// Pure Mint Media // Francis Faillace

.... in passing.

2011-02-15T11:06:00.000-08:00

2011-02-02T20:31:00.000-08:00

D.H. Bardes Inc. Complete South End Remodel

2011-01-18T08:42:00.000-08:00

D.H. Bardes Inc. of Boston, Massachusetts contracted Francis Faillace / Pure Mint Media to top quality photos to help build their company portfolio and marketing. David Bardes, owner of D.H. Bardes Inc., and his crew, are highly regarded in Boston. The level of craftsmanship and detail in their work is impressive.

The following images are a small sample of one particular project transformation.

The project begins with a massive six story complete demolition stripping the building down to nothing but it's brick walls and basic supports.

The final product is amazing and nothing short of the standard of excellence customers have come to expect of D.H. Bardes Inc.

Kate & Rob tie the knot in Key West

2010-12-01T09:57:00.000-08:00

Recently flew down to Key West to shoot Kate and Rob's destination wedding at the Waldorf Astoria's Casa Marina Resort. They couldn't have asked for better weather or a more perfect setting. The above shot was taken after I whisked them away from the reception to take full advantage of the sunset and portable studio lighting. Congratulations Rob and Kate!

Moran's Fall Wedding

2010-10-07T10:18:00.000-07:00

Ashley and James Moran tied the knot at the Middlebury Inn in Middlebury, Vermont on a gorgeous fall weekend. With warm weather and the foliage in full effect it was the perfect day for a wedding.

Congratulations Ashley and James!

Boston Yacht Haven - ShowBoats Magazine

2010-09-30T09:45:00.000-07:00

I was recently asked to cover a new marina opening, The Boston Yacht Haven, for ShowBoats Magazine. The opening of this great marina finally allows Mega Yacht owners to have direct and easy access to the heart of Boston's North End. You're practically parking your boat in Fanueil Hall.

Congratulations Daubs!

2010-08-16T18:15:00.001-07:00

Jackie and Brian Daub tied the knot on a gorgeous summer evening over looking Lake Champlain with friends and family.

Mr. & Mrs. Taranto!

2010-04-10T15:31:00.000-07:00

Rebecca and Richard took their vows in a very gorgeous and traditional Catholic ceremony in Fort Lauderdale today. You couldn't have asked for a better wedding party - a hilarious crew looking to thoroughly enjoy the day! Congratulations Bec and Rich!

Golf Digest, Nike Golf, and PGA Tour

2010-03-15T09:06:00.001-07:00

Ernie Els at the CA Championship trophy ceremony on Sunday.

Just wrapped up shooting with Steve Szurlej and Golf Digest/Golf World at Doral in Miami. Crazy Six days of shooting that included some pieces for the magazine (cover shot with Nike & Paul Casey, instruction pieces with Robert Allenby, Tim Clark, and a "What's in my bag" with Brain Gay) and covering the CA Championship on the PGA Tour.

San Diego

2010-03-01T18:50:00.000-08:00

Got to spend some time chillin' in San Diego enjoying the cool breeze and snapping a few veggy pics. Tough life.

The Chase

2010-02-01T18:13:00.000-08:00

In what proved to be an incredibly wild and crazy night last night I was involved in two separate high-speed car chases of the guy I caught robbing my family (in two different stolen cars), I managed to get a hold of his gun, two different on foot chases involving the police, and picking the suspect out in a line up; all of which was done during a snow storm while only wearing my boxers, boots, and a coat.

Apparently the fugitive was wanted for over 100 robberies (terrorizing the MadRiver Valley), including a bank in Barre Vermont, and 20 grand theft autos.

Fran 1 : Bad Guys 0

Article by Kara Herlihy

Article by Thatcher Moats

New Era search begins

2010-01-12T13:21:00.000-08:00

Fam

2009-12-27T14:09:00.000-08:00

Holiday Time

2009-12-15T17:59:00.000-08:00

Throwing up some decorations with my lovely lady in our apartment and couldn't help but to remark upon the obvious, where the hell is the snow?

