Sunday morning. Greenwich Village, NYC.
The Candidate
In 2018 one candidate for governor of Connecticut stood out from all the others when it came to experience, understanding and know-how, but running as an independent - some would argue - he never had a chance.
Catenary Road
On the short trip from New Haven to New York City there’s plenty to see from your seat on the train.
The Phoenix Building
On the east facing skyline of the city of Hartford there is a distinctive building of historic importance.
The Phoenix Building may be the world’s first two-sided building. Also known as the boat building it has the properties of a sail from certain angles and its presence has influenced the design of other buildings nearby. From an architectural point of view, it cannot be ignored. Read and see more in this photo essay.
The Nature of Yoga
Like running, yoga is one of the simplest forms of self-care, but in one way it is more amazing than running. Yoga is truly about only you, your mind, your body and your breath. In running you compete against yourself, the course, and distance.
In this essay, Janel of JanelOpekaYoga.com, helps show the connection between the healing powers of yoga and nature.
The Yoga Edge
Yoga can be, but is not always, a stand-alone fitness program.
Janel, of JanelOpekaYoga.com, is a committed athlete and yoga teacher. A serious cross-trainer, she uses yoga to balance off her distance running, biking, tri-training - and in this essay - shows how yoga enhances the benefits of a track workout. The latest in our series.
In performance at Black Eyed Sally’s, Hartford, Connecticut.
Restless Mountain
The Restless Mountain Bluegrass Band is four guys who met on the jam session circuit over the years and have now come together as a group. Their music is pure, clean and raw and they are developing a growing base of fans. This essay documents a recent appearance in downtown Hartford with a narrative written by the band.
Meditation
A daily meditation practice can be difficult for many people to commit to, but there is scientific evidence that it helps people bring balance to their lives. Yoga instructor and triathlete Janel Opeka explains how it helps her and how you can start in this essay.
Serious Moonlight
Photographers often speak of the golden hour, around sunrise and sunset, as the best time to take pictures outside, because of the angle of the sun. I recently got up even earlier to take advantage of the silver hour presented by a full moon on the route of my morning run. Here are the results.
Confidence
I have been working with yoga instructor and triathlete Janel Opeka to build her brand through story telling. Entrepreneurs like Janel understand that in today's image and message saturated environment the only way to connect with people is by sharing useful, credible and - yes - entertaining information. Here is one way we are doing that.
Triathlon
Janel Opeka is a yogi and a triathlete. After a long break from competition, she returned to triathlon this summer and to her surprise - with the help of her consistent yoga practice - she set a personal record and finished second. Learn more in this essay.
Janel Opeka - Yoga. Every. Day.
Yoga is a mystery to some. The poses are both simple and complex. Some wonder how it could possibly help. Others wonder how anyone could possibly get into some of the shapes. The truth is anyone can do it and the point is not what the pose looks like, but where it takes you on a personal journey toward life balance.
I worked with yoga instructor and triathlete Janel Opeka on this collaboration.
March for Our Lives
A month after a school shooting in Parkland, Florida, hundreds of thousands of students, parents and teachers took part in rallies across the country under the banner: The March for Our Lives. At the march in Hartford, Connecticut, it was clear that the message behind the rally extended far beyond the issue of gun violence and school safety. The underlying tone was one of general concern about the direction of the country and an absence of leadership in Washington, D.C.
Tuscany in Fall
In the fall the dominant colors of the Tuscan landscape are tan and green. These two colors convert well for black and white photography. And so, this small collection of photos explores the colorful countryside in shades of gray.
Hartford Reflections
This project sent me hunting for reflections on the city of Hartford. One of the dominant architectural layers of the city is compromised of glass box style buildings. All day long reflections from that glass paint adjacent buildings, people and streets.
See More.
Coltsville
Connecticut is a state at the center of gun culture in the United States.
Pushed into the middle of the debate over gun control after a mass shooting at an elementary school, it is also a state with a long history of gun manufacturing. Coltsville, a section of Hartford, is where Sam Colt made his fortune in the arms trade. The neighborhood has been designated a national park.
The Far Edge of Summer
As September draws to a close many of us make one last trip to our favorite summer locations. We can smell fall in the air and we can imagine the desolation of summer places in the raw months of winter to follow.
One such location on the east coast is the old beach borough of Watch Hill, Rhode Island.
Authentic New Hampshire
Signs of the improbable began to reveal themselves early in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign. In New Hampshire, Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump were emerging as unlikely frontrunners. During several trips to New Hampshire, in January and February, it became clear to me that Sanders and Trump were breaking through with voters because they sounded "authentic." They did not speak like the professional politicians in the race and that made them more believable.
Authentic is not necessarily the same as truthful. In this context, authentic is a willingness to speak your mind even at the risk of offending a large part of the audience.