Between takes, Kevin O’Connor captures the action from the other side of the lens. Here, he gives us some backstory
Like many a new father, our TOH host greeted the birth of his first child by rushing out to buy a camera: “You have a new baby, and it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, I gotta take pictures of this kid!’ ” That was 14 years ago—and only Kevin’s second year on This Old House. Eventually, as he developed a habit of carrying his camera around, he thought to take it to the job site. “I quickly realized that I was in some pretty remarkable situations, whether it was behind the scenes with the guys, seeing the renovation process up close, or documenting our travels,” he says now. “So I just started snapping away.”
This was before Facebook and iPhones and Instagram, and Kevin wasn’t thinking about other people seeing his shots. But the more photographs he took, the more he enjoyed doing it, and the better he got at it. He’s drawn to capturing the cast and crew working at their craft amid the hubbub of the job site, and quieter moments that speak to the process, too, like wood curling off a block plane. Now his photos appear regularly in TOH magazine, on the TOH website, and on his social media. Since he’s one of the few on set for full days when the show is filming, he’s realized he has become the “unofficial chronicler” of This Old House. “Now I feel a responsibility to grab as many of these unique moments as I can.”
This story is from the September/October 2019 edition of This Old House Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September/October 2019 edition of This Old House Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Mobile kitchen island
TOH DIY expert Jenn Largesse shows how to build a rolling kitchen cart with a butcher-block top
Bathtub tray
TOH general contractor Tom Silva and TOH host Kevin O'Connor construct a slatted zebrawood caddy to hold grooming essentials, a book, and even a glass of wine, for those who like a long soak
Navigating the rise in mortgage rates
Looking to buy—or refinance—and feeling frustrated by lenders’ sky-high interest rates? Here’s how to get the best deal
Graceful grasses
With dramatic foliage and distinctive plumes, ornamental grasses come in sizes to suit virtually any garden
A better asphalt driveway
It's long-lasting and recyclable, and it weathers extreme temperatures. You can repair small cracks and divots in asphalt, too. Here's what you need to know to get-and maintain-a great-looking asphalt driveway
Modernizing a mid-century house
A family turns to TOH to renovate a 1960 house that had been awkwardly expanded over time. Their goal: to create a contemporary, energy-efficient, open-plan home that is fully accessible for a son with mobility issues
Making a house her own
Renovating in stages over nearly two decades, a homeowner transforms a once forlorn bungalow into a cozy, very personal space
A little house that lives large
A reimagined interior and second-story addition double the living area inside a narrow shotgun house, while respecting its historical roots
Before & After: Bath Fit for a Queen Anne
Classic meets modern in this primary-suite retreat
Before & After: Kitchen Moving a wall makes it work
Grabbing a few feet from the adjacent dining room yields major layout improvements
