We're on the Road with Tom Hussey: Northern Lights

Northern Lights was a five-day project conceived with a love for all things handcrafted. Vermont has a great number of artisans working a craft that long ago was outsourced or taken over by machinery.  When  Tom started planning the trip it was referred to as a “Cheese Tour.”

Tom wanted to get to know and photograph the people raising the animals, making the cheese and taking it to the world market. As he was researching the cheese process, he discovered there were numerous other handcrafts produced in Vermont—thus the scope of the project expanded a bit.  He photographed six different cheese producers—loving every one for different reasons. He met other craftspeople as Calley Hastings, a wonderful woman using goat’s milk creatively to make  craft caramel in a rapidly growing business. He also discovered Timothy Clark Furniture—handcrafted incredible Windsor-style chairs and benches. White Room Custom Skis, owned by Vin Faraci, are custom fit to each person with gorgeous hardwood-laminated designs on the ski tops. Inspired by the journey, the people, their passion and the goods they create, Tom found hardy New Englanders are keeping the tradition of hand creation alive and well—even thriving. 

See more of Tom’s images for Northern Lights here and follow Tom @tomhusseyphotography for his latest stories and updates.

Tom Hussey Shoots Visionary Work for the New Drug XIPERE

Tom Hussey always captures eye-popping imagery, which works especially well for the branded promotion he recently shot for the new drug XIPERE. XIPERE treats Macular Edema associated with uveitis, a form of eye inflammation that affects the middle layer of tissue in the eye wall (uvea) when the immune system is fighting an infection.

To present the drug in a more entertaining light, Tom went over the top and did a nationwide casting call to find contortionists who could advertise the drug. In vibrant, colorful imagery, Tom captures bodies in action—bending, twisting and contorting themselves in shapes to mimic the structure of the ocular wall. It’s a visually elegant presentation targeting the efficacy of the drug in a natural and holistic way—easy on the eye you might say. The promotion is appearing now online at the XIPERE site and their Social Media. See more and follow Tom’s work @tomhusseyphotography.

Andy Goodwin Returns to Driftless for More Artisan Portraiture

As part of Andy’s ongoing project of taking portraits of some of the many wonderful artists in Wisconsin’s Driftless region, he made a special trip to photograph John Walte and his wife Pam Callahan who  he had heard so much about. Like  Andy, they are originally from Chicago but now live in one of those lush rolling valleys that he has come to love up here. Besides their beautiful art work (Pam - Painter, John - Photographer), they have also become stewards of their 150-acre farm and have taken on the responsibility of a "post-agriculture eco-transformation.” Making friends has become as important as taking pictures on this pro bono project, and  Andy can’t wait to get back in the spring to spend more time exploring this magical place. See more of the Driftless community here. Follow Andy @agoodwinphoto for more updates and stories.

John Walte - Photographer

Pam Callahan - Painter

Laura Annis - Multidimensional Painter, Woodworker and Welder

Claudio Napolitano Lights Up “Les Miserables” Promotion for Mexico City

Claudio  Napolitano, the award-winning international master of light and motion, has focused his talents on the official promotion for the “Les Miserables”  production in Mexico City.  The stunning  imagery shot on location in the theater uses a mixture of natural and strobe lighting and has been produced in strict accordance with the play’s London standards. Claudio collaborated closely with the show’s lighting team and worked from the original stage and light design to recreate a fantasy between reality and the world of the play. It’s like looking into a fabulous theatrical dollhouse with the actors on site in every scene getting ready with props and costumes to put on a show.

“There is always a hero in each story”—Claudio is our hero for this one. See more of his unique perspective on all things @claudionapolitano. 

We're on the Road with Tom Hussey: Cowboys Ridin' the Herd

“If you're ridin' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there with ya. ” – Anonymous American Cowboy

 Cattle have grazed land along the Texas coastline since 1749 when 3,000 settlers drove the first herd across the Rio Bravo. Fence lines divide the acres of open land, but time disappears watching the wranglers at work. Being one with your horse, tending the cattle, the dogs and the land is a hard way of life but satisfying. Texas cowboys are the ultimate in classic Western heroes.  Cell phones may have replaced Colt 45's, but the traditions and stories of the rugged range are still timeless.  See more images of Tom’s cowboys home on the range here and follow him @tomhusseypphotography for more updates and stories. Follow us on Instagram here.

