Author: Kimsmithdesigns

Documentary filmmaker, photographer, landscape designer, author, and illustrator. "Beauty on the Wing: Life Story of the Monarch Butterfly" currently airing on PBS. Current film projects include Piping Plovers, Gloucester's Feast of St. Joseph, and Saint Peter's Fiesta. Visit my websites for more information about film and design projects at kimsmithdesigns.com, monarchbutterflyfilm.com, and pipingploverproject.org. Author/illustrator "Oh Garden of Fresh Possibilities! Notes from a Gloucester Garden."

Filming B-roll

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Stills from my B-roll. Click images to view larger.

Niles Pond October Sunrise

One of the most gorgeous, interesting, and enjoyable aspects of filmmaking I find is shooting B-roll. I am swamped with design work, organizing lecture programs, and hoping to finish the edits on my Black Swallowtail film very soon, but there is no better time of year to shoot B-roll for my Monarch film than autumn in Gloucester; the light is simply stunning, and what I like to refer to as “atmospheric.”

Niles Pond September Sunrise

B-roll further tells the story in a beautifully subtle, and alternatively not so subtle, manner and gives the project a sense of place. While filming and waiting, for example, for birds to take flight (whether swans or homies) I have my still camera readily available.

Salt Island Sunrise

The most extraordinarily beautiful things occur spontaneously. I feel so very fortunate to see, and in turn share, the natural world through the camera lens. Only several weeks ago while filming a spider’s web in a tree, capturing the filaments of silky webbing dancing in the light of the setting sun (with the pinky schooner Ardelle and the Dog Bar Breakwater in the background), the web’s maker came cavorting through the scene with a capture of her own!

Eastern Point

Cuppow

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What a nifty design! Joey passed along Cuppows to photograph and after photographing, I tried out the Regular Cuppow. The Cuppow fits perfectly into the mouth of a regular-mouth mason jar, sealing without leak or drip. The shape of the sippy is very comfortable and can be used with or without a straw. There are two versions, the regular-mouth Cupow and the wide-mouth Cuppow. For the large and small jars that Felicia and Jill were selling this summer, the regular-mouth Cuppow fits both. The Cuppow is reusable, recyclable, free of BPA and phthalates, made in the U.S, and modestly priced at 7.95.

Cuppow was conceived of and designed by Aaron Panone and Joshua Resnikoff. Resnikoff is a Masters of Science in Biomedical Engineering student at Tufts and Panone is a designer/engineer who works with the collaborative creative business incubator Fringe, located in Union Square Somerville. Check out Aaron’s website aarn_wrks_dsn to see some of his other collaborations and projects, and also his very yummy looking food blog  lick my balsamic.

Note to the designers: I love the look of the clearish-whitish-opaque plastic, but it blends so well with its surroundings and for that reason, I can easily see myself misplacing. Perhaps color could be added to the plastic.

Kent Christman, Master Carpenter

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Several weeks ago I visited my friend Kent at his wood working shop in Cambridge. You may recall that we featured his wife Lyda Kuth and her beautiful new film, Love and Other Anxieties, this past summer.

It was my lucky day because Kent had just completed a commission for this exquisite table and was setting it up to show his friend Norm Abram (This Old House). The table is both a dining table, when fully assembled, and a collection of stand alone side tables. I thought GMG readers would like to see not only snapshots of the table, but the way in which Kent documented the fabrication of the custom table–an exceptional example of both an instructional how-to and marketing tool for designers and builders. From the initial concept mock-up to the laser engraved labels, Kent beautifully photographed every step of the construction process in Link to Custom Table Fabrication Process.

Kent Christman

Heart of the Home

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The 5th Annual Heart of the Home Kitchen Tour to benefit the Wenham Museum, Saturday, October 13. For tickets to the tour, call the museum at 978-468-2377 or purchase online at www.wenhammuseum.org

Be inspired by nine extraordinary kitchens in Beverly Farms, Boxford, Hamilton, Wenham, Ipswich, and Manchester By-the-Sea on the 5th Annual Heart of the Home Kitchen Tour to benefit the Wenham Museum on Saturday, October 13 from 11am to 4pm. Visit traditional and contemporary homes that highlight interior design in the room that is the heart of every home—the kitchen.

Get the party started in an open-concept kitchen with plenty of room for guests at an oversized island and cocktail lounge!  Remodeling? Find inspiration in a kitchen honoring the home’s 1765 heritage with historical elements blended with the conveniences needed for a busy 21ST century family, and “Take Joy!” as a whimsical menagerie greets you in a bountiful garden as you enter into a retro 1940’s kitchen bursting with colorfully painted cabinets, Big Chill appliances, and a circus train traveling around the ceiling! Visitors will discover how families lived and cooked more than three centuries ago with a visit to the cooking hearth in the museum’s 17-century Claflin-Richard’s House.

