Jesse Freidin has had a lifelong passion for photography. His obsession began as a boy with an observant curiosity and a Fisher-Price toy camera. Dogs came into the picture a bit later.

While living in San Francisco in his twenties, Freidin held various jobs, none of which grabbed him. “The only thing I loved was being a photographer,” he says. Then, one odd job created the connection that would define his future. With no previous dog experience, Freidin began working at a doggie daycare facility. His first day left him unsure about his job choice, until one memorable pit bull approached.

“We locked eyes and all of the other dogs stopped barking,” Freidin says. “Something just clicked and it was fascinating. That began my career working with dogs.”

Freidin’s goal is to photograph his subjects at their most comfortable. Photo by Jesse Freidin.

While dogs are Freidin’s specialty, he contends that his focus on dogs is actually a study of humans. “For me, photographing dogs is an exploration of our own relationships and how those relationships define us as humans,” he says. “There is something powerful about the unconditional love we develop within the dog-human bond that we don’t really see anywhere else.”

Freidin’s process is simple. He talks in depth with his clients and challenges them to open up. He finds his clients share a common behavior — they are emotionally open and able to access the love for their dogs in a very honest way. “I’m creating a safe space for people to say, ‘I value this creature and this feeling of love,’” he says. “Once that sense of trust is established, the work is just easy and fun.”

Freidin seeks to capture the dog and human bond. Photo by Jesse Freidin.

Creating a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere is important to Freidin. He avoids the use of treats and toys whenever possible. “It’s a beautiful balance of controlled chaos. It’s my job to make everyone feel calm and in the moment,” he says. The real character comes out when dogs are comfortable and people are comfortable with them.”

Freidin enjoys photographing in locations of significance to the pet owner. Here, the Golden Gate Bridge acts as a picturesque backdrop. Photo by Jesse Freidin.

Freidin, whose work has been featured in everything from Vogue and Cosmopolitan to People and the Huffington Post, found his own comfort in North Adams, Massachusetts where he lives with his 11-year-old Boston terrier named Pancake. Having grown up in the suburbs of Boston, lived in a major city and traveled extensively, Freidin enjoys the slower pace of small-town New England.  “It’s nice to be part of a small town where I know what’s going and am participating in the community,” he says.

Jesse Freidin and his Boston terrier, Pancake, take a seat beneath the gallery of Freidin’s work inside his North Adams studio. Photo by Valeda Stull.

The thriving artist community and creative movement in North Adams drew Freidin there. His own live/work studio is in an artists-only building and located just three blocks from MASS MoCA, a renowned contemporary art center. He enjoys being surrounded by creative energy.

Beyond his commissioned work, Freidin has begun a mentoring program for aspiring photographers and has taken part in several special projects including The Doggie Gaga Project, Finding Shelter and When Dogs Heal – The healing powers of dogs within the HIV Community.

Jesse Freidin – Fine Art Dog Photographer
North Adams, Massachusetts
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Top image: Jesse Freidin getting eye-level with his subject for his book Finding Shelter’s photo shoot. Photo by Amanda Brauning.

The post Focusing the Lens on Man’s Best Friend appeared first on Take Magazine.

Hartford to New Haven. New Haven to New York. New York to Boston. Boston to New Haven. New Haven to Hartford. What looks like a typical split-flap display in a train station is the actual working schedule of actress, comedienne, and dancer Carolyn Paine—whose oeuvre is a perfect storm of zany creativity, razor-sharp wit, and boundless energy.

What sets Paine apart is not that she has trained around the world with the likes of the Boston Ballet and the Academie de Danse Classique in Monaco. Nor is it that she is always on her toes, performing in huge productions like ABC’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. It’s not even that she has appeared on TV, on the pages of Vogue and Glamour, and in numerous showcases in Boston, Chicago, and New York City. What makes Paine unique is her love for Hartford and the fact she keeps the city as her home base, pouring her blood, sweat, and tears into the local tapestry of arts and culture.

A Boston native and graduate of the University of Hartford, Paine lives on the second floor of a charming turn-of-the-century Queen Anne in Hartford’s historic West End—a neighborhood that is equal parts quaint, bohemian, and gritty. Her apartment is a glorious hodge-podge of stunning flea market flips, cherished family heirlooms, and beloved relics from her career as a performer. The home serves as a stopover for Paine as she travels coast to coast, and all around New England and the tri-state area for stand-up gigs, filming and commercial shoots, and performances—including those with her dance company, CONNetic Dance.

Carolyn Paine, Photo by Bill Morgan

“Hartford’s Ballet Hipsters,” as CONNetic has been called, is an interesting medley of dancers who are classically-trained, street-trained, and self-taught. The company’s repertoire is unique, pairing traditional technique with athletic choreography. Paine and her troupe are involved in myriad projects, and even partner with Hartford’s public schools to offer enrichment programs to students. But this time of year Paine can be found producing and directing CONNetic’s signature (and biggest) production: The Nutcracker Suite & Spicy.

Carolyn Paine, Nutcracker Suite & Spicy. Photo by Bill Morgan.

Now in its eighth year, Suite & Spicy has struck a chord with the community. The diverse cast—many of whom have been with the production since its early days—truly represents the urban culture of Hartford. Says Paine, “I am proud to have created a show that not only reflects the amazing complexity of the city around me, it affords my neighbors the opportunity to see a dynamic, professional dance production in their own backyard rather than having to travel far from home, especially during the holidays.”

Carolyn Paine, Photo by Bill Morgan

Though Paine’s typical week involves no fewer than three trips out of Hartford, she does relish her chosen home, and there are some quiet moments. The market up the street has “the best falafel and gummy bears in the state.” The nearest coffee joint also serves as a favorite Happy Hour spot. And the vine-covered backyard patio Carolyn and her roommate and fellow dancer/model Alex Zarlengo have cultivated over the past few years is now a coveted spot for after-hours conversations and even outdoor film screenings for their friends.

I once asked Paine why she lived in Hartford, with all of the engagements she has in other cities. She looked at me as though I had three heads. “It’s home.”

Carolyn Paine–Actress, comedienne, dancer, founder of CONNecticdance
Hartford, Connecticut
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Top image: Carolyn Paine. Photo by Bill Morgan

The post Suite & Spicy appeared first on Take Magazine.