Northern Lights was a five-day project conceived with a love for all things handcrafted. Vermont has a great number of artisans working a craft that long ago was outsourced or taken over by machinery. When Tom started planning the trip it was referred to as a “Cheese Tour.”

Tom wanted to get to know and photograph the people raising the animals, making the cheese and taking it to the world market. As he was researching the cheese process, he discovered there were numerous other handcrafts produced in Vermont—thus the scope of the project expanded a bit. He photographed six different cheese producers—loving every one for different reasons. He met other craftspeople as Calley Hastings, a wonderful woman using goat’s milk creatively to make craft caramel in a rapidly growing business. He also discovered Timothy Clark Furniture—handcrafted incredible Windsor-style chairs and benches. White Room Custom Skis, owned by Vin Faraci, are custom fit to each person with gorgeous hardwood-laminated designs on the ski tops. Inspired by the journey, the people, their passion and the goods they create, Tom found hardy New Englanders are keeping the tradition of hand creation alive and well—even thriving.

See more of Tom’s images for Northern Lights here and follow Tom @tomhusseyphotography for his latest stories and updates.