22 minute read
Photographers use their talents to raise money for organizations
View from the Steps
Local photographers support organizations in need through their craft
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The Atkins family by LKN Images.
Beverly Barry by LKN Images.
The Front Steps Project TM began as a brainstorming session between Boston-area photographer Cara Soulia and her friend Kristen Collins. They wanted a way to highlight the faces of the community during a time when shelter-at-home orders of the COVID-19 pandemic was keeping people separated. Soulia and Collins spearheaded the group, called on other photographers, and began taking images of community members in Needham, Mass., asking participants to donate money to a local nonprofit.
As word about this initiative
The Becker Family by Rachelle Anne Photography.
The Thakore Family by Gayle Shomer Photography.
spread across the country, LKN had its own photographers who decided to participate in the #FrontStepsProject by offering to photograph community members and families in the yards of their homes (while maintaining a safe distance from those being photographed). Kathleen and Ed Martin, owners of LKN Images, decided to support FeedNC ( formerly Mooresville Soup Kitchen), by asking families to donate directly to the organization in lieu of compensation for their photographs. As of May 12, LKN Images had photographed more than 700 families and
The Lewman-Chris Family by Gayle Shomer Photography. raised $46,000 for FeedNC. Ten thousand dollars of this amount was donated by the medical staff of the Lake Norman Regional Medical Center.
“I could not possibly express my gratitude for their efforts during this time of crisis and how much of an impact it will have,” says Lara Ingram, Executive Director of the organization. “FeedNC is feeding close to 1,000 individuals weekly throughout this crisis with demand growing daily. I am amazed by Ed and Kathleen, LKN Images, and the Front Steps Project and what community members can do to support each other when we come together.”
As North Carolina enters Phase 2 of the re-opening plan, LKN Images is offering to help small businesses by photographing them in front of their businesses at no cost and helping them put together messaging for social media with updates on operation hours, etc. (https:// lknimages.com/outfront). This Phase 2 initiative will be called #LKNOutFront and Kathleen hopes other towns and cities can get involved with their own variation of the hashtags.
Gayle Shomer Brezicki of Gayle Shomer Photography.
CURRENTS photographer Gayle Shomer Brezicki with Gayle Shomer Photography watched as the #FrontStepsProject began taking off across the country and wondered if she could do something similar for
Community School of Davidson photography student Rachel Young.
the school she works for as a photography instructor, The Community School of Davidson (Shomer’s two children are also students at the charter school). She began reaching out to the administration and families
offering this service, since families were all together during the shelter-at-home orders. With the help of two of her photography students, Rachel Young and Krissy Oliver-Mays, and a few of their parents, the group photographed 160 families in just a few short weeks. At press time, this fundraiser had brought in $8,000 for the school, but the amount may have been higher after the final tallies.
Another area photographer, Rachelle Thompson of Rachelle Anne Photography, offered to take photos of her neighbors in the Terrace Acres and Town Heights neighborhoods in Cornelius, asking them to donate money to local charities such as the Ada Jenkins Center and Bags of Hope.
“I am passionate about photography and the significant role that it plays our lives,” says Thompson. “I think capturing this unusual time is important so that, in the future, we can go back and experience how we felt and relive the memories of this pandemic. I don’t think any of us will experience another event quite like this again.”
As you can see, photographers took the seeds planted by the original Front Steps Project and got creative with the opportunity to photograph so many families and community members safely, while still supporting organizations that may have lost operating support due to the cancellation of spring/ summer fundraisers, etc. These professionals donating so much of their time and resources is truly an example of a community pulling together. — Renee Roberson Medical Staff at LNRMC by LKN Images.
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Live Like a Native Instant (Metallic) Messaging When your license plate* does the talking…
In this extraordinary time of social distancing and automobile drive-up, drive-by, and drive-thru, I’ve begun noticing more than ever before how many of us let our cars, trucks, and vans do our talking. Plates have long been used to do this and the messages they share run the gamut of emotion, allegiance, passion, and purpose. Seeing them on cars around us make us laugh, think, question, and wonder. Unless, of course, we know ITISLOVE. Love trumps all. Clever.
Here’s a small sample of what’s been spotted out on our local roads….
Let’s start with emotion. When times are tough and we might feel HOPELESS, perhaps we PRAYNOW, CHOOSJOY, DREAM8IG, HAVABALL or try to C@RPE DM. Sure, we should LOV L1FE and GIVITALL and be SOHAPP! but what if we are feeling SASSSSY? GUDVIBES come when you LIVEASIF, HAV PHUN, and HAVABALL so try to DOBETTER, spread GUDVIBES and make sure you are LVN HAPY. Unless, of course, you are LVN-LRG2.
