We left Indiana on January 4th, headed for Vermont and New Hampshire to photograph 2 log homes for Log Home Living magazine. Typically, we travel in a motorhome to assignments, but based upon the weather forecast and the warning from the homeowners that a motorhome wouldn’t make it up their driveway, or through the small covered bridge on their road, we decided to look at other options.
My lighting kit to photograph a log home which I’ve developed after many years of experience photographing architectural projects, is quite bulky and heavy and essentially takes up several storage compartments on my motorhome.
Since I had way too much lighting equipment to fly, we packed up my trusty Toyota 4 Runner, armed with a fresh set of Blizzaks, with about 500 lbs of lighting equipment, survival gear, cross country skis, and set out for New England.
First day was uneventful. We made it near Erie, Pennsylvania where we found a great restaurant and a hotel to spend the night. After coffee and a quick breakfast, we headed out into light snow. By the time we hit Buffalo, NY, were driving into the teeth of a major blizzard with snow coming down about an inch an hour.
We got to the first home in Vermont, and after meeting the owners, took a few exterior photos since the sun had come out. We then had a quick tour, dinner with the homeowners, and then set up to do some evening photos. Temperature was around minus 10 degrees.
Spent the night in an historic lodge, found another great spot for dinner and settled in for the night.
Next morning, grabbed a quick coffee and at first light, headed over to the home to do interior photography which took all day. The next morning we headed out for Franconia, New Hampshire to photograph home number 2. Called the homeowners, who lived on top of the mountain and they told us that the snow was coming down in large quantities and there was a good chance that roads would be closed soon.
Got to the home just about noon, had lunch and a quick tour and set up for interior photography. By 5 PM, all roads were closed on the mountain, phones weren’t working, and we weren’t able to get in touch with our hotel, the historic Franconia Inn just miles away!
The homeowners were incredibly gracious, took us upstairs where they had a large suite for friends and family to stay on ski trips. They made us a terrific dinner and we discovered that one of the homeowners was a winebroker and she opened up several bottles of terrific red wine! What a great place to get snowed in!
