2019 Portfolios

Tabitha Emo sits for a portrait in her parents home on December 4th, 2018 in Hornell, New York. ÒI have to acknowledge to myself that, ÔOkay I’ve got to bring it to an end, IÕve got to put all this stuff away,” Tabitha said. “You know, I’ve got to go to sleep and tomorrow is another day where Ray exists again.Ó Tabitha is transgender and struggling to express her gender identity as unspoken tension in her family leaves her feeling alone and halts her from moving forward.

Jacob Sandobal (cq),4, gets his first look at stilt walkers, with his dad, Juan Sandobal (right) and uncle, Gregorio Campos (left) on July 19, 2018 at the Hemlock Little World’s Fair in Hemlock, NY. The Sandobal’s live in Mexico, and this was Jacob’s first visit the United States and experience at an American fair.

Joey Ressler sit for a portrait in his home on October 10th, 2018 in Henrietta, NY. “I think gender isnÕt even a thing,” Ressler said, “Humans completely made it up, and the norms are rooted in misogyny. ItÕs toxic for both ends of the spectrum.”

Alma Mickle, 3, poses for a portrait outside of her home on August 31st, 2018 in Brockport, NY. According to Waste Management, Americans use 100 billion plastic bags a year, of which only 1 percent are recycled. Our negligence is the reality for future generations.

“Guys, huddle up…” Coach Joe Richards says as 7-year-old Allie Sherman responds, “Um…Coach?” at the teams first baseball game on May, 6th 2018. Allie is the only girl on the team, and wanted to play baseball because both of her older brothers play.

The Lobel siblings, 6 and 4, (first names withheld) react to an alpaca on October 7th, 2018 at Buck Brook Alpaca farm in Roscoe, NY.

(One childhood cancer diagnosis is enough for any parent to endure for a lifetime, but 4 diagnoses is unimaginable. The Kwiecien family has been battling cancer since 2013, when their daughter Kailee then 2, was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare pediatric muscular cancer. The family received her fourth diagnosis on Friday the 13th 2018, just 3 months after she had completed treatment of her 3rd diagnosis.)
Catherine Kwiecien is reunited with her 7-year-old daughter, Kailee Kwiecien after a MRI scan to check the progress of her first round of chemotherapy treatment this [fourth] diagnosis. “This is the only time she lets me give her so many snuggles, so I have to take advantage of it,” Catherine said.

Kailee shows her ‘Superwoman’ doll to Catherine as Catherine gets a streak of her hair dyed blue in honor of Kailee at a local benefit for the family in Spencerport, NY. Kailee also wanted to participate in the event, so Ronnie, the hairdresser, dyed what remained of Kailee’s fine hair, purple along with adding a streak of color to her doll’s hair.

Catherine and Dan meet with Dr. Korones on Friday, April 13th at Golisano Children’s Hospital. “I just don’t see any way we are going to be able to get her through this…” says Dr. Korones, “does that mean I have no hope? No, I still have hope.” “With this outlook our decisions will be much tougher. There will be things we may try to do to be prepared should the day we fear ever come. Catherine and I have not yet figured out how we could possibly handle the loss of our Kailee,” Dan says.

Kailee cried after her parents told her the news, but quickly bounced back to her goofy, playful self. “This is just the life they live. It’s normal…unfortunately,” Catherine said.

Catherine and Kailee head off to the hospital for Kailee’s in-patient chemotherapy treatment. Dan Kwiecien works full-time, many of his shifts being overnight. ÒUsually we are just kinda passing each other, and when he gets home, I leave and when I get home he leaves. On rare occasions we are home at the same time in the evening. So we see each other one day every two or three weeks,” says Catherine.

Kailee focuses as her nurse preps her shot for her upcoming MRI while Catherine enjoys catching up with the nurse on June 29th, 2018 at Golisano Children’s Hospital. “The nurses here are family”, both Catherine and Kailee know almost all of the pediatric oncology staff from over 5 years of chemotherapy treatment for Kailee’s battle with Rhabdomyosarcoma.

Kailee is showered with bubbles and wishes from her first-grade classmates on her 7th birthday at Floyd Winslow Elementary School in Henrietta, NY. Kailee was scheduled to check into the hospital for chemotherapy after school, but it was later rescheduled due to a room shortage.

Kailee and Catherine read a book before bedtime at their home in Henrietta, NY. Catherine typically falls asleep with Kailee to comfort her.