I’m a huge New England sports fan so I’m drawn to plates like $OX-PAT$, NEPATS#1, SOXNPATS, NEPATRTS, FENWAY19, #9-BOSOX, and REDSOXNH. And as a rival I begrudgingly took note of New York fan plates like NYYDYNST, YANK-1, and YANKS SS just to share with you. Many drivers let their personalities shine through their license plates.
I’ve spotted military plates that support the Army USMA 1953, Navy USNA 1989, and Marines GYSGT but I’ve yet to spot anything supporting the Air Force. Does a ZOMBSLYR and a NINJAH count as military? They are out there, too.
Some plates share who we are and where we are from and also explain where we are heading. For example, TN GRL, HIPPYCHK, BAMA2LKN, DRTY WTR, and OH-2-NC!.
Others reflect our love of the local lake. On SUNIDAZE, if WELUVLKN and LOVE LKN and WELAKEIT, it’s great to be BYTHWATR and a W8KESETR. Just ask #OTFLKN and 1 LKN.
I always feel more comfortable on the road knowing I’m surrounded by professionals who can keep me safe, sound, comfortable and alive. Like 1 OR RN, NICUNRSE, DMDMD, HEALTH4U, and CLMSN RN. It’s nice to know there is an ORGNDONR out there, too.
Then there’s those who like driving and racing. ZOOMDBYU went flying by. He was right behind I M LLL 8 and I’M LATE. SLOW4ME and SLOW-ISH were far behind. If you are TRAKSIDE look for KURT#41, DALE3RCR, and RMBR #3.
As for businesses, hobbies, and loves, the possibilities are as limitless as any eight letter, number, and character combination. In Davidson you might know DANCEDAV and CYCLPATH. Or perhaps someone who likes to IMA$$AGE, RUNALOT especially if you were BNTORUN, GOLF2DAY, GO DANCE, or DRESAGE. I’m guessing H2OHOMES knows a thing or two about boats.
Anyway, license plates are pretty unique, agree? I’m sure, if you are the driving type, and you start at a starting line, you might be inclined to agree that there is NOFNSHLN.
Oh, by the way, peace and NAMASTE2. *License plates mentioned in this story come from states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, North Dakota, and Florida. — By Mike Savicki, Photography by Afterburner Communications
PicturePerfect Roadsters Righteous
READERS SHARE A FEW OF THEIR MOST PRIZED POSSESSIONS
1962 Corvette Owner: Carmen Anastasio Submitted by: Paul Summerville
1967 Camaro Submitted by Robert McCrary
1965 Ford Mustang Owner: Roger Mayhew Jr. Submitted by: Courtney Pimentel
1936 Ford Sedan Submitted by: Dave Handy
1941 Chevy Coupe Submitted by Bill Walsh
1969 Camaro Submitted by Rick Turek
1964 Corvette Stingray Submitted by Tom Cotter
1966 Ford F250 pickup truck Submitted by Bobby Villanueva
1969 Camaro Submitted by Rick Turek 2004 Corvette Lamanns Submitted by Paul Summerville 1959 Chevy Belair Submitted by Linda Hedger
LIFE
Unexpected
Allison Andrews embraces the unknown during travel planning
Story and Photography by Allison Andrews
TOP: A North Carolina bison ranch provided a quiet place of respite.
RIGHT: A first-time trip to Burlington, Vermont.
pulled up to the renovated caboose in the middle of nowhere North Carolina. There was no one else around except for a herd of bison in a neighboring field. The trip was a short two-hour drive so I didn’t have to make any stops along the way. I was ready for a weekend of social distancing at its finest. It felt good to get out after weeks of looking at the same walls day in and day out, 24 hours a day.
It was my first real trip since my plan to visit 50 places I’ve never been the year I turned 50 was brought to a screeching halt by the Covid-19 pandemic. I was forced to cut trip number 9 short, rushing back from Europe before
the borders closed with my daughter and goddaughter in tow.
Actually, I suppose it’s fitting since the Milemarker 50 project started with my attempt to embrace the unknown. Four years ago I found myself facing an uncertain future. My 23-year marriage had come to an end. I had traded in the security of a regular paycheck for the freedom of becoming my own boss, and while I was facing 50, my daughter was facing high school.
Setting sights on a new future
In an attempt to feel a little more in control, I set my sights on a new future. Saving, sacrificing and planning for a year of travel was a fun distraction for my tired brain. Most importantly, it laid a new foundation for allowing myself to dream about what my next chapter in life could look like.