Tour guests are encouraged to bring a donation of non-perishable food to the museum on the day of the tour. Food donations will benefit the North Shore Families serviced through Beverly Bootstraps. Donations may also be delivered to the museum at 132 Main Street, Wenham, MA now through October 15, 2012. A link to the list of the top ten food items needed is posted on the museum’s website.

The museum is grateful to event co-chair Yvonne Blacker: Designer and Marketing Director at Designer Bath, and to the event volunteers, homeowners and designers including Howell Custom Building Group, lmk interiors, ltd, Meadowview Construction, Northshore Kitchens Plus, Wilson Kelsey Design, Inc., New England Design Works, and Designer Bath and Salem Plumbing as well as additional kitchen tour sponsors Renewal by Anderson, and the Salem Five Charitable Foundation, all who made this event possible.

Tickets to the tour include admission to the museum currently featuring It’s a Snap! Community LEGO Art now open through October 21 followed by the Train Time 17: Model Train Exhibit, November 9 – February 24. Proceeds from the kitchen tour benefit the museum’s educational programs and exhibitions, which help to educate over 3,500 school children and 35,000 annual visitors. For tickets to the tour, call the museum at 978-468-2377 or purchase them online at www.wenhammuseum.org.

Before and After Photos

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Willowdale Estate April 2008

In preparing for the lecture I am presenting tomorrow at Long Hill in Beverly, I came across several “before” photo of Willowdale Estate, from the spring of 2008, which was the year I began working on the gardens.

Taming the Wisteria Willowdale Estate Spring 2008

I’ve learned over the years to always take the all-important “before” photos. Clients, and prospective clients, love, love to see the transformation documented!

Five months later, September 2008. We created a “wisteria arbor” that guests could pass through.

Willowdale Estate May 2012

The Women’s Fund of Essex County’s 10th Annual Grant Awards Luncheon

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Miranda Russell

Essex County, MA, September, 2012 – The Women’s Fund of Essex County will host its 10th Annual Grant Awards Luncheon on Thursday, October 18, 2012 from 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Peabody Marriott Hotel, 8 Centennial Dr. Peabody, MA.  The Annual Luncheon will recognize and honor the recipients of the Fund’s 2012 grant awards in the funding field of Economic Self-Sufficiency and Security, including Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence, Citizens for Adequate Housing, COMPASS for Kids, Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley, Inc., Girls Inc. of Greater Haverhill, Girls Inc. of Lynn, HAWC (Healing Abuse, Working for Change), Healthy Directions, Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center/ Girls Inc. of the Seacoast Area, Wellspring House, YMCA of the North Shore and YWCA of Greater Lawrence.

As a special thank you to The Women’s Fund’s donors and supporters, the Luncheon will also include entertainment by Essex County resident Miranda Russell, a dynamic singer whose interpretations of the great popular songs of our day, as well as American Songbook classics, have earned her praise from critics and audiences throughout the region and in Europe.  “Miranda Russell will knock your socks off – should you be wearing any this close to the beach”, noted the Boston Phoenix.

The Women’s Fund of Essex County is an organization of energetic, dedicated women helping to change the lives of women and girls in Essex County.  Founded in 2003 to promote philanthropy and to raise and distribute funds to organizations that provide opportunities and promote solutions for women and girls in need throughout Essex County, the Fund has awarded over $500,000 in grants to Essex County non-profit organizations to date.  The Women’s Fund is a field of interest fund of Essex County Community Foundation located in Danvers, MA.

To purchase tickets to the Luncheon and learn more about The Women’s Fund, please visit www.thewomensfundec.org.

 

Beefcake, Ball Buster, and Adoring Dad

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I don’t have skinny jeans or moon shots however, I thought you all would love to see this photo of Joey wearing Eloise’s headband.

More snapshots of our beefcake, ball busting, adoring Dad to Eloise and Madeline, and GMG Chief.

Joey, after a twelve hour day down at the dock, with the girls, at Felicia’s for dinner

Donna Ardizonni, Sista Felicia, Joey, and VB Goudie live broadcast Fox Zip Trip to Gloucester

Clear History Filming Seaplane in Gloucester This Afternoon

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A dense blanket of fog came rolling in from the east this afternoon and really put a damper on the film crew’s efforts at filming the seaplane. The scene was gorgeous, but it looked impossibly unsafe to fly and to navigate through all the boats in the harbor. I am hoping the weather clears up for the film crew.

New Larry David Film Clear History in production. Read More in the Hollywood Reporter

Adele’s Skyfall and Happy Global James Bond Day!

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Adele’s intoxicating voice along with the 77 piece orchestra for Skyfall is every sultry second a new classic Bond theme.

Skyfall premiered on Adele’s website this morning at 0:07.