“Anxiety, tears of fear, sadness, restless sleep, the list goes on. But smiles, laughs, love, snuggles, memories, all still being had… enjoying one day at a time,” Dan says, “The reality is, we know we still have a long road. A long road with a lot of unknowns. Where will the road end? I suppose any progress is progress but every ounce of me is hoping for a miracle in the end. A miracle drug, a miracle cure, is this finally the one?”

Vanessa McIntyre listens to a presentation at Soul Fire Farm in Grafton, N.Y. on July 24, 2018. McIntyre was a summer employee for Uptown Summer at the Sanctuary for Independent Media, a program where youth learn how to investigate urban ecosystems and creatively document and share their experience using media technology.

Angelo Domingo, 15, observes weedy species using the plant ID app iNaturalist beside the parking lot at Ingall’s Avenue Boat Launch, an EPA designated brownfield site, in Troy, N.Y. The site was once Troy’s manufactured gas plant, and residual toxins have been slowly polluting the groundwater, which flows directly into the Hudson River. Domingo was a summer employee at the Uptown Summer program at the Sanctuary for Independent Media, where youth learn how to investigate urban ecosystems, and creatively document and share their experience using media technology.

Kenneth B. Morris Jr., great-great-great-grandson of Frederick Douglass, poses for a picture with students who just received a copy of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass at Hochstein Performance Hall in Rochester, N.Y. on Dec. 3, 2018. In honor of DouglassÕs 200th birthday,Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives are distributing one million hardcover copies of a special Bicentennial Edition of the Narrative.

Frances Hare, salsa dance instructor and teaching artist, concludes the dance with her Rueda crew at her final dance showcase at E.R. Studios in Rochester, N.Y. on Dec. 8, 2018. For the last 25 years of her dancing career, Hare has held a twice annual gathering of dancers in the salsa community in Rochester that she solely organizes. 2018 is the final show.

(from left to right) Donovan Wooten, Kai Griffin, Patrick Quinn and Jarrell Summers play a pick up game of basketball in Troy, N.Y. on Aug. 1, 2018.

Snowshoe athletes Marissa Kurlowitz and Danielle Lassman from the Long Island region talk before competing at the New York Special Olympics Winter Games in Swain, N.Y. on Feb. 23, 2019. “She’s my best friend!” Lassman said.

(Our New Normal – 1 – Christine Cravatta has been her husband Richard’s primary caregiver since he had a stroke in 2013. The doctors told them he would never be able to speak again. Now, five years later, Richard has regained his speech and some movements in his arms and legs. Although they cannot do the same things they used to do together, they stay optimistic and have found ways to adapt to their new life.) Christine and Rick attend a hip hop dance class at Let’s Dance Studio in Rochester, N.Y. on Oct. 13, 2018. They began dancing after the stroke to have something to do together. It has been instrumental in Rick’s recovery because it exercises his body and short term memory.

(Our New Normal – 2 – Christine Cravatta has been her husband Richard’s primary caregiver since he had a stroke in 2013. The doctors told them he would never be able to speak again. Now, five years later, Richard has regained his speech and some movements in his arms and legs. Although they cannot do the same things they used to do together, they stay optimistic and have found ways to adapt to their new life.) Christine drives Rick to their dance lesson on Oct. 13, 2018. Christine does not like driving, but she has been forced to learn how to drive a handicap accessible van to transport Rick and his wheelchair. “When I first brought him home it was rough, it was like bringing a brand-new baby home. But I love him, I was not going to put him in a nursing home—no way. They said, ‘you can’t take care of him at home.’ I said, ‘watch me.’”

(Our New Normal – 3 – Christine Cravatta has been her husband Richard’s primary caregiver since he had a stroke in 2013. The doctors told them he would never be able to speak again. Now, five years later, Richard has regained his speech and some movements in his arms and legs. Although they cannot do the same things they used to do together, they stay optimistic and have found ways to adapt to their new life.) Christine helps Rick put socks on in the morning before going to their dance lesson on Oct. 13, 2018. Rick became paralyzed on the right side of his body after the stroke. Since beginning to dance he has regained some mobility in his right leg.

(Our New Normal – 4 – Christine Cravatta has been her husband Richard’s primary caregiver since he had a stroke in 2013. The doctors told them he would never be able to speak again. Now, five years later, Richard has regained his speech and some movements in his arms and legs. Although they cannot do the same things they used to do together, they stay optimistic and have found ways to adapt to their new life.) Christine prepares Rick’s pills for the week on Oct. 13, 2018. The medications include treatment for blood pressure, cholesterol, low dose antibiotics to prevent UTIs and neurostimulates. Christine started to take her own medication for high blood pressure after the stroke, but will sometimes forget because she is taking care of Rick. “I always forget me.” she says.