The $10 Thousand Dollar Shot

2009-12-12T11:10:00.000-08:00

In a random excerpt, I was reorganizing my photo library in preparation for a busy season of shooting that is ahead of me, and came across this shot of the moose that I hit this past spring. So if you're looking to make a bet on the Saab 93T versus a big old moose - bet on the Saab! But be prepared to spend $10K on rebuilding the entire top of the car - ha!

Big Picture Cafe

2009-11-29T18:29:00.001-08:00

Some shots from a project that I was brought into do with the Big Picture Theater n Cafe. This new age/retro-ish (if I can go so far) bistro meets diner is serving up some tasty and locally inspired dishes in the comfort of a home-style setting. Don't forget dessert and entertainment! The cafe also packs a tasty punch with their own bakery and movie theater.

The owners, Claudia and Eugene Jarecki, had a great vision in turning this run down theater into a vibrant fusion of cafe/ theater/community center (holding weekly events featuring local artists and more) ... BAM! What more could locals and Vermont travelers need?

Print

2009-11-22T17:45:00.000-08:00

Some print shots of a series of images taken for the Fitid hat company.

Baros Negros

2009-11-22T14:28:00.000-08:00

Danny Day getting some face shots in Baros Negros after an intense over night dump.

BOS Street Collage - part one

2009-11-08T13:36:00.000-08:00

A little sampler of a Boston street collage that I am working on. Everyone thinks of Boston as historic tourist town - but there's a lot more to this hard working town than duck tours, "mean" boston accents, and wicked fast drivas.

Bean Town

2009-11-01T14:40:00.001-08:00

D.C.

2009-10-26T19:48:00.000-07:00

"Washington DC - the Hollywood for ugly people" - Courtney R. Part of my time in DC was spent in a torrential down poor that seemed as though it was in for the long haul. However I decided to haul my camera gear around with my in the off chance that the storm would break and I got lucky.

DC is a serious city with serious faces. I am working on a DC series that is featuring the eclectic faces of DC from the top to the bottom.... from Senators to to Janitors a series of serious faces at work that make up this rigid city.

Congrats Sis

2009-10-23T11:33:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to my sister Heather - Class of Middlebury 2009!

Kick'n Back

2009-10-15T12:41:00.001-07:00

Not to sound like a tourist but fall in Vermont is like non other. A quick shallow depth of field shot while kick'n back in VT and enjoying the foliage.

Santiago Chile, Urban Contrast

2009-10-15T11:46:00.000-07:00

A few shots of Derek Olthuis down in South America. Give yourself 13 hours of flying time and plane tickets from Vitamin Water (thanks Chris!) and you can have it all.

K9

2009-10-15T11:43:00.003-07:00

New Danger Mouse Vid

2009-07-11T05:34:00.000-07:00

My cousin's girlfriend, Hayley Morris, recently released (created/directed) a music video for a new side project of Danger Mouse called Joker's Daughter. I have been fortunate enough to see some of Hayley's earlier college work and it was clear then that she had some real talent.

The video recently launched and is definitely worth checking.

Block Island Lookout

2009-07-05T18:06:00.000-07:00

I had the chance to escape to Block Island (RI) for a couple of days last week which was a blast. I unfortunately ran into a stretch of gloomy weather that left the island covered in a thick fog and rain for almost the entire trip; hence fewer Canon shots gave way to more Patron shots.

On the last evening of my stay the clouds broke around sunset and I was able to catch a glimpse of the light house on the northern end of the island over looking the bluffs.

Rivers of Clouds in Vermont: Cloud Portfolio

2009-06-23T21:26:00.001-07:00

As a photographer I have an ongoing fascination with clouds, what more needs to be said.... their wild shapes are artistic, mesmerizing, and carry such variation. It's safe to say that one could spend a life time traveling the world photographing cloud variations and still have barely scratched the surface when it comes to capturing their beauty.

The above image was captured one evening after three days of summer thunderstorms finally broke revealing a vibrant colored sky that left a purple haze on the clouds. What really got my attention is the river of clouds running through the valley floor.

A Dash of Culture

2009-05-19T17:30:00.001-07:00

Fitid Party

2009-05-19T14:31:00.000-07:00

The Tea Shop: revitalize your soul

2009-05-16T13:48:00.000-07:00

With a dash of L.A. trendiness, a touch of Eastern European wisdom, and a boutique shop with a whole lot of zest; the Tea Store, located in Waitsfield, Vermont, just might be on to something. Don't blink though or you might miss this gem of a store. Located on Bridge Street next to the Green Cup, the store's young and energetic European owners have transplanted a chic L.A. corner to store to rustic setting of Waitsfield, Vermont. Reasonably priced, the Tea Store is a must as their impressive collection of rich and organic teas from around the world is sure to sooth your palate, body, and mind.

Urban Contrast

2009-05-01T08:10:00.000-07:00

As a photographer and artist I find myself continually searching for subtle and dramatic contrast that catches the eye and tells a story. This is a shot in a series of images that I am working on with Icelantic that had been taken in South America. Patience was key. It took a long time in subway system of Santiago before people finally stopped staring at us, wondering what these gringos in ski gear were up to, and went back to their daily commute. Luckily Derek was a good sport about it because it must have been about 80 to 90 fahrenheit, not to mention the humidity, and he was decked out in full sub-zero winter gear... ski boots and all.

2009 Boston Marathon

2009-04-23T13:27:00.000-07:00

Vermont

2009-04-22T07:02:00.001-07:00

Pure Mint Athlete: Max Peters

2009-04-08T08:38:00.001-07:00

Max "the rail killer" Peters is a stylish athlete to keep an eye out for. The Park City native and Pure Mint Poster Boy started making his presence felt in the ski industry during his early days of high school and hasn't looked back since. With his own ski model, film spots / edits, and sponsors piling up - watch out!

Here is a quick edit put out by Vital Films from earlier this season (Note: Tosh, his younger bro, and Max's names were reversed).

If you haven't had the chance to check out Max's Pro Model Skis at Ninthward check it out.

With the economy being shaky, at best, and stocks looking questionable it's hard to know where to put your money; that's why investing in Max is a sure bet.

Max's sponsors: Ninthward Skis, Level Gloves, Smith, and Smith Optics

image location: El Colorado, Chile

Boat International USA Magazine / The Mega Yachts : Photo Shoot

2009-04-06T23:40:00.000-07:00

Recently flew down to Yacht country for a photo shoot with BIUSA to feature the magazine editor Rebecca Cahilly (above image).

Check the magazine out!

On a side note .... next time you decide to shoot in Miami or Ft. Lauderdale make sure to bring a fresh pack of cream cheese (thickest sunscreen on the market) and a full bottle of Aloe. I'm pretty sure my crispy skin was still smoking on the flight home to Boston.

Life Style: Jenny Venezia

2009-04-06T23:31:00.000-07:00

Sugarbush Park Session

2009-03-30T08:39:00.000-07:00

After a few days of bad weather and poor lighting Saturday broke to yield a spectacular day of spring park shooting at Sugarbush. With temps hovering around 50 fehrenheit, blue bird skies, and the rails primed for action .... tall-tees and goggle tans were in action. Finally we were able to get back to shooting the 'bush project. However with Rotax and crew down and out and Sky Gale injured from world qualifiers it was time for the local young guns to step up and showcase their switch up skills and session the Rome Cannon.

Basically if you didn't get the memo everyone and their mother was in the terrain park throwing down.

Boston: Dark and Ominous

2009-03-17T12:57:00.000-07:00

Arrived in town early this morning to what looked like a good day for shooting - only to see these "dark and ominous" clouds roll in while setting up to shoot.

Icelantic Skis Releases the 09/10 catalog

2009-03-17T10:45:00.000-07:00

Icelantic Boards (Denver, CO) has unveiled their heavily anticipated 2009 / 2010 ski collection catalog, of which features two of my shots of team rider Derek Olthuis in Chile.

Next year's collection is a definite must. If you're an avid skier looking for a handmade U.S. ski with incredible attention to detail and durability, or just looking to express yourself with a pair of eye-catching and responsive skis check them out . Once the general public gets a look at 09/10 collection people are going to be blown away by the vibrant colors, organic art, and the five sense theme.

Personally.... I'd be willing to buy stock in the (NEW) SFT Nomad, a ski that should explode in sales next winter. Wood cored ski with a 140mm tip 105mm mid 130mm tail featuring the Nollie Flex Core Technology. Giving you the big mountain control of the traditional Nomad while allowing you to Jib it up in the back-country. Trust me, I've shredded the Nomad high up in the Andes of South America and Jibbed the De'Nollie on the East Coast, and I'm dying to get a pair of these.

Side Note: keep an eye out for some exciting eye-candy ads that Pure Mint Media and Icelantic are working on for the Five Senses collection; basically we working on a project that is going to blow people out of the water!

Day Two - Fitid Hats in Boston

2009-03-06T08:11:00.001-08:00

In an attempt to begin the series of lifestyle ads for Fitid and New Era we took the shoot to Bean Town. Our introductory series will contrast the B to B connection (Boston to Burlington) and capturing each city's hat lifestyle.

Chilean Water Tower Session: Image Recap

2009-03-06T07:33:00.000-08:00

Towards the end of a killer production set in Chile this past summer Chris and I were free-skiing one down day waiting for the fog to clear and found this amazing 50 plus foot water tower sitting dormant and isolated on the outskirts of the La Parva Ski Resort just begging to be turned into a feature. After sketching out the image idea and meeting with the heads of the Resort, who were incredibly accommodating and gracious, we were hooked up with a groomer, jump building staff, and given free reign. With a little good old fashion work the tower was brought to life.

Above image features swiss rider Ralph Heeb

Special thanks to La Parva's head of marketing Rodrigo Medima

www.laparva.cl

Strong Showing by McRea Williams at the Aspen Open

2009-03-04T10:02:00.000-08:00

Congrats go out to McRea Williams, exciting young team rider out of Utah, who posted a strong fifth place run at the Aspen Open Slopestyle Comp. Williams beat out quite a star studded cast, with the likes of Tom Wallisch, Joe Schuster, Alexis Godbout, Vincent Gargnier, and more to earn his place.

http://www.newschoolers.com/web/content/news/news_id/2521/

McRea Williams recently joined the Dynastar team and is definitely a poised young rider to keep an eye out for.

Photo by Rocky Maloney

Day One of the Fitid Hat shoot

2009-02-23T07:49:00.001-08:00

PMM is working with Fitid hats out of Burlington, VT to shoot a series of ads and help brand the company's image and direction. Check out this exciting young company at www.fitidvt.com. Stay tuned for more;

The Team takes Boone to South America

2009-02-23T07:34:00.000-08:00

Here's the link to a published article that I wrote for Boone Skis;

http://www.newschoolers.com/web/content/viewcult/action/news/id/4280/jid/1065/eid/3107/

Heads up for the Newschooler's featured article that will be coming this spring; an in depth look at skiing in Chile - also written by yours truly

Party Anyone? - by Jenny & Fran

2009-02-16T09:04:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday night the gang and I were in true form as the gold chains were dusted off, the Kanye West glasses were polished to perfection, white linen jackets were rolled, and the women were styling in mini-dresses and retro tights.

No this wasn't a casting call for Miami Vice - basically, all the cool kids were at the I Heart Beats Party!!!!

I heart beats. The Big Picture put on a high-energy dance party this past Saturday night. The Waitsfield restaurant/bar/theater hosted two local DJs - DJ PQ and DJ Even – for an all ages Valentine’s Day dance party. The DJs tag-teamed the decks, spinning beats that filled the theater and rocked the crowd from 9pm ‘till the early morning. Glo-sticks aside, this was the closest thing to a rave the valley has ever seen.