Skyfall was co-written by Adele and and Paul Epworth and was recorded at Abbey Road Studios. Epworth co-wrote and produced Rolling in the Deep. Skyfall displaced Rihanna’s Diamonds from the top of the iTunes chart this morning. The U.K.’s The Telegraph reports, “Previous Bond theme artists have all failed to take their songs to the top of the charts, including Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Tom Jones, and Madonna. Duran Duran made it to number two in 1985 with A View to a Kill.

The single’s release comes exactly 50 years to the day since the world premiere of the first Bond movie, Dr No. And the film company behind the 007 franchise has designated today Global James Bond Day, with a number of activities to mark the anniversary.”

The film, Skyfall 007, starring Daniel Craig as Bond, is premiering on October 26.

5th Annual Designer’s Lunch

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The lobby and the entryway of the Boston Design Center were decorated with stunning and intoxicatingly fragrant floral arrangements created with gardenias, white roses, and Stephanotis floribunda.

Yesterday the Boston Design Center held its Fifth Annual Lunch Designer’s Lunch. The center was packed and abuzz with attendees eager to hear the guest speakers from New England Home Magazine’s editorial department. I had client work to accomplish while there and had to limit myself to one speaker. I was most interested in hearing Stacy Kunstel, the Home Editor for New England Home Magazine, speak on styling and photographing tips for interior scenes and she did not disappoint, sharing many great ideas and lots of before and after photos.

Stacy Kunstel, Home Editor New England Home Magazine 

View of Boston Harbor from the top of the Boston Design Center Parking Garage

A Roaring Time was Had by All!

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Gerald Fandetti, Senator Bruce Tarr, Briar Fandetti-Forsythe

Last evening was a combined celebration of the ribbon cutting ceremony for the completion of the Willowdale Estate Coach House AND the 5th Anniversary party for the estate. Willowdale is a shining example of the Massachusetts Historic Curatorship Program. Senator Tarr was there to show his support for the curatorship program and to congratulate the family on their tremendous success.

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The hostess and guests were dressed in smashing 1920’s inspired costumes, champagne and crazy delicious refreshments kept the party-goers energized, a swing band had the joint jumpin’, the tent was beautifully illuminated and aglow, and the garden glistened in the warm misty rain.  A roaring time was had by all!

Briar Forsythe, curator and proprietor of Willlowdale Estate

The Roaring Twenties, or as the French dubbed the period “Années Folles” (“Crazy Years”), was the time during which Bradley Palmer entertained in high style at Willowdale Estate, formerly referred to as the Bradley Palmer Estate. Willowdale Estate is the absolutely ideal venue for a twenties inspired celebration!

Oh Joy! ~ Sailor Stan’s Sunflower

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Happy to see cerulean skies and Mr. Sunny this morning–even if only briefly!

Shutter 1/280 Aperture 6/4 ISO 320Sailor Stan’s Sunflower Rocky Neck Gloucester

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To view larger, click on the image. At my Close-up Photography Workshop yesterday, one of the students, who also follows my blog and GMG requested that I, or any of the GMG contributors, include the extended photo information. It is time consuming to retrieve this information and I am not sure I will always be able to accommodate although I do believe it is a great learning tool. In the above image, to see the extended information, run the cursor over the image and it will be displayed with the title. Let me know if you find this information helpful.

Sista Felicia’s Amazing Smoked Mackerel

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My lucky day–I just happened by at Captain Joe’s dock as Felicia was bringing by a plate of her freshly smoked and deliciously warm and sweet mackerel. Is there anything that woman can’t cook, and cook beautifully??

Skipper Richie Cassola enjoying Felicia’s smoked mackerel

See GMG post from September 2010 when Captain Richie kept on hauling lobster gear with a fish hook stuck in his finger. Ouch!

And the recent post about Skipper Richie’s mutant speckled lobster landing.

Getting ready for my close-up photography workshop tomorrow

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Native Flowering Dogwood ~ Cornus florida rubra

I am so excited to be teaching my photography workshop tomorrow. I’ve created an over arching superstructure for the class, from covering camera and photography basics, relevant to close-up photography, onto very specific techniques for capturing wildlife, and even more specific tips for individual species of butterflies.

I’ve been pouring over thousands upon thousands of photos and with over one hundred photos for the slide presentation, each technique will be comprehensively illustrated.

Several of the students have emailed and I am looking forward to meeting everyone. I hope to see you there.  Nature in Focus.

Eastern Tailed-blues ~ Everes comyntas

The Eastern Tailed-blue is a relatively small species of butterfly with a total wingspan of approximately one inch. It was at first very surprising to find a little group, of about a dozen or so, wandering around this pink zinnia. Eastern Tailed-blues are very skittish and generally a challenge to photograph well. I quickly realized that they had all recently   emerged from their pupal cases. Butterflies emerge from their chrysalides with wet crumpled wings and generally cannot fly until their wings are thoroughly dry. I took advantage of this fact and just snapped away while this unique opportunity presented itself.