I certainly never expected it would include a mountain getaway during a pandemic. As my daughter and I unpacked the night’s dinner, I could feel my soul expanding in anticipation for what was to come, just as it had with each trip before.
In Vermont, I let someone else plan the trip and learned I don’t have to make every decision for a happy ending.
On my trip to Key West with my four sisters and mom, I was reminded that rising above adversity is in my DNA.
I went back to my smalltown roots in Tennessee and rediscovered that bigger isn’t always better.
I came home from Palm Springs believing more than ever that thoughtful gestures however small make a lasting impression.
When I stood in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, I realized the blinding power of grief as an unexpected twinge of sadness briefly overshadowed the bucket list moment and I felt heartbroken for my daughter that her dad was not here to share in her excitement.
Trip by trip I am reminded that I am more than capable of creating a wonderful life even if it doesn’t look like I expected. 2020 isn’t turning out the way any of us imagined. The truth is before this pandemic life was just as uncertain, we just didn’t think about it. I stopped thinking life was certain four years ago.
Andrews with her daughter and goddaughter in Geneva, Switzerland.
For all I know, my quest can resume . . . or maybe it won’t. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy the simple moments, like watching the sun set over the mountains, for what they are worth.
You can follow Andrews’ journey at milemarker50.com or on Instagram @milemarker_50.
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WANT TO TRAVEL AGAIN?
No need to start a new Netflix series to pass the time in quarantine. Entertain yourself instead by planning a trip for when life gets back to normal. It will give you something to look forward to and distract you from the heaviness of facing the social distancing life every day.
• Before choosing a location, consider how impacted an area was by the coronavirus crisis. The hardest hit areas may have the most restrictions. You want to be sure that you can safely enjoy the area you are planning to visit.
• If you aren’t sure where you want to go, Skyscanner.com is a great site for finding the cheapest locations from any airport.
• Flights right now are the cheapest they are going to get for awhile. Experts expect prices to climb sharply
as soon as travel restrictions lift. That makes now a good time to plan for travel at least six months out.
• Most airlines are making it easy to book and cancel flights at no charge if needed. Just be sure to check the fine print.
• Hotels have also eased booking and cancellation policies including for prepaid rates that are usually discounted and nonrefundable.
• Masks and hand sanitizer should be a staple of your travel pack regardless of restrictions in place at the time of travel.
• Keep all your travel planning notes in one Google Doc. This allows you to share the information easily if you are planning it with someone else.
Under normal conditions you might not have had the time to fully research all the places to go and things to do in order to fully maximize your trip. See, there’s always a silver lining. Safe travels!
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ROLL Model
by Aaron Garcia | photography courtesy of Kaitlyn Vincie
Fox Sports’ Vincie hopes her career inspires her daughter and others
Top: With daughter Kadence and husband Blake Harris.
Left: On the set of Race Hub.
Right: With Jeff Gordon.
Bottom: Interviewing Dale Earnhardt Jr.
There have been moments over the past few months when Kaitlyn Vincie’s goals, hopes and accomplishments have intersected right in front of her eyes, but perhaps none have been more obvious than when her 2-year-old daughter, Kadence, stops toddling for a beat to watch her mommy on the television.
Thanks to this spring’s stay-at-home orders, Vincie, a member of Fox Sports’ on-air racing coverage, would tape her programming each morning at 7:45 from a spare-bedroom-turned-studio in the home she shares with husband Blake Harris, an accomplished car chief for NASCAR driver Martin Truex, Jr. With several races postponed or cancelled throughout April, the family was typically together when Vincie’s face would pop up on the screen during the popular NASCAR Race Hub broadcast each evening.
And in those moments, Kaitlyn Vincie was accomplishing exactly what she set out to do.
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Vince hopes to inspire her daughter, Kadence, to follow her own passions one day.
A race to the start
Vincie, now a Denver resident, had already decided to break into sports journalism when she first saw the pit area at the Richmond International Speedway as a college student. Visiting as a fan, she recalls being “fascinated” at watching the road crews behind the scenes.
“I thought to myself, if I could become a journalist in that sport, I’ll feel like I’ve accomplished something because I didn’t grow up around racing,” says Vincie. “I didn’t work on cars. My dad wasn’t a crew chief. I would have to learn everything from the ground up. So that’s what I started doing.”
