Ian Applegate

I occasionally film documentary-style weddings in a hands-off approach where I shadow the photographer and observe the activities in a non-invasive manner, capturing all of the most important events in the best possible light.

Produced for Rabbi Sheya Hecht and the Southern Connecticut Hebrew Academy to raise awareness and support for relocating the Bais Chana Academy to a new facility. Featuring cinematic indoor drone footage, broadcast-quality audio, and high-definition video production, this piece played a proven role in boosting engagement and fundraising efforts.

Diane X Brown talks about how her experiences as a young person in the 1970's shaped her reality and brought her into the place where she is now, emphasizing the importance of literacy.

Billy Fisher speaks about the history of his experience as both a doctor who studied at Columbia in New York City in the 1960's, to witnessing the beginning of hospice care, to finding himself in contradancing.

Professional real estate photography capturing properties across Connecticut with clarity, style, and attention to spatial storytelling.

This is a fully custom-coded website I built from scratch for a local business, without relying on platforms like Wix or WordPress. Every element is tailored for performance, branding, and future flexibility, offering complete control over layout, features, and design.

A music-focused social media app concept connecting people through shared concert attendance and music preferences. The platform uses Spotify integration and interactive music tasks to create meaningful connections beyond traditional matching.

A live streaming setup designed and operated inside a yurt, integrating multiple PTZ cameras controlled remotely for dynamic coverage. Using digitial multitrack software for audio mixing, an ATEM switcher for video switching, and OBS for stream management, the system delivered a seamless and immersive virtual experience.

A custom-built interactive artist website for Mahaji, a top-ranked global rap artist, featuring a stylish D3.js-powered style that elevates the typical artist landing page with dynamic animations and rich branding.

A soft, hand-crafted digital presence designed to reflect the cozy, artistic vibe of a neighborhood café and creative gathering space.

A refined, video-forward website concept created to modernize Yale’s premier Jewish leadership society with elegant, modular storytelling.

A gritty, pedal-focused web platform built to showcase handmade analog effects, artist endorsements, and DIY repair tools.

A sophisticated AI-driven market prediction platform integrating multi-layered temporal models and technical indicators to analyze cryptocurrency trends. The project combines real-time data processing, advanced analytics, and predictive algorithms to empower strategic trading decisions.

A fast-paced conference project captured in Dallas, combining ground and aerial footage with on-the-fly editing to meet a tight deadline. All aspects of production—from planning to delivery—were completed within one week to support a high-impact presentation.

This piece highlights junior engineers reflecting on their contributions to the High Line Extension project. I captured their perspectives on-site to help showcase the human side of infrastructure and the energy behind emerging talent in the field.

A full-length documentary chronicling the multi-year construction of the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge, known locally as “The Q.” The film blends engineering milestones with human stories to document one of Connecticut’s most significant infrastructure undertakings.

Socially Distanced - 2020

A visual snapshot of New Haven during the early days of the pandemic, captured entirely by drone. This project marked my first year of UAV work, documenting empty streets, shifting routines, and a city in quiet transition.

Aerial footage combined with a superimposed 3D model to visualize the future Frederick Douglass Tunnel in Baltimore. This composite was created for and used by Amtrak as part of their official marketing and public engagement materials for the project.

A public information film introducing Vermont’s first Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI), designed to help drivers understand the new traffic pattern. The video combines aerial views, motion graphics, and voiceover to clearly explain how to navigate the interchange safely and confidently.

A comprehensive visual record of the East End Gateway construction at Penn Station’s 33rd Street entrance, filmed throughout the pandemic. The video captures every stage of the process—from demolition to final touches—highlighting how transit infrastructure evolved during a historic moment.

Aerial footage of the Susquehanna River Bridge in Maryland, showcasing rail, vehicular, and marine traffic to support a proposed replacement. The video was produced for and used in official marketing efforts to communicate the scale, context, and importance of the crossing.

A looped animation created for display on monitors inside Penn Station during ongoing construction. Designed for high visibility, it played continuously to inform and engage thousands of daily rail passengers passing through the station.

A documentary exploring the layered history of New Haven, produced for Site Projects. Narrated by historian Robert Greenberg, the film weaves archival material, visuals, and voice to bring the city’s story to life.

Hartford Line Map

A custom After Effects animation illustrating the Hartford Line’s routes, stops, and connections. Created to support the launch of the line, the video was featured across social media platforms to build awareness and promote ridership.

Shoreline Trolley Mystery

A promotional video for an interactive mystery experience hosted at the Shoreline Trolley Museum. Blending suