“The Fishing Shacks,” by photographer Jim Westphalen. From our January/February 2024 issue.
Photo Credit : Jim Westphalen
Another year has flown by and as 2024 winds to a close, I get the great privilege of looking back at a year of New England stories from our print pages. Yankee is fortunate to work with so many talented writers and photographers that bring our unique region to life. Every year is a gift, and this year was no exception. Among some of my favorites this year are photo essays from Maine’s Greta Rybus (“Home & Away”) and Vermont’s Jim Westphalen (“Vanishing Beauty”) and a brilliant book of photographs by Maura McEvoy devoted to the Maine house (“Place Exploration”). We explored Cape Cod (“Cape Confidential”) with photographer Elizabeth Cecil and even our own backyard in New Hampshire’s Monadnock region (“Small Towns, Big Color”) with photographer Oliver Parini and our editor Mel Allen. Please enjoy this gallery of some favorite moments our photographers captured this year, and we hope you will also take away some inspiration from this beautiful place we call home.
A boat shed turned summer cottage near Maine’s Acadia National Park, photographed by Maura McEvoy (“Place Exploration,” July/August 2024). Maura’s photographs from The Maine House II capture the architecture of place in such a beautiful way. Photo Credit : Maura McEvoyA wild sheep and its caretaker on Maine’s Nash Island, photographed by Greta Rybus (“Home & Away,” March/April 2024). Greta has a talent for capturing real moments, and this photo is no exception. Her body of work documenting Nash Island is a passion project, and the work as a whole and individually is so visually compelling. Photo Credit : Greta RybusThe Gellért Spa in Budapest, photographed by Great Rybus for her book Hot Springs(“Home & Away, ”March/April 2024). I loved the color and details and composition of this particular frame. Her entire book devoted to the subject is stunning. Photo Credit : Greta RybusRhubarb Eton Mess, styled and photographed by Liz Neily (“In Season,” May/June 2024). I love the color and tone and composition of this frame from Liz, who finds creative inspiration in an old creamery building in Vermont full of her carefully curated vintage treasures she pulls in for props. Photo Credit : Styled and photographed by Liz NeilyA glorious end-of-summer day on Chappaquiddick Island just off Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, photographed by Giant Giants aka Dom Francis and Jarrod McCabe (“In the Swim,” May/June 2024). This one is a favorite of mine that just captures the pure joy of summer. Photo Credit : Giant GiantsThe historic mill town of Harrisville, New Hampshire, with Mount Monadnock in the background, photographed by Oliver Parini (“Small Towns, Big Color,” September/October 2024). Oliver explored our region over several days capturing unique views including this one in Harrisville. Chasing the fleeting nature of foliage is never an easy feat. Photo Credit : Oliver PariniGracing Yankee’s winter cover was this inviting scene in Vermont photographed by Chris and Pam Daniele of Dirt and Glass (January/February 2024). I loved the the warm glow of the fire and the winter lights illuminating the cabin. Photo Credit : Chris & Pam DanieleA portrait of Cambridge Typewriter owner Tom Furrier at his workbench in Arlington, Massachusetts, photographed by Tony Luong (“Keys to the Past,” September/October 2024). Tony embraced the beauty of an authentic environment for this portrait. Photo Credit : Tony Luong“The Fishing Shacks” by photographer Jim Westphalen (“Vanishing Beauty,” January/February 2024). Not long after publication, these iconic shacks were washed away in a storm, driving home the often fleeting nature of Jim’s important work. Photo Credit : Jim WestphalenVermont artist Thea Alvin is shown in a sinuous curve of her “Phoenix Helix” sculpture (“When Stones Speak,” July/August 2024). Greta Rybus found an interesting perspective to highlight the intricacies of Thea’s stonework. Photo Credit : Greta RybusAn image from Old Sturbridge Village during the Massachusetts living history museum’s Christmas by Candlelight celebration, photographed by Jesse Burke (“The Comfort of Candlelight,” November/December 2024). Old Sturbridge Village has a special quality of light, and Jesse captured this scene beautifully of a craftsman at work. Photo Credit : Jesse BurkeDowneast Dayboat owner Togue Brawn, photographed on the water in Maine by Nicole Wolf (”The French Connection,” November/December 2024). Togue’s warm, relaxed expression made this environmental portrait another favorite for me. Photo Credit : Nicole WolfA gull soars above the Bass Hole Boardwalk in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, photographed by Elizabeth Cecil (“Cape Cod Confidential,” July/August 2024). I love the unexpected composition captured at this iconic Cape Cod boardwalk. Photo Credit : Elizabeth CecilConnecticut state wildlife biologists examine a tranquilized bear in Canton, Connecticut, photographed by Sophie Park (“The Bears Next Door,” September/October 2024). A documentary photographer based in Boston, Sophie spent the afternoon following the wildlife biologists and captured this honest behind-the-scenes moment. Photo Credit : Sophie ParkArthur Griffin‘s timeless photo, Playing in the South End, circa 1939, was featured in Yankee’s celebration of the Boston Camera Club (“View Finders,” September/October 2024). Sometimes called “New England’s photo laureate,” Griffin was a photojournalist in the mid-20th century who worked for The Boston Globe as well as Life and Time magazines. His legacy continues on at the Griffin Museum of Photography in Winchester, Massachusetts. I adore this sweet moment he captured. Photo Credit : Arthur Griffin copyright Griffin Museum of PhotographyA skier at Vermont’s Mount Snow, photographed by Oliver Parini (“Weekend Away: Deerfield Valley,” January/February 2024). Oliver’s simple composition of a lone skier was a nice pop of orange in this larger snowy Vermont landscape. Photo Credit : Oliver PariniSightseeing in Maine aboard Boothbay Sailing’s Eastwind, photographed by Tristan Spinski (“Weekend Away: Boothbay, Maine,” July/August 2024). Tristan captured a loose scene on deck while exploring Boothbay both on land and on water for our travel piece. I love the bit of movement and perspective. Photo Credit : Tristan SpinskiBritt and Matt Witt’s home in Weybridge, Vermont, photographed by Chadwick Estey (“Standing in the Old Ways,“ September/October 2024). Chadwick captured this inviting space beautifully for our autumn home feature. Photo Credit : Chadwick EsteyAuthor Alexandra Pecci photographed at the John Ward House in Salem, Massachusetts, by Frances F. Denny (“My Ancestor Was a Salem Witch,” January/February 2024). It was a pleasure to work with Frances, and I valued her incredibly thoughtful attention to detail. She has a beautiful body of work devoted to portraits of modern witches in America, “Major Arcana,” that was showcased at the Peabody Essex Museum as well as in a recent book. Photo Credit : Frances F. DennyHoliday lights welcome shoppers to the L.L. Bean campus in Freeport, Maine, photographed by Hannah Hoggatt (“Weekend Away: Freeport, Maine,” November/December 2024). Hannah captured the twilight magic and glow of the season in Freeport at the holidays. Photo Credit : Hannah Hoggatt
Heather Marcus
Heather Marcus is the senior photo editor for Yankee Magazine. She works closely with the art director and a large group of contributing photographers to tell our stories about people and place in a compelling way. Living and growing up in New England, she continues to be inspired by the communities, the landscape, and the wonderful visual opportunities the region affords.