A rainbow of jello shots greeted party-goers at the door (reserved for the 21+ set). The party was set amidst Technicolor lighting and blasts of smoke from a strategically placed fog machine. For all those who stayed past midnight, they witnessed the climax of the party, a full-out soul train-dancing exhibition. But this was far from an adults-only event. The best part about the DJ spun entertainment was the energetic dancing from the 18-and-under crowd.

Thanks to DJ PQ and DJ Even, the night was super sweet and visually pleasing. I enjoyed the set up with the turntables onstage and the DJs spinning front and center.

DJ PQ is known around the valley as the go-to guy for working up a dance-floor frenzy. He knows what the kids like, playing party favorites and top-40 jams. DJ Even is a recent transplant from the Boston area, his creative hip-hop, funk, techno and electronic sets have moved through clubs, bars and house parties up throughout New England. Look out for another collaboration next month, set to fall over St Patty’s Day weekend.

Crazy Valentine's Day Party - be there!

2009-02-09T10:45:00.000-08:00

On Feb. 14th at the Big Picture in Waitsfield, VT Riot Productions is throwing a crazy all night Valentines/Club Party and Pure Mint Media will be there providing photography support to capture the craziness and partake in the fun!

Cold Snap Faces

2009-02-04T14:18:00.000-08:00

2007 Noridca Ski Review

2009-02-04T10:10:00.000-08:00

Can one ski rule them all?

An independent ski review

by Francis Faillace

Calling all ski guys across the country. Are you tired of searching the world for the right ski, and maybe compromising your manhood in the process? I know I am! Today’s ski market is saturated with a million options that come in every shape, size, and color. It’s safe to say that every possible type of snow or ice condition has some specifically designed ski: from disgustingly fat powder skis with little side cut to emaciated mogul skis that have more side cut than M.C. Hammer’s flattop. Is it so difficult to ask for just one ski to ski it all?

I’m looking for the ski equivalent of the ’09 BMW M3. A sleek and sexy sports car that can comfortably take me on a cruise downtown while at the same time offers a V8 engine that produces 414 horsepower of raw muscle, and doesn’t cost me an arm and a leg. Does such a ski exist?

Well Gents—wait no longer—the Enforcer is here. As part of their Supercharger line, Nordica has released the Enforcer with its sleek black design, accented by lighting bolts. The ski stands strong with a 135 mm tip, 98 mm mid section, and 125 mm tail—all on a Energy Frame TI rooted on a wood core. Sure we are all gear junkies to a certain degree and love hearing these facts, but what does this really mean. Offered at just under $600.00 this ski, in my opinion, blew all of the competition out of the water as the clear and all around best ski on the market–yes that’s right. Forget the K2 Seth Vicious and Volkl’s Mantra, the Enforcer is here.

This ski rocks; never had a pair of skis crush and conquer the entire mountain like the Enforcer. From epic powder to hard pack and ice bumps, the Enforcer floated through powder and cut through bumps like a hot knife through butter. The under foot stability was impressive while allowing quick edge to edge carving, ultimately offering the best of both worlds. And don’t even get me started about air time. With these skis I felt so stable and confident that I was able to charge harder and faster into every hit–25 feet off the deck simply felt like another walk in the park. If don’t already own Nordica’s Enforcer, you’d better get yourself a pair . . . or you’re going to be left in the dust.

Check out Cole's site

2009-02-02T19:55:00.000-08:00

Hands down our head of photography has the best eye going in both the ski and ride world right now. Doesn't matter who you are you need to check his work out!

www.colebarash.com

Viva Las Vegas?

2009-02-02T13:33:00.000-08:00

Couldn't make it to the SIA conference out in Vegas last week,but it reminded me of this article I wrote regarding trips to Sin City

Viva Las Vegas?

