Susan Feinman Houghton PhD Graduates From Brandeis University!
Susan Feinman Houghton was celebrated by several family and friends who congratulated her on her amazing accomplishment of receiving her PhD from The Brandeis Heller School for Social Policy and Management. This was an amazing day full of joy and inspiration. Also receiving degrees were students from over 70 countries and some of the stories told as part of the festivities were tremendous. These are photos span 24 hours and include many family images.
Susan receiving honors after many years of dedicated hard work
Susan being congratulated by Lisa Lynch, Dean of The Heller School
Vartan Gregorian after completing his inspirational remarks
Debbie with sister Susan
Another graduate celebrating!
Sculpture honoring the Spingold’s, benefactors of Brandeis, whom the Arts Center is named
Susan
Andrew Stetson on the right on trumpet leading his wonderful five piece band at the commencement
The Family!
Susan with her children Justine, James, and Mary
Justine and Mary
The girls, Justine, Clare, and Mary
Clare burning off some extra energy!
Clare
Clare jumping on the B and B bed!
Max showing off his bedjumping skills!
the gang ready for a nap
James and Clare in the North End at Modern Pastry
Susan posing for 3 seconds!
Susan posing with the musicians in the North End who serenaded her
My Teachers, Frank Pagnotta and Richard Lundgren, Lynn English High School
Here are two men that I have thanked many times over the years, but they still deserve many more thanks. I think it is safe to say they saved my life. I am not sure if they realized it at the time, but my life and my family was upside down, sinking fast. I was a resilient kid, but still could have easily slipped off the face of the earth. I met Mr Frank Pagnotta (on the left) when I was in the seventh grade. He was a strong, firm disciplinarian, expected your best, and was a fabulous music teacher. From eight grade until graduation, I worked for him in the band room, cleaning and organizing. I had keys to the school and practiced my tuba til very late in the evening, being the only one in the school. The band room was my place, my sanctuary. If it weren’t for music I never would have made it through high school. Mr Pagnotta would bring me in leftovers from the previous night and I must say his wonderful wife Marilyn was quite the cook, specializing in Italian. His many timely gestures of kindness towards me and my family was so far beyond his duties of a music teacher. His lessons of music, sensitivity, and life are still ever-present with me on my journey today. On the right is Richard Lundgren, my photography teacher. Quiet, patient, brilliant. With me, he had to be! He taught me darkroom, and the basics of the camera, F stops and shutter speed, and composition. But more importantly, he set me on a course that has brought me so much peace and happiness. He made photography amazing to me. Walking the streets with a camera in my hand is still my way to meditate. It is my way of seeing the world and meeting people. I took this photograph last month when they showed up at the same time to my recent exhibition. This is a very unusual photograph as I have never seen my two favorite teachers in the same place at the same time. I had another opportunity to thank them again.
Frank Pagnotta and Richard Lundgren
Tales and Ales, Swett’s Tavern, Newbury, Mass
I was invited to photograph “Tales and Ales,” an evening at Swett’s Tavern in historic Newbury, Mass. This was an evening of 17th century fun, particularly if you like lots of laughter from readings of scandalous stories from real court records from the past. It’s educational, hilarious, and memorable. And, guests get the royal treatment with the world’s very best ale from Ipswich Ale, a fabulous catered meal, and music from local group “O’Carolan Etcetera.” Hosted by Bethany Groff from Historic New England, presented two weekends a year, every evening is sold out well in advance. Here I present some portraits and fun photos from the evening.
Arlene
Dick
Paul
Cindy McIntire on traditional flute
O’Carolan with Paul
O’Carolan
Adrienne on hurdy-gurdy
Bethany and James
Bethany leading the cheers
Arlene
O’Carolan
Julia Zanette’s First Photography Lesson
This was Julia’s first lesson with a “real” camera, talking about F stops, shutter speeds, and composition here! She has a great art background for a 16 year old, and you can see here, she has a natural eye. We found some wonderful serendipity, as it was raining hard and we had to change plans. So we ended up in a beautiful church, my favorite restaurant, and my favorite farm.
Giselle, our favorite waitress at our favorite restaurant, “Loretta” in downtown Newburyport.
Central Congregational Church, Newburyport
Central Congregational Church
Richard from Central Congregational Church
chef at Fowle’s restaurant at the grill on Mother’s Day
Mirror scene at Fowle’s
Cat at Spencer Pierce Little Farm
Portrait of the teacher at the farm
Big Dave the pig
Scooner
“Cashmere”
edtobreatheNeedtobreathe, House of Blues, Boston Mass, May 7, 2013
The House of Blues was THE place tonight as Needtobreathe packed the place and gave everything they had for 2 hours. Based in South Carolina, led by brothers Bear and Bo Rinehart on guitar and vocals and Seth Bolt on bass, it was clear to see why this band has such a loyal following.
