Porto

12.09.09 - Porto, Portugal - Maria and I met Eunice and her friends in Porto for our long weekend at the beginning of December (something about an immaculate conception, I don't know). We spent four days tooling around town and learning about port wine.

Also we went to Foz, just outside of the city with the beach. The waves were pretty impressive and it looked like it would be a great spot in July.

-Will

Bridge built by Augustus Effiel, the same guy who built that tower in Paris.
Ahhh, John and Mei and Claudia doing photos.
We got super soaked (hehe) on Saturday walking around Gaia looking for port wine bodegas and then we got on the train. My lens fogged up but it made for a cool shot of Fiona who was sitting across from me.
John and Claudia on the bus to Foz.
John at the beach.
Doesn't this kind of look like a U2 album cover? Someone call Bono.
Crossing the Effiel Bridge. Doesn't have the same ring.
Inside the Calem Bodega.
Inside the arts and crafts bubble/Christmas market in a praça on Rua da Sá da Bandiera.
Coffee at the Café Majestic.
The grounds around the Palacio do Cristal. The palacio was not grand, but I do like the picture and the peacock.

Gypsy One-Man-Band

12.02.09 - A Coruña, Spain - Two odd things happened outside my place the last two days, so I took pictures of them from my window to show how much of a recluse I've become.

Two guys were taking apart a scaffolding and to be honest, the way they were going about it, I thought they might fall, so naturally, I grabbed my camera.

The other happened the next day when a man who appeared to be gypsy pulled up in my block with his one man band cart (complete with keyboard, trumpet and sound system) and started playing something that sounded like klezmer music. Thankfully he stopped after about 30 minutes.

-Will

They were a lot higher at one point and the whole basket and poll they were on was shaking. They didn't seem worried though.

Seems like it takes talent to pull this off. Also, my section of houses is like a really awesome amphitheater, something I never considered until he struck up the beat-box.

Thanksgiving - Euro Style

11.28.09 - A Coruña, Spain - I made Thanksgiving dinner after I was gifted cream of mushroom soup and cranberry sauce and figured there wasn't anything else to do with it, so I might as well make dinner. It took about 6 hours to get everything together and make it from scratch, but gosh darnit, I made it happen and the sweet potato casserole was awesome. The turkey was in fact dry, but so be it. Also I had to fry onions for the green bean casserole and use colored marshmallows for the sweet potatoes, but it was good.

Filipa and Roisin came over to humor me and eat food they both agreed was a bit strange. I suppose it is. But that's America.

-Will

Róisín and Filipa

Sweet potato casserole. It tastes the same, I swear.

Halloween!

10.28.09 - A Coruña, Spain - I had to give a Halloween speech at my school, so naturally, I butchered a pumpkin. I must say, it was by far the best pumpkin I've ever made. Simple, yet terrifying.

Ahhh, the simple life,

Will

Bwahahahahaha!
I made fish for lunch. First time I cooked the whole thing. It was good and not nearly as revolting as I had first thought.
Roisin helped me.

Ivan

10.22.09 - A Coruña, Spain - Roisin (other English assistant from Ireland) and I went out with my Spanish roommate Ivan to bar hop through town on a quiet Thursday. We had to drag him out before the weekend, when he heads home to Pontevedra or "al campo" as he calls it. Either way we had a good time and got home around 5:30am.

Luego,

Will

Sevilla v. Deportivo La Coruña

10.18.09 - A Coruña, Spain - Deportivo hosted Sevilla in a battle for third place and came out on top (1-0) and tied Sevilla in third. Since the team has lost ugly at Valladolid and tied rivals Gijón at home, but things seem stable overall for the Herculinos who are battling for a spot in Europe next year.

Anyway, I went to the match with my Portuguese roommate Filipa who showed me how to crack open sunflower seeds with your fingers. No beer was sold at the game, but the concessions were cheap (1€ for water), so I really didn't have much to complain about. The stadium seems a bit old, but the fans are great and the game was exciting.

We'll see how things turn out when Barcelona comes to town on Dec. 8.

-Will

A Coruña!

09.28.09 - A Coruña, Spain - I got here eventually and started taking some photos. I don't think I'm much of a street photographer, but like everyone else, I shoot what I see. The nice thing is, unlike living in Brookline, people get out and walk around here. Also, the weather is much better, so that probably helps a bit as well.

Anyway, A Coruña is famous for the Tower of Hercules, which was supposedly build by the man himself during his 12 labors and is the only remaining, functioning Roman lighthouse. There's a couple of beaches in town and a pretty solid boardwalk, minus the Jersey-type ferris wheels, etc., but still. An antique trolley runs along the shore on sunny days and between that and the antique old men walking around, it makes the city seem that much more enjoyable.

Lots of surfing in Galicia, but I haven't been out on the right day yet (I guess I can't read the waves well, bro). More on that as it develops. Working on a couple of stories right now and let me know if you are interested in coming to shoot bull season (I don't know when that is, but I feel like things get going around February and continue into the summer).