From Germany to Logan to Gloucester, for Butterflies!

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I sent the following to the Boss this morning: Thought you would like to know–Last night at sunset I was filming B roll at the EP Lighthouse. A German couple was there, with binoculars, and they had just arrived from Germany. I asked what they were looking for and they said, “Monarchs,” because they had seen all the butterfly postings on GMG, not only mine, Donna’s, too, and all the comments. Sometimes I think I am posting TMI about butterflies, but I thought you would think this pretty funny, and amazing; straight away from Germany to Logan to Gloucester, for butterflies!

To the lovely couple from Germany that was at the Lighthouse yesterday: Come on down to the dock to get your GMG sticker and meet Joey C, the creator of Good Morning Gloucester. He’d love to meet you!  Captain Joe and Sons is located at 95 East Main Street.

Dogbar Breakwater Eastern Point, Gloucester

Thank you Kate for the Black Swallowtail Chrysalis!

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Last week while filming on Eastern Point I had the pleasure to meet Kate, who works at Wolf Hill. She was with a friend and they were looking for butterflies through binoculars. I had seen Kate often at the garden center, but never stopped to chat. We were talking about all things butterfly when she mentioned that she had a Black Swallowtail caterpillar on a parsley plant back at the nursery office. She offered the caterpillar to me and I gladly accepted. My Black Swallowtail film is nearing completion but there was one missing piece to the story.

Black Swallowtail Chrysalis ~ Green Form

The swallowtail chrysalides that I had on film were all greenish gold. Oftentimes the Black Swallowtail chyrsalis will turn a woody brown, but no matter how hard I looked, I could not find a woody brown chrysalis. Not showing the brown form, I knew, would confuse viewers, especially families who are interested in raising swallowtails.

Kate’s caterpillar pupated while she was away from work for a few days. When she returned she found the chrysalis had wandered from the parsley plant and it had pupated on the razor thin edge of an envelope-as office caterpillars are want to do. Well, you guessed it–the Wolf Hill pupa was the brown form!

Black Swallowtail Chrysalis ~ Brown Form

I know it is said often on the pages of this blog, but Kate’s thoughfullness goes to show once again what a beautiful community is Gloucester–stunning visually, and most special of all, are the beautiful, kind-hearted people who call Gloucester home.  Thank you Kate!

Not finding a brown chrysalis is a relatively escoteric problem, to say the least, but I think you will agree that the two forms of the pupal case are remarkably different in appearance. In this photo you can see where I have taped the envelope behind a tree trunk in order to film. This is how you would find the chrysalis in a more natural setting.

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There are several openings  remaining in my Close-up Photography Workshop at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, which will be held this coming Sunday morning at 9:00 am. I would love to see you there! Follow this link to register.

Capturing a sharply in focus close-up of a butterfly, especially one in mid-flight, is one of the greatest challenges of photography and I will be revealing techniques such as these, and more; techniques that have taken many, many hours over many years to perfect. All the photos I have shot in the past year and a half were taken not with a zoom lens, but were shot with a 23mm prime lens. I am typically photographing within a foot’s distance of the butterflies!

Fujifilm X series cameras pose their own set of challenges, especially when shooting close-up. Fujifilm X series owner’s especially may find this class helpful.

Farewell Monarchs

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Inquiring minds want to know, “Where do the Monarchs go?” I am often asked this question, not by children, but by adults. Most children have studied, or are studying, the butterfly life cycle and the have some degree of knowledge about the Monarch migration. The reason the majority of adults never learned about the Monarch butterfly migration is because the great mystery of their winter destination was only discovered as recently as 1975! The Monarchs that are journeying through Gloucester at this time of year travel approximately 2,000 miles to the transvolcanic mountaintops of  south central Mexico, near the town of Angangueo. I have the National Geographic issue from 1975 that tells the tale of one man’s determination, including all the scientific intrigue that goes with great discoveries, and I will try to post more about this fascinating story in the coming weeks.

As everyone who reads GMG probably knows by now, I am in the midst of shooting my Monarch film. What you may not know is that I have written and illustrated a book that tells the story of this most exquisite of creatures and its extraordinary journey. I am hoping to find a publisher. If anyone knows a friend of a friend of a friend, or has a suggestion for a very high quality publisher or top-notch agent, please let me know. Thank you.

Thank you Donna Ardizonni, GMG, Rose, and the DPW for solving the trash problem at the Lighthouse!

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6:30 AM This Morning

Just yesterday-

Trash at Eastern Point Lighthouse Parking Lot

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Kim Smith