(Our New Normal – 5 – Christine Cravatta has been her husband Richard’s primary caregiver since he had a stroke in 2013. The doctors told them he would never be able to speak again. Now, five years later, Richard has regained his speech and some movements in his arms and legs. Although they cannot do the same things they used to do together, they stay optimistic and have found ways to adapt to their new life.) Christine gets up at 6 am to read scriptures and exercise before getting Rick up at 8 on Oct. 30, 2018. “I will get up even if I’m exhausted. It’s my favorite time of the day… it’s me and me.” she says.

(Our New Normal – 6 – Christine Cravatta has been her husband Richard’s primary caregiver since he had a stroke in 2013. The doctors told them he would never be able to speak again. Now, five years later, Richard has regained his speech and some movements in his arms and legs. Although they cannot do the same things they used to do together, they stay optimistic and have found ways to adapt to their new life.) Rick attends music and speech therapy at Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y. on Oct. 17, 2018. One of the results of suffering from the stroke was aphasia. The goal of therapy is to improve verbal and nonverbal communication through repetitive speech exercises.

(Our New Normal – 7 – Christine Cravatta has been her husband Richard’s primary caregiver since he had a stroke in 2013. The doctors told them he would never be able to speak again. Now, five years later, Richard has regained his speech and some movements in his arms and legs. Although they cannot do the same things they used to do together, they stay optimistic and have found ways to adapt to their new life.) Rick helps his granddaughter Raquel Cravatta pick up leaves in their driveway on Oct. 30, 2018. The grandkids come over twice a week after school.

(Our New Normal – 8 – Christine Cravatta has been her husband Richard’s primary caregiver since he had a stroke in 2013. The doctors told them he would never be able to speak again. Now, five years later, Richard has regained his speech and some movements in his arms and legs. Although they cannot do the same things they used to do together, they stay optimistic and have found ways to adapt to their new life.) Raquel and Milla Cravatta, Christine and Rick’s grandchildren, help Rick play an educational game on the iPad on Oct. 30, 2018. The younger grandchildren have no memory of the way their grandfather was before the stroke, but the older ones actually like this version of Rick better. “This grandpa is funnier. The other grandpa was more stern.” Christine says.

(Our New Normal – 9 – Christine Cravatta has been her husband Richard’s primary caregiver since he had a stroke in 2013. The doctors told them he would never be able to speak again. Now, five years later, Richard has regained his speech and some movements in his arms and legs. Although they cannot do the same things they used to do together, they stay optimistic and have found ways to adapt to their new life.) Christine prepares her bed on the floor beside Rick on Nov. 20, 2018. She has been sleeping on the floor since he came home from rehabilitation. “I miss my bed, it’s like I’m camping every night…” she says.

(Our New Normal – 10 – Christine Cravatta has been her husband Richard’s primary caregiver since he had a stroke in 2013. The doctors told them he would never be able to speak again. Now, five years later, Richard has regained his speech and some movements in his arms and legs. Although they cannot do the same things they used to do together, they stay optimistic and have found ways to adapt to their new life.) Christine struggles to push Rick into the door to Sweet Briar, her friend’s event space on Oct. 14, 2018. Christine recently retired from being a culinary educator at BOCES, but has been helping her friend with food preparation several times a week. She often brings Rick to work with her.

(Our New Normal – 11 – Christine Cravatta has been her husband Richard’s primary caregiver since he had a stroke in 2013. The doctors told them he would never be able to speak again. Now, five years later, Richard has regained his speech and some movements in his arms and legs. Although they cannot do the same things they used to do together, they stay optimistic and have found ways to adapt to their new life.) The Cravatta’s pray before eating dinner at Rick’s birthday party on Nov. 4, 2018. Christine and Rick are devout Christians. “We’re just passing through here. And that’s why I can deal with this tragedy. Because this is not all there is, in my beliefs in Jesus Christ… and I’m really okay with my life, I really am. I’ve made peace with it.” Christine says.

(Our New Normal – 12 – Christine Cravatta has been her husband Richard’s primary caregiver since he had a stroke in 2013. The doctors told them he would never be able to speak again. Now, five years later, Richard has regained his speech and some movements in his arms and legs. Although they cannot do the same things they used to do together, they stay optimistic and have found ways to adapt to their new life.) Christine and Rick share a kiss at the Radisson Hotel Rochester Airport during the monthly Jazz Night hosted by Flower City Jazz Society on Oct. 15, 2018. “Sometimes I cry because I love you. You’re my blessing.” she says.

Nikon Portfolio Award: Traci Westcott

Gitner Family Award: Catherine Rafferty