Dancing Through the Torah

September to December 2009- I spent a few months taking photographs of Orcha Dance Theatre, a group of Boston University graduates united by their passion for dance. Dance Theatre creator and choreographer Gabrielle Orcha used her passion for Judaism to inspire "Dancing Through the Torah," a modern interpretation of the Torah books.

The group is comprised of five friends that by the glittering fates of modern dance class met in the greater Boston area and have been collaborating on several dance ventures ever sense.






This specific composition was the product of a year of careful planning in hopes of taking the show on the road for a northeastern tour.








Sure enough, their hopes were realized and the group has been on and off the road December and January.



I also had the pleasure of meeting this gentleman, Ben Pender-Cudlip, a freelance videographer who's been doing an eclectic assortment of independent documentaries and artsy fartsy films in the MA-CT area. Occasionally I take his picture on the job, hopefully I'll give him a plug one on this thing one of these days.

The Credentials 7" Release Show

November 14, 2009-- Allston Punk Rock bands Anarcunts, the Credentials and the Scamps upped it in a Brighton, MA basement. Possibly the coolest lighting set up I've seen in a basement. Ever.

Delta Sigma Pi hosts Charity Denim event at Boston University's George Sherman Union

"Just Call Me John," a Portrait of One of Boston's Many Homeless

Photo and Story by Stephanie Crumley

September 21, 2009-- The stinging lash of the recession has brought many people to their knees, forcing families out of their homes and onto the streets.

Over the past year homeless families have risen 22%, according to an article in the Boston Globe. These statistics are part of the harsh reality of living in Boston, listed as the most expensive metropolitan area in the United States by the Boston Foundation.

While the homeless lifestyle is uncomfortable for most, one man embraces his homelessness in a most particular way.

The Boston community has grown accustomed to homeless panhandlers holding signs scribbled with desperate pleas for money, food or a job. John's sign stands out on the street: "Spare Change for BEER."

"I just want to get trashed and get a steak," says 58-year-old John as he smokes a cigarette he bummed off a tourist. "I don't care about anything else."

John, who refused to release his last name, has been homeless for ten years.

"I like the way I live. I'm okay with it, just as long as I have enough money for beer, cigarettes and steak," said John.

Over the past ten years he has been living in shelters and on the streets with his wife. In this time he has never seeked any form of employment outside of panhandling.

John's life was turned upside down last week when his wife of eight years left him.

"She didn't like that I was involved with a gang," said John as he stared at the sidewalk. "So she up and left."

Even with his misfortune, John continues to chat idly to the passer-byers, unphased by his recent breakup.

"I'm just going to keep getting trashed, that's all I need," said John. "Women I can get over."

Common Occurances

September 14, 2009-- Public space is trudged by all walks of life, and especially in a town such as Boston, the diversity in one 500 yard radius can sometimes be daunting. I took a post-class bike ride down to the Common and on my stroll encountered vendors vending, couples carressing and tourists treking. But the following two people drew me in with their stories and fearlessness of a camera lens.

Cowboy, a homeless jazz musician, plays a sensual melody on his
saxaphone for the Boston Common public. On his sporatic and frequent smoke breaks, he tips his hat to the attractive young women who pass by and tells them "[to] keep doing
as they do.

Trotting along the same path, I encountered another amiable troubador by the name of Patrick who was willing to chat for a bit.

Patrick has been playing music as his sole source of income ever since his job at TJ Scallywaggles, an Allston-based vegan pizza cooperative, shut down.

Initially, his unorthodox choice of instrument was more a choice of conveniance. After one of his friends upgraded

"One of my friends just upgraded his mandolin, so there was this lying around," said P. "Not to mention that it's easier to carry in my bag!"


The vegan musician tends to strum political songs to the passer-byers instead of the traditional classic rock repertoire.

"If I played classic rock covers all day long, I'd go crazy. Unless it was like hair metal songs, but I'm not sure how my listeners would feel about that."

Je suis allee, je suis retournee.

July 2009-- This is long, long overdue. During the last part of July I received a phone call from Gary, one of my dearest friends who recently located to Philly. After catching up for a few minutes he asked me if I wanted to go to France in a week for the Tour. Giving less than a week's notice to my job, spending all my savings to travel halfway around the world and crash on a floor for two weeks and see the Tour was all together way too appealing.

Bike Polo Project!

June/July 2009: For the past month and a half I have been working on a documentary about Boston bicycle polo. By working on, I mean being barraged by trial after tribulation directly followed by a misfortunate event. Despite all of our disappointments along the way, the documentary has its first rough cut (yachtzee!) and I will post it after a bit more post production work and love. Picture quality also unfortunately suffered.


































About the project:

Every week a conglomerate of bike enthusiasts trek to the Western Avenue roller hockey rink in Lower Allston. Armed with their "beater" bikes (so named because they can take multiple paving impacts) and a six pack, they take to the courts in teams of three with the intention of scoring a goal at the posts located at the rink ends.

I'm going to be following the bikers for the next few months, stay tuned to more and BETTER pictures!

Fire Fire!

April 17-- On the first beautiful night of Spring 2009, my friends decided to have a bonfire. The landlord had recently removed all the scrap wood from the backyard due to the "fire risk" issued by the Inspectional Services, so they used old railroad tracks from a nearby trainyard instead. Nothing too documentary worthy, except that scraps of trash, fence and a railroad kept this sucker alive for three hours. And, well, fire is pretty sweet.

The word of the day is: Sunburst

April 17--It's amazing what a bit of sunshine and decent weather will do for you. The cloudless sky and 60 degree weather melted the dismal exteriors of Bostonites. These are some photographs documenting the end of winter and the beginning of gorgeous spring foliage. And, of course, small aperture openings.

Allston, Rock City

March 15--I had to take some fashion pictures for a school assignment, and unfortunately a grandeur plan I had devised was unable to be executing due to scheduling difficulties (will post it when it finall becomes actualized!). Luckily my street is a derelict trash heap and I have very charismatic friends. More and better ones to come!

King Nut Editorial Photographs

March 22-- I did a few editorial photographs commenting on the King Nut salmonella scare due to rodent excrement. Ohio-based King Nut company discovered some rodent squatters left more than a few holes on the wall in September 2008. In four months, approximately 1,000 cases have been reported in 42 states, with symptoms ranging from minor stomach illnesses to severe dehydration. Only one death has been reported.

Tapes N Tapes

Feb. 24, 2009: Tapes N Tapes played the Paradise Rock Club last Tuesday, giving a performance which cannot be described as anything but "alright." The indie-alternative rock genre certainly does have a stereotypical sound, and as far as Tapes N Tapes is concerned, they did delivered. Whether people were too occupied by nostalgic thoughts of the weekend past to dance and the band was tired from the toils of tour we'll never know, but I've seen a bigger display of energy at a classical jazz concert. Thank god for my press pass, or I would've bitterly resented the fact that the money could've bought me a record and a better time.