Tom Hussey Creates a Digital Experience for Avocados from Mexico with Drew Brees for the 2022 Big Game

No matter who goes home with a trophy on February 13, 2022, we know who the real winner is. Tom Hussey transforms brand building with his multifaceted digital campaign specifically created for the 2022 Big Game for Avocados from Mexico (AFM), now in a new partnership with eCommerce Acceleration platform MikMak. Titled “House of Goodness,” the  AFM Digital Experience is hosted by former star quarterback Drew Brees who gives visitors a welcoming first-hand look into the “always good” world of avocados. Tom created the vibrant imagery and footage populating a virtual home featuring several unique spaces and experiences that  consumers can navigate, including: taking a selfie with Brees, watching the brand’s Big Game TV spot, discovering new guacamole recipes, purchasing avocados directly at the many shoppable touchpoints across the platform and providing in-store QR codes that drive directly to the brand’s website.

Covering print, video spots, digital and in-store promotion, Tom’s innovative and integrated approach combines the best of brand performance using data, technology and lively visuals in a digital space. The campaign has been profiled in ADWEEK, Marketing Dive and other various trade/media outlets.  Follow Tom for more updates and stories @tomhusseyphotography.

Click on Drew Brees below to Welcome You to the Big Game Kitchen

Click on the GUAC ZONE to see Drew Brees Welcome You to the Big Game Game Room

Andy Goodwin Creates Fearless Fantasy in Nightmare at the Museum Series

Andy puts a personal twist in his new composite series, Nightmare at the Museum. The tables are turned when Andy features little Violet, a precocious young scamp with spunk, who strays from her field trip and wreaks havoc in the Hall of Mammals. It’s a frightmare the animals won’t ever forget. Enjoy the whimsy of Violet’s antics and more of Andy’s Composite/CGI projects here. Follow him @agoodwinphoto for more updates and stories.

Retoucher: @jeffsatterthwaite_creative

Model: Violet Koch⁠
Inspiration: Fearless Girl Statue, Eloise at the Plaza⁠

We're on the Road with Tom Hussey: City on Ice at the Ice Fishing Extravaganza Tournament

(Note: Shot prior to the pandemic.)

A few years ago, Tom decided he was going to travel to shoot personal work once a month—ambitious but doable. One January, he  decided to go to the world’s largest Ice Fishing Tournament — The ICE FISHING EXTRAVAGANZA at Hole in the Day Bay, on Gull Lake, just north of Brainerd, Minnesota. 

He hired a local assistant, also an ice fisherman, who was a great help since he was driving a two-ton pickup truck out on to a completely frozen lake with 20,000 holes drilled into the ice. Think Swiss cheese—a nerve-racking experience.  Once he  reached the “City on Ice” he was amazed at the over 18,000 fishermen on the ice, ready for the minus 10-degree weather—a warmer year he was told. “Photographing the fishermen and the ice-fishing lifestyle made me truly appreciate the sport and the camaraderie of the participants,” he says. The ICE FISHING EXTRAVAGANZA is a charitable event awarding over $150,000.00 in prizes to the contestants while raising over $1 million to the area and local charities. Next tournament is January 22, 2022. See more of Tom’s Ice Fishing Imagery here and find more updates @tomhusseyphotography.

We're on the Road with Tom Hussey: Magic at The Candlelight Lounge

 “New Orleans life is such a night life. The thing that comes up very often is that our day doesn’t start until midnight or two in the morning.” Robert Asprin, American Author

 It’s late and we were looking for a Second Line Band to photograph with no luck. We are deep in the heart of New Orleans’ Treme district. We stop and ask a man, who introduces himself as Oswald, if there’s anywhere close by that has live music? He points across the street to a faded yellow building. His son’s band is playing later.

 The lounge is one big room, a bar, pool table and a large painted dance floor. The bartender says they got the best live music in NOLA. Around 10:30PM the bass line kicks in and the room begins to move. The band is the Treme Funktet— no playlist just old-school New Orleans music mixed with brass band, funk and some mainstream jazz. The group leader, Corey Henry, is royalty here and known for a Treme-born style of funk based in the New Orleans Second Line tradition.

Sound bounces off the plywood ceiling as the whole room seems to move to the bass line groove.  It’s getting late, but there’s no set time for the band to quit. We pay our tab and head back to the hotel as more people are pouring in. The Candlelight Lounge is the beating heart of the last live music in the Treme.

See Tom’s full gallery of images from the Candlelight Lounge here, and be sure to follow @tomhusseyphotography for more updates and stories.