Ask a fellow American where they would like to travel this year and I can almost guarantee that with little hesitation the word “Vegas!” will be rattled off. Of all the world’s most beautiful travel destination why is it that Las Vegas is held in such high regard? Perhaps it is because this international city of mystery whispers promises of the American dream—a place of opportunity where the poor can become rich—the land of milk & honey. Hence, like so many before me, I decided to cash in my ticket to the big dance and find out for myself what the city of lights had to offer.

Saturday night in Vegas was dazzling as the oasis in the desert was truly alive. Sidewalks were teaming with people shoulder to shoulder from across the world as everyone sought to take in the sights and sounds. From Caesar’s Palace to the MGM Grand, glitz and glamour was everywhere. And like a kid in a candy store I stood motionless peering down the strip, my eyes wandering from casino to casino—where do I begin?

No sooner had the thought crossed my mind than my buddies and I were off. In a blaze of glory, accompanied by a never-ending supply of free alcohol, we were on fire as slot machines oozed out money, roulette wheels did our bidding, and the cards just seemed to keep coming our way. From rare imported cars to gorgeous women, Vegas was the place to be, after all, where else can a guy ride the New York City skyline one minute and a gondola in Venice the next. As I hung out the window of the stretch limousine in my three-piece suit, stars were in my eyes as the wind blew in my face. At that very moment all I could think was, “What a life!” It all became clear why this great town made $8.5 billion in profit last year alone and hosted roughly 39.2 million visitors.

The next morning I awoke at 3 pm only to realize I had been kidnapped overnight. As I peered out the window, I felt a shiver run up my spine as I gazed into the abyss—empty streets everywhere—not a single soul could be seen. Had someone mistaken me for Jack Palance and dropped me into a cheesy, low-budget western? But on this set tumbleweeds had been replaced with prostitution ads. As this cowboy stepped into the street, Siegfried and Roy must have been doing a matinee because with a simple wave of the wand illegal immigrants were suddenly everywhere. And every one of them was trying to offer me another porn flyer, as if the millions lining the streets hadn’t been enough. The smell of urine and stale cigarette smoke laced the air and seemed to follow me everywhere I went. Children, left to their own devices as their parents were sucked back into the casino, wandered aimlessly amongst bums and robot-enacting street vendors painted head to toe in silver. Those gorgeous women changed before my very eyes as they suddenly acquired an orange-ish fake tan tint topped with an extra helping of silicone. We shouldn’t forget that this is the same town that promotes impetuous marriages at only $35 a pop, while at the same time allowing you to file for divorce for only $450? Was this some sort of a bad dream? By night Sin City was a sexy town that was hip and happening, but by day she had me clicking my heels wishing for home.

So as the sunset on this western fairytale, and the 15,000 miles of lighted neon tubing that lined the strip began to radiate, what did I discover? Well, with only 197,144 slot machines in the entire city and just over 39 million eager people looking to spend some quarters—you had better bring a little bottle of hand sanitizer. But with arguably the world’s most entertaining shows, like Cirque Du Soleil, and mouth-watering buffet spreads that feature rare foods at a price no one can turn down, Vegas can be a great time. Just don’t let your travel agent convince you to book a week-long stay—three days and two nights is plenty of time hit those highs and lows that will have you feeling like king of the world one minute to a measly pauper the next. And never forget: what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas … not to mention whatever assets you take to Vegas will likely stay in Vegas.

by Francis Faillace

Pure Mint 09/10 Roster

2009-02-02T12:41:00.000-08:00

PPM is excited to welcome in the beginning of the 09/10 athlete roster as we prepare to start production for our new film (taking our audience to winter wonderlands across North & South America, Japan, and New Zealand) scheduled to be released in the fall of 2010.

Stefan Thomas

Max Peters

Tosh Peters

Blake Nyman

Daniel Day

JP Soulberg

Nick Russell

McRea Williams

Jon Marks

Derek Olthuis

... and many more!