Vincie dove in with a NASCAR column in her school newspaper and landed a summer internship in Charlotte with what is now the CARS Tour, a lower-level racing circuit. She also noticed a relative dearth of female racing journalists, especially in comparison to stick-andball sports like basketball, basketball and football, a fact that helped motivate her while she was making just $100 per week in her first real job as a reporter and host of a racing show covering lower-tier racing at 9,000-seat Langley Speedway, just east of Newport News.
“I still had to waitress and work at a tanning salon to pay my bills,” recalls Vincie. “But I knew in the end it was going to pay off doing the local level because it was still going to get (me) the experience (I) needed.
The rest of the story
Her star began to rise in earnest, though, when she started producing her own NASCARfocused content on the side. Before long, NASCAR Illustrated magazine began sharing some of her YouTube videos on its SceneDaily web page, which introduced her to a much larger audience. From there she accepted an off-air position with the television channel SPEED, now known as Fox Sports 1. Within a few months, Vincie transitioned into an on-air role in 2012. In the time since, Vincie has become a mainstay of the Fox’s racing coverage. This season she added host of NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition to a workload that already included hosting the pre-race show for the NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series, as well as reporting for RACE HUB and NASCAR RACEDAY.
“I’m very fortunate that there are people at Fox Sports that believed in me, even when I probably didn’t deserve it,” says Vincie. “I think they knew how dedicated I was to it and how much I loved racing and how much I would put into this sport to really learn it, to really make the connections in the garage area and to be the best storyteller possible.”
As Kadence gets older, Vincie says she hopes her daughter notices not just her image on the screen, but the opportunities it represents. She’ll hear about the hours spent waiting tables, cleaning tanning booths and making her own way. Most importantly, she’ll see the result.
“I want to be one of those stories for her,” says Vincie.
Learn more about Kaitlyn at:
https://www.foxsports.com/presspass/bios/on-air/kaitlyn vincie Website: http://www.kaitlynvincie.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/kaitlyn_vincie Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kaitlynvincie
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Moments & Memories in the Now…
A father’s letter to his daughter
by Mike Savicki photography by Mike Savicki
Caroline
Dear Caroline,
Every June for the past six years, I have written you a letter for Father’s Day. I’ve used this space to share silly stories like how I literally drove so far below the speed limit bringing you and Mommy home from the hospital that people thought we had either gotten lost or ran out of gas. And how I didn’t know enough about putting you down to sleep those first few nights, so I held you in my arms for hours on end while fighting off sleep of my own. I cherish this opportunity to write to you. These words are like a literal time capsule, an attempted snapshot of a fleeting life which seems to fly no matter how hard I try to slow it down.
But these last three or four months in particular have been unlike anything any modern-day parent has even experienced so that’s what I’d like to write about this year. I’m not smart enough to explain what a global pandemic is, but what I can do is share what it has been like to be your Dad as we spent nearly every waking, sleeping, eating, drinking, learning, loving, and playing moment together at home working to help make this pass. Maybe years down the road this time will seem like nothing more than a speed bump but in the moment—in the now—it has seemed like an overflowing Santa-sized bag of milestones, moments, and memories.
To begin, proclaiming it was time for you to ride your bike without training wheels, you grabbed a wrench and made it happen. By the time I was done fumbling for my camera, you nearly had the pedals screwed on and were heading up the driveway with a huge grin and overflowing sense of pride. Great job.
When it came time to begin remote learning and doing school at home, while I think neither of us really knew what to expect, you embraced it with more enthusiasm and energy than I could have hoped. I loved watching you prepare for Zooms, complete science experiments (making “rain” out of shaving cream, water, and food coloring was my favorite), doing math (and more math), and writing letters and drawing pictures for others (including Mo Willems).
I was afraid being isolated would be difficult but what I saw was the opposite. In the absence of being with actual friends, you developed an amazingly alive and interconnected community of stuffed animals and dolls, going so far as to give every single one of them a name and a birthday then noting each date on the calendar. Who knew so many of them would have birthdays in March, April and May?
Truth be told, during this stay-at-home period, I have learned as much from you as I hope you have learned from me. I have learned that schedules can be flexible, it’s OK to sometimes stay in pajamas all day, you can eat breakfast for dinner, and children have voices. I’ve learned more about humor as medicine, too. And I have learned from you that it is OK to play all day. When this quarantine ends, I hope we continue to live this way.
So, Caroline, thanks again for being you and for helping me become a better version of me this year. Thanks for forgiving me when I made mistakes and thanks for challenging me in everything from basketball and biking to fatherhood. I’m so proud of you.
Love, Daddy
lake
Builder Rodney Graham says the decision to vault the ceilings of the home was the most impactful design decision.
Spaces
How we live at the lake