Peter Rodger Presents a Winning Style in the 16th Annual Spider Awards

Peter Rodger won six prizes and was nominated for four more in the 16th Annual Spider Awards, featuring some of the world’s best Black and White photography. In the Advertising Professional category, he won first place for Outstanding Achievement with one of his recently completed HCA Healthcare campaign images. The campaign has also been selected for a special “In Focus” profile by AtEdge. Peter also won in the People Professional and Nudes categories for work from his personal series “Cheeky.”  The honored images show how he interprets life in a unique, realistic, visually alluring style.

 See the complete winning gallery here.  View Peter’s latest work, and follow him for more updates @peterrodger. 

First Place, Outstanding Achievement, Advertising Professional. Ad for HCA Healthcare Campaign: Young man helping his friend.

Honorable Mention, Advertising Professional.  Ad for HCA Healthcare Campaign: Portrait of frontline nurse.

Honorable Mention, People Professional.  “Cheeky” Crosswalk Only in Cannes.

Andy Goodwin Showcases the Artisans of Wisconsin’s Driftless Region

Once upon a real time, an adventurous photographer named Andy Goodwin visited an area  of SW Wisconsin known as the Driftless Area. It was called Driftless because it was untouched by glaciers, allowing the landscape to stay lush, rolling and a bit magical. The natural beauty of the region attracted a wide range of artists who live and practice their crafts to this day in rustic cottages, barns and old schools in towns with names like Spring Green, Baraboo and Mineral Point. The community creates everything from furniture and sculptures to beautiful pottery and paintings, opening its doors to the public for the Annual Art Tour where visitors can watch the creations being made.

Andy started documenting the artists at their crafts and became known to the community for his goodwill and pro-bono work which helped to promote their passions. In exchange, he received a creative shot in the arm, gratitude, new friendships, some wonderful art and the opportunity to show personal work at a local  gallery.

 Andy’s portraiture is like a kiss, and we all get to share in the moment and enjoy the community’s spirit.. The Moral: Great work is timeless. It reflects expert skills, a universal feel, trust in ourselves and the kindness of others to let it happen. “Driftless” is an ongoing project. Andy will be back and plans to promote the series in a gallery show, a book presentation and more multi-platform venues to spread the story across the land. See more portraits from “Driftless” here. And follow Andy @goodwinphoto.

Featured Artisans: Top Row (l to r): Edward Wohl-Woodworking; Audrey Christie-Woodcut Prints

Middle Row (l to r) Diana Johnston-Ceramics & Paintings; Winthrop Byers-Ceramics

Bottom Row (l to r) Katie & Joelle White-Ceramics; Tom Johnston-Ceramics

Agent Doug Truppe Presents The Creative Corner: Andy Goodwin Talks with Robert Frolich of Filtre Studio

Andy and Robert Frolich of Filtre Studio have worked on dozens of projects together. In this conversation they talk about their creative process and show samples of their award-winning collaborations using photography, compositing and CGI with a focus on the popular “Queen for a Day” series.

We hope you enjoy the sessions and would love to hear from you. If you are an industry creative and would like to participate and get your voice and ideas out there, feel free to contact us: hello@dougtruppe.com. Follow Andy @agoodwinphoto.

Click on the Image below to Start the Conversation.

Robert Frolich of Filtre Studio (left) talks with Andy Goodwin (right).

Walter Smith Captures the Heart of Catholic Healthcare

Walter has been busy shooting what he loves best— real people in their work settings who are heroes to those in need of  help. These stills were shot for a Catholic Health TV spot that runs locally in upstate New York.

Catholic Health’s mission — to heal, to grow, to be part of a team that makes a difference— Walter tells the story his way, always  with honesty and  integrity.  Dedicated and focused on improving health and wellness, every scene shows the heart of Catholic Healthcare and celebrates heroic frontline workers providing care to patients with respect, support and kindness. See  the finished spot here.

 And see Walter’s site waltersmithphoto.com for more stories and more updates @waltersmithphoto.

Tom Hussey Captures Baby Love for Pampers

 LOVE is in the air and on the set of P&G’s Pampers. Working his magic and reaping the rewards as he hams it up for his talent, Tom is a pro at getting babies to give up those smiles and expressions of cherubic joy and comfort. Diapers are everywhere, but Tom captures the moment and makes it easy for the client cast and crew—like the brand. See more stories and follow Tom @tomhusseyphotography.

Agent Doug Truppe Presents The Creative Corner: Photographer/Director Scott Montgomery Talks with Ari Wells, Founder and CCO of Hearth Agency

Scott Montgomery talks with client and friend Ari Wells, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Hearth Agency in San Diego, about achieving “the moment” in the collaborative process on set and behind the scenes.