Clarissa Locke Goes To Prom!
I invited myself, as I have a way of doing, to take a few snaps of Clarissa before she departed for the Newburyport High School Junior Prom. It was really fun to see a really nice bunch of kids having so much fun with each other. And, to see Clarissa, so beautiful and so poised, an elegant young woman. I was so happy for both Clarissa and her “great” aunt Debbie. This beautiful day was so precious. I was so glad I was there! Here I present 23 photos of Clarissa with some of her friends…
Clarissa
Aunt Debbie with Clarissa
Clarissa with Pepper, her new BFF
Meaghan and Jeff’s Wedding, April 19, 2013
I was honored to be the photographer along with my fabulous assistant Juliet Truesdale at Meaghan and Jeff’s wedding. Meaghan was THE calmest, most gracious bride I have ever photographed. It was classy, spiritual, thoughtful, and centered around their beautiful child Jake. Here I present 24 images from this beautiful evening.
Meaghan posing, photo by Juliet Truesdale
Memories of Boston
I grew up in Lynn, Mass, about 15 miles north of Boston. But I have always loved going into “town.” I was a paperboy when I was 9 years old and earned enough monet to take myself into Boston on Saturdays to see the Red Sox. Fifty cents round trip on the bus to Wonderland, fifty cents roundtrip on the subway to Kenmore, and $1 for a bleacher seat. Damn, I guess that makes me old! I sold the Record American for 8 cents. Yes, 8 cents. My profit was a half of a cent per paper. I always loved Boston. It was so big, so busy, always something new to see. I still feel that way. One of my very favorite things in the whole wide world to do is go to Boston, walk for hours aimlessly with a camera in my hand, grazing my way across the city. I usually park on Newbury St, go up to Berklee, back down Boylston St, through the Boston Public Library, Copley, stop at the bridge at the Public Garden, then reload with coffee at The Wired Puppy. Then I find a church. I am not religious but I do love churches. Sometimes I get lucky and take photos in a church while the organist is working on a piece. Can’t get enough music. That’s why I love Berklee College of Music. If you love music, there is never a reason to be bored in Boston as there is something beautiful playing everyday somewhere in Boston, usually at Berklee.
The tragic events of Boston made me think a lot about the city and what it has given me. So much fun, so much beauty, so many great memories, many of which I have included here. I have many wonderful memories of the Boston Marathon, starting around 1972 when a bunch of friends would go to the Sox game in the morning and watch the runners in Kenmore Square when the game got out. I ran the marathon in 1983 with a time of 2:52. I must say, I have thought deeply about how much I do love Boston since the bombings. I am proud to say that I am from here. The stories of healing have been profoundly inspiring to me.
But, of course, it is the people that make up the city. Here I present some of my favorite Boston photographs, including some of Boston’s greatest healers. When I think about my times in Boston, these are the moments that are most precious to me. I hope these bring a smile, if even for a moment…
Matt Patterson of the Lynn Fire Dept, who happened to be present in a restaurant near the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon. Matt rescued 6 year old Jane Richard and helped save her life. Jane is the sister of 8 year old Martin Richard who died at the scene. I took this photo in 2012 in Lynn.
Matt Patterson’s story: http://www.itemlive.com/articles/2013/04/24/news/news81.txt
Billy Rodgers 1981, ready to turn the corner onto Boylston St
Seko, 1981 first place
My good friend Tom Carmody, 1985, ran from Boston to Hopkington, then from Hopkington to Boston in the same morning to get ready for a 12 hour race later in the year. This is tom after running 52 miles, four tenths to go. Tom was the founding director of many North Shore triathlons back in the 1980′s.
Joan Benoit Samuelson
My old friend, the late Dan Peterson, in the black shirt.
Abebe Mekonnen, 1989 Boston winner
my friend Markeety Tate, on Boylston St, always fabulous in music and personality. He stayed out of harms way on the day of the marathon.
The crew from the all star sandwich shop, the best sandwich in Boston
Ben Alleyne of the Boston African American History Museum
The Boston Public Garden
chess player in Harvard Square, from back in the Reagan days
Laura, Roxbury Presbyterian Church
Marcia, Roxbury
Rev Liz Walker, on her first day as minister at the Roxbury Presbyterian Church
Boston K9
students of Boston Conservatory at the MFA
Tremont Temple Baptist Church
Meaghan and Dad on New Years Eve at Our Ladies of Victories
me at Fenway Park January 1988 on the coldest day of the year, waiting for the first pitch
Mary, Patrice, Dennis, Nuala, and me, the nurses on the pediatric unit at Spaulding Rehab 1986
The reprimand! This photo always made me smile.
Lillian McGillicudy, Beacon Hill. “If you are going to drink and drive tonight dont’ forget to kiss your mother goodbye.”
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Sanders Hall, Harvard University
1978, Retiring John Havlicek’s number with Red Auerbach and owner Harry Mangurian on the left and John’s son Chris center
Men of peace, Revs Hurmon Hamilton and Ray Hammond
Dr Azzie Young, president and ceo of the mattapan community health center
Charmie!
The Harvard Band
Gian Carlo Buscaglia, in the North End, great performer
Boston Public Garden, springtime…
Elvis Presley at Fenway! 1989
baptism at the Cathedral of the holy cross. I stopped at the church to take a couple of photos and was asked to be the official photographer of this ceremony as none of the guests had a camera. Life has a way of doing this if you put yourself out there.
Yastrzemski! 1976
Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral Choir
Artist at the Boston Public Library
Dr Gee on Comm Ave
Cardinal O’Malley at the Cathedral of Holy Cross. I brought my lunch to the Cathedral for a quiet moment, but the Spanish confirmation was happening, so I took my camera to the front of the church and quickly snapped this photo.
Alan and Annie, me and Debbie’s friends from Seattle, doing what so many tourists do while in Boston, crossing the finishing line of the Boston Marathon. It really is a great feeling, everyone smiles…
Courtney, fab vocalist from Berklee
The famous neon sign at the Museum of Fine Arts
Hurdy Gurdy Man on Newbury St with his better half
Another beautiful smile!
Leader of the Hari Krishna parade
Man with cool sideburns at the Boston Public Library
Model on Newbury St
Boston Public Garden
Dapper and gracious man at the Public Garden
Rhett Price, Berklee grad, on the bridge at the Public Garden
Biker on Comm Ave at sunset
The one and only Rick Walker at his fab store on Newbury St
Boston Public Library
The North End celebration
An everyday, every moment sight, folks peeking at the phone. This is the new pose.
The Hurdy Gurdy Man on the bridge
The very top of the ceiling at the Old South Church on Boylston St
Another happy photographer
Man on Newbury St
biker on Newbury St
another happy musician on Newbury St
St Leonard’s Church in the North End
Ceiling painting at the Boston Public Library
courtyard at the Boston Public Library
Alison Collins of the fabulous Iris Gallery
Happy face on fashion night
fashion night
Carl Catron
pausing for one moment on Newbury St
Man on Newbury St on fashion night
First Church of Christ Scientist
woman who graciously allowed me to take her photo on Newbury St
Christiane Karam in blue in the center, being congratulated after the recent Middle Eastern Concert at Berklee where she teaches
angelic vocalist at the Berklee Middle Eastern Concert, where students from 20 countries perform together…so much love, joy, and passion together on one stage…music, one the the great healers…
Anna Talpe of Berklee, before a performance
The incredible Michael Bradley, now a Berklee grad, leading the Gospel Concert
Ioana Udroiu of Romania, performing at Berklee
Kymberli Joye Rush performing at Berklee’s Gospel Concert
Carl Catron on Boylston St taken April 28, 2013
Carl Catron and his band completing a set on Boylston St, April 28, 2013
Lovers, April 28, 2013
Garv Bomjan on the bridge, Public Garden, april 28, 2013
Klee Kai at the commons, April 28, 2013
Debbie Feinman, Beacon Hill
Young Kim at the Public Garden offering free handmade roses, taken April 28, 2013.
Aino and Vern’s 60th Wedding Anniversary!
I had the honor of photographing Aino and Vern’s 60th wedding anniversary party, having been invited by their daughter and my longtime friend Donna Dugas. It was a perfect day for this surprise party, filled with heartfelt sentiments and thank you’s from all the guests who were so grateful to be present. It was very clear that Aino and Vern were genuinely touched by having so many longtime friends present, including many from the original wedding party from April 19, 1953. I would like to that all the guests for making my job easy by being so gracious!
Hot Club of Cowtown, Marblehead Mass, April 12, 2013
Hot Club of Cowtown rambled into the Me and Thee Coffeehouse in Marblehead, Mass last night and gave an unforgettable performance. The sold out crowd was engaged from beginning to end, and I think the band broke the Marblehead curfew by about 30 minutes! Led by fiddler Elana James on fiddle and vocals, this band is in the Texas Swing Hall of Fame and it is clear to see why. With Jake Erwin on bass and Whit Smith on guitar, their incredible musicianship, comradery, and technical proficiency was superb. But beyond that, it was their genuine joy of the music and love of performing that was so mesmerizing. I would travel to their home base of Austin, Texas just to see them. Here are a few of my images from the night.
Elana James
Jake Erwin
Elana and Jake
Whit Smith
Elana James
Whit Smith, Elana James, and Jake Erwin
The Hot Club of Cowtown