Adios until luego,

Will

Trolley driver takes an ice cream break. Cartier-Bresson watch your back.
Abovementioned, Tower of Hercules. There's a golf course next to it.

Viejo jugador.
Eh, what can I say.
Sunday afternoon.

More art.

Balaya and Savannah Morning News Launch

09.10.09 - Savannah, Ga. - Balaya announced their new partnership with the Savannah Morning News at Blowin' Smoke on Thursday afternoon. Savannah Morning News will use the Balaya Tick-it on their website to connect the community with their news. Should be exciting stuff.

-Will

Bob Nunnally, my father, introduces Tick-it. Morning News publisher Mike Traynor stands behind him.

The Savannah Morning News Tick-it run by Balaya is on www.savannahnow.com.

Bob shows the crowd how to use Tick-it.

The 99th Fisherman's Feast in the North End

08.16.09 - Boston, Mass. - Native Italians celebrated the 99th Annual Fisherman's Feast in Boston's North End on Sunday night. The four day festival honors the Madonna del Soccorso who protects the fisherman of the North End and their relatives back in Sciacca, Sicily. On Sunday the fisherman carry the two thousand pound statue around the North End accepting donations from people and local businesses. As the statue returns to the Fisherman's Club, it is blessed by three girls, representing angels, who are on balconies.

A good time was had by all.

-Will

Jake Dufresne, 7 of Stoughton, and Joshua Catallo, 6 of Medford, play paper, rock and scissors at the feet of the statue of the Madonna del Soccorso outside the Fisherman's Club in the North End, the hosts of the Fisherman's Festival.
Angel Diana Marino Karamourtopoulos, 10 of Metheun, laughs as the confetti reigns down from the rooftops after the ceremony was complete.
Angel Vitoria D'Amico blesses the statue. She is suspended over the crowd from the third floor balcony by a rope and pulley system.
Angel Diana Marino Karamourtopoulos, 10 of Metheun, her mother before heading out to the balcony wear she will give her speech.

A crowd gathers to watch the statue go by on Hanover St.
Confetti hangs from the electric wires after the ceremony is over.

Catering

08.12.09 - Dorchester, Mass. - The Big Sisters of Greater Boston took a day trip to MAX Ultimate Foods in Dorchester to learn how to cater. The staff taught them how to make pizzas and decorate cupcakes. I took pictures and proceeded to get very hungry.

-Will

Chef Liz Garvey (right) shows Mindy Cruz (pink), 10 of Boston, how to spread pizza sauce on dough.
Mindy Cruz (left), 10 of Boston, laughs with her Big Sister, Jessica Crotty while they make pizzas.

From left: Executive Pastry Chef Tania Peterson helps Deja Redrick, 12 of Dorchester, spread frosting on her cupcake.

From left: Executive Pastry Chef Tania Peterson (far right) shows the girls how to spread frosting on their cupcakes.

Water Fountain Summer Days

08.16.09 - Boston, Mass. - I love this image, but I think the end of August means the end of the fascination with water fountain photos. Suffice to say, it didn't make the paper (but perhaps the portfolio?).

I went to the Rose Kennedy Greenway on my last Herald shift in search of a "hot" photo. I usually drive by the crowd of screaming children, possibly looking for a bigger challenge (I don't know why I hate myself either), and ignore it, but being the last day, I couldn't resist and came up with this gem.

I actually just missed (Will missing a photo? Impossible!) a great photo of a guy getting soaked in the fountain on accident.

C'est la vie.

Will

Ifeoma Linda Onyenwe, 7 of Lowell, plays in the Rose Kennedy Greenway fountain along Surface Rd. in downtown Boston on a day where temperatures hung in the low 90s.

Grandma defends Grandson

08.10.09 - Quincy, Mass. - I have been called the scum of the Earth several times in my life, at least in so many words, but I would say that Ms. Florence Seyfert takes the record for the oldest person to echo those sentiments. I suppose it's fair.

Her grandson, Eric Lum, was arraigned on charges of vehicular homicide and driving while intoxicated at the Quincy District Court on Monday afternoon (my last Monday Herald Shift).

Needless to say, Ms. Seyfert thought her grandson was a good person, despite his bad decisions and I, along with the TV reporters, were there to record it.

Good photos.

Will

Leading the charge.

The Cape

08.10.09 - Provincetown, Mass. - Went to the Cape with mis amigos over the weekend and we stayed with Alex's parents in Eastham. We made the obligatory trip into Provincetown where I met Buddy at the Old Colony Tap, the man who lives in a floating house in Provincetown Harbor. One day, I will do a photo story on Buddy, but for now, you'll have to settle for this photo.

Cheers,

Will

Aforementioned Buddy.
I saw this from a distance and sprinted towards it. I think everyone else thought I was crazy. I think it was worth it though.
Damon and Sarah try to decide on dinner.
Eunice.

The dock at night.