Well, this has certainly turned out to be quite the interesting year! It has been four years now since that fateful day in 2013 when bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. So many lives were changed in an instant that day, and while its not lost on me how much suffering and agony the survivors and their families went through, and are still going through, the result of those explosions and how they have affected my life has been for the most part positive and uplifting. 

From my photos being featured in a special edition of Time Magazine, including the cover, to several photos being featured as key evidence in the trial against Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, to being interviewed about my actions and contributions for segments on the CBS Evening News and CBS This Morning, to being able to provide photos to various networks including CBS, HBO, ESPN and The Hallmark Channel to accompany stories about the survivors, to being invited to Play a Marathon Finish Line Volunteer and First Responder in Mark Wahlberg's movie 'Patriots Day' that was released this year, to being able to create a fundraiser to raise money for various charities and causes relating to the marathon bombing as a way of giving back, I have to say, has been quite a wild and emotional ride, and I am extremely grateful for the opportunities that were presented.

Last year, only a couple weeks after I photographed the 120th Boston Marathon, I received a phone call from Boston Casting asking if I would be willing to participate in the new movie 'Patriots Day' as a background actor. Of course I said yes and proceeded to spend one of the most amazing weeks of my life on set next to Peter Berg, Mark Wahlberg and John Goodman! It was also one of the most humbling experiences of my life to watch the movie when it was released, and to see two of my photos prominently displayed on the entire screen at the end of the movie during the epilogue, followed by seeing my name in the credits as a contributing photographer, was an amazing experience!

I returned to Boston again this year to be a part of the festivities, and to spend the day reflecting on all that has happened in the years since the bombings. While I do always have my camera with me, I've found myself taking fewer and fewer photos over the years, and spending more time observing and being present in the moment. It is an indescribably amazing feeling to be surrounded by thousands upon thousands of people endlessly cheering on the athletes, and watching those same athletes as they are in the last mile of the race, pushing themselves and helping each other make it to the finish line. This has become a tradition for me and I will probably spend the rest of my life returning to Boston at least once a year on Marathon Monday to help cheer those runners on in the greatest race on the planet!

For the past couple of months I have been hosting a fundraiser via Crowdrise, as a way to help raise money for the Patriots Day Charity Campaign. I set the closing date of the fundraiser to happen on April 17th, but I have decided to keep the fundraiser open for awhile more in the hopes of getting more contributions. I am offering a selection of Boston or Nantucket themed photographic prints in exchange for a minor donation to the cause. I encourage you to check out my fundraiser, Patriots Day Charity Campaign, and help if you can!

Here are just a few photos from this years running of the Boston Marathon, enjoy!