Valley News staff photographers and interns are sharing the stories behind their favorite photographs of the year. More of their favorites can be seen in Photo Galleries. Staff photographer Jennifer Hauck shares her pick below.
Community journalism has been a “thing” for a while now. Every year, the Valley News hires two photography interns. I am usually the one to sift through the applications, reading cover letters.
Most of the applicants want to work in the Upper Valley because they are looking for a paper committed to community journalism. And they are right. I feel the work I do with my colleagues documents some of the issues around us and gives a sense of the people and places in the Valley.
Vermont’s Act 46 law and school consolidations have had an impact in many of our communities, including Chelsea. The boys and girls basketball teams at Chelsea High School played what would be their last home game of the regular season in February. The gym was packed and overwhelmingly red due to the team mascot, the Red Devils. The teams were playing against their rival Whitcomb-Rochester. The gym was decked out with banners, signs and a clothesline with uniforms from past seasons. I have always enjoyed photographing what swirls around the outskirts of a game, and there was a lot going on at this one. Chelsea fans were proud of their team, sad that this would be the end of an er a, and uncertain about what comes next. It was about a town coming together, to give a loud sendoff to their team. This game was about community, and I was glad to be there.
— Jennifer Hauck