Life’s Work,” you know what that is about, and I had a client portrait session. While I was there, I spotted a striking looking guy through the window of the tattoo studio that was downstairs from the AirBnB ...

It’s a late September evening in Paris.  It’s chilly, but I open the window of the AirBnB in Montmartre to lean out and have a look at the sunset over the city.  In the other direction, in the middle of the cobblestone street up the hill, stands a man who has wrapped himself in a ...

Call for Workers in East London March 28, 2019 On Thursday morning, March 28, I’ll be photographing people in East London for my personal portrait project, “Life’s Work.” I’m looking for workers in their work clothes: a construction worker, delivery driver, waiter, soldier, sommelier, or any worker whose look is identifiable with a trade. If you will be ...

Scott, Parking Enforcement Officer If you have ever parked in downtown Plymouth, New Hampshire, you know that you need to bring quarters with you to put in the parking meter. One quarter gets you an hour, two gets you two hours. After that, your vehicle might get a ticket placed under the windshield wiper ...

Please meet April. She is a career martial artist with special emphases, and is also a practicing ninja. April originally trained in Okinawan Shorin-ryu Karate. More recently, she was recruited by a secretive dojo whose rules prevent her from naming it. The principles of Shorin-ryu are codified in what ...

Malik, Creature Performer, London Life’s Work is a portrait project that extends Irving Penn’s Small Trades, examining individuals based on profession.  Nearly 70 years have passed since Penn’s project. In this project, I’ve been exploring the evolution of trades and societal views on identity and jobs. Time and culture affect the link between identity & vocation, and what vocations ...

Ramon, Mime, London After I agreed to take my 12-year-old son David to London, I asked him who we should ask to be photographed for this project.  We needed to find workers in their work clothes with the tools of their trade.  David decided to challenge me: “How about a mime?”  A few email inquiries led me to Ramon ...

Sarah, Puppeteer, London When I first began emailing around to find interesting subjects for this project in London, one person gave me the names of two puppeteers.  The email included a warning though: Sarah Wright and Mark Down are “Puppetry Royalty,” and you shouldn’t really expect to get them.  But they both kindly said yes.  (Mark Down will be ...

Mark, Puppeteer When I first began emailing around to find interesting subjects for this project in London, I was given the names of two puppeteers.  The email included an interesting warning: Sarah Wright and Mark Down are “Puppetry Royalty,” and you shouldn’t really expect to get them.  To my delight, they both kindly said yes.  Sarah was in the ...

Luke, Traffic Officer, London This post marks the end of a nearly two-year personal project about people and their work, and about the evolution of trades and professions.   Life’s Work extends Irving Penn’s  Small Trades, 1950-1951.   Small Trades was rooted in work by Eugène Atget (1857 – 1927).   Each examined individuals based on profession. In 70 year jumps, each wrestled with ...

Exhibit at the Galletly Gallery Brochure for Life’s Work: Occupations and Identity. Jan. 7-31, 2020. The Galletly Gallery, Moore Center, New Hampton, NH. A press release from The Galletly Gallery: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media inquiries: Laura Dougherty, Director of Marketing & Communications (603) 677-3417, ldougherty@newhampton.org Lifes’ Work: Occupations and Identity by Maundy Mitchell New Hampton, NH, December 19, 2019 Life’s ...

Exhibit at Kimball Jenkins School of Art Do you miss art exhibits? Come see this one at Kimball Jenkins School of Art in September. It’s in the beautiful, historic Carriage House. The reception will be inside and outside on the pretty grounds. The big doors will be open for easy social distancing.  This is a project I ...