We hope you enjoy the sessions and would love to hear from you. If you are an industry creative and would like to participate, get your voice and ideas out there, feel free to contact us: hello@dougtruppe.com.  Follow Scott Montgomery @scott_mont.

Click on the Image Below to Start the Conversation.

Scott Montgomery (top) with Ari Wells, Founder of Hearth Agency (bottom).

Photographer/Director Peter Rodger Documents The Race of a Lifetime for HCA Healthcare Spot

It’s a race against time and a race to get answers in the fight against illness and a better quality of life. No one shows that kind of drama better than award-winning photographer/director Peter Rodger working with BPD Advertising in their latest collaboration for HCA Healthcare. In his classic style of cinema verité and unique branding for the client, Peter documents moments of resolve, pulsing physical performance and individual human effort as HCA Healthcare teams show up, put patients first and tackle the hard work.

Days may be difficult or triumphant, but HCA Healthcare frontline workers step up to meet the challenges with compassion, fairness and respect. Every scene is a portrait of courage and commitment to show up, suit up and begin again. Peter gives us a front-row seat to the great race to cheer and support the HCA heroes in his latest 30-second spot airing now. See more of Peter’s latest work including his commercials, film, fine art and still galleries. And be sure to follow him @peterrodger as well.

Agent Doug Truppe Presents The Creative Corner: Photographer/Director Dennis Welsh Talks with Creative Director Mark Bappe of CTP, Boston

We bring a new series of candid chats between our award-winning photographers/directors and a creative of their choice from the industry.

Photographer/director Dennis Welsh, based in New England, talks with long-time friend and Creative Director Mark Bappe of CTP, Boston. Informal, informative and always honest, we look forward to doing more of these brief creative get-togethers. See witty and urbane stories and motion work from Dennis  here.

We hope you enjoy the sessions and would love to hear from you. If you are an industry creative and would like to participate, get your voice and ideas out there, feel free to contact us: hello@dougtruppe.com.

Click on the image below for the talk.

Creative Director Marke Bappe (left) with Dennis Welsh (right).

Kevin Steele Is a Winner in APA LA 2021 Off the Clock Competition

Congratulations to  Kevin Steele, an APA LA 2021 Off the Clock Competition winner,  for his black-and-white  image of a woman and her dogs from the series “Life on Pause.”   (See  earlier post on the project.)  “Life on Pause” is a personal project documenting life in quarantine in an unprecedented time.  Shot through the front door, being safe, into the space of self-isolation, the project reveals life apart and together. “As a commercial location photographer my work is full of color and emotion.  This brings me back to my roots documenting life. One camera, one prime lens, black and white. No assistants, simple,” Kevin says.

 The image  will also appear in color with text as part of an ad spread in Luerzer’s Archive  coming out mid-July. See more updates and personal work at Kevin’s Instagram.

APA LA 2021 Off the Clock winning image.

Walter Smith Documents the Year 2020 in Review

Award-winning photographer/director Walter Smith looks back at the year 2020 with a very personal and creative perspective. He shares his thoughts, his imagery and words month by month in a streamlined and reflective FlowPaper format. “2020 Year in Review” is a great documentation of his ongoing experience of the pandemic as well as changes in his personal life. It's not always pretty but it's always honest. See history here and some of his thought-provoking images below. Find ongoing updates and personal work on Walter’s Instagram as well.

Click on the image above to see the Year 2020 in Review.

Andy Goodwin Gets Personal and Wins Awards

Despite all the hardships of the past year, we can note some bright spots. Andy Goodwin had quite a rewarding and award-winning year. He was honored by Luerzer’s Archive for his “Queen for a Day” photography/CGI series created in collaboration with Filtre Studio featuring his image of the "Queen in the Kitchen."  AI-AP honored him for a movie poster shot for a horror B-movie featured at SXSW. And to top it off, Creative Quarterly recognized his personal work from the series “Isolated.” Shot during the pandemic, “Isolated” captured friends and neighbors removed from their environments and living in isolation. 

Award-winning images pre-pandemic and during the crisis.

Water Portraits below is another ongoing personal project.   Andy  spent a lot of time constructing a setup to explore the idea of shooting underwater portraits. It was a wet process where caution was needed. “One of the biggest hurdles is giving direction to the models whose heads are usually submerged, so I landed on the idea of giving the subject control of the camera with a long cable release and letting them take the picture whenever they determined to be the decisive moment,” says Andy.  A lot of fun and very cool, the portraits turned out so well that both the prestigious Communication Arts and Creative Quarterly  featured  the series.