Emilie Talpin: Final Project

My inspiration for this photo project is the wildlife that inhabits a pond just outside an urban area of New Hampshire. In the middle of the COVID pandemic, I had to move from a house on the edge of a lush marsh facing the sea on the coast of southern New Hampshire to a small apartment in the state’s capital city. To my surprise, I found a pond within walking distance bustling with a highly animated family of beavers. I was amazed that such a vibrant ecosystem exists just beyond the roar of a state highway and thought it would make for a good documentary. For this project, I have spent hours every day (and some nights) on the trails and the pond’s edge, tuning into the sounds and observing the movement of its inhabitants during the dramatic transition from colorful New England fall to the short and frigid days of December. The daily life of this pond has become part of my own and has served as a grounding force during this stressful time. It’s been a reminder that very often we can find not only peace but inspiration close to home. I hope you enjoy coming along on this journey with me.

To fully bring you into the daily experience at the pond, part of my final project includes a short audio-photography series I took with the LS-P4 recorder. You will hear a sound with a black frame and then see the photo corresponding to the sound and then back to the sound with some fun facts.

And last but not least, when I embarked on this final project, I wanted to create short videos to show the activities and animals around the pond. I am thankful to Brandi Carlile and her team for allowing me to use their song Have You Ever as it is a song that has been in my head a lot as I wander in the woods looking for a new shot. Hope you enjoy it!