This is a recurring column by Daily Item Creative Director Spenser Hasak, featuring and discussing his favorite photos of the month.
Well, the trees are now barren, and Thanksgiving has come and gone. November certainly seemed to fly by this year.
It’s a weird month for me because on one hand, I love those first crisp nights of fall (with a hint of winter in the air), but on the other, I hate the cold weather. I’m very much looking forward to the winter sports season so I’m no longer at the mercy of Jack Frost when covering a game.
Below are a few of my favorite shots to remember November:
1) I photograph a decent amount of football over the course of the fall season, but nothing hits the same as a Thanksgiving or playoff game. I was assigned to cover KIPP and Lynn Tech’s Thanksgiving Eve game on what was likely the last “warm” evening for a few months. I was fortunate enough to be in the perfect place to capture KIPP’s Aavian Pena as he ducked coverage from Lynn Tech’s Jadiel Ortega and made a leaping touchdown catch. Something in the back of my mind told me to keep my lens trained on him. Sure enough, he tossed the football down and did a backflip in celebration. I love this shot because I felt it highlighted Pena’s athleticism, and the referee in the background with his hands up drives home the visual of a touchdown celebration.
2) Election Day was a busy day for me, running between Lynn, Peabody, and Saugus. I knew I wanted to stop at the Breed Middle School polling location in Lynn for two reasons. Number one, it was the site of the Ward 7 City Council race between Jordan Avery and Billy Devin, so that was a must in the eyes of the paper. And two, I always seem to have good luck with getting an interesting photo out of that location. After checking in with polling staff, I waited for more than 30 minutes before I spotted this boxer walking in with their human. I could tell that the dog was excited to be performing their civic duty and was hoping for a good moment. Sure enough, they hopped up to catch a glimpse of who their human was voting for in the City Council race.
3) I photographed a very intense volleyball match between Lynnfield and Lynn Classical right as the state tournament playoffs kicked off. Classical seemed to have the upper hand on Lynnfield, taking the first set. But this frame made me think the tide would change. A well-placed tip from Lynnfield’s Audrey Manning sent the entire Classical team scrambling to keep the ball in play. Despite failing to get the ball back over the net, I loved capturing this moment of dedication from the Classical team out on the court.
4) Lynn always has a fantastic ceremony put on for veterans on Veterans Day. Photographing the camaraderie and friendship of these veterans always puts a smile on my face. I also know that covering this ceremony means I’m treated to a performance from the immensely talented Lynn English Marine Corps JROTC team. Crouched in the band pit for the demonstration, I immediately knew the framing I wanted to achieve. The large American flag with its stripes, paired with the stage lighting and officials sitting on stage, created the perfect guiding lines for the frame. They draw the eye in from the left and focus directly on JROTC members Alex Gomez, left, and Jimmy Macario-Matul as they flip their rifles in unison. The darkness offstage also helped highlight the two cadets and separated them from anything distracting.
5) From a Veterans Day ceremony in Lynn we move to one in Nahant. The Johnson School put on a musical act to show appreciation to veterans, and it was a joy to cover. This photo, however, was taken before the ceremony started. I liked this quiet moment of third-grader Frederick John Blair speaking with Army Col. Dennis Treece, of Lynn. It’s these kind of images that remind me to show up early to events and always be looking because I never know when a nice moment will present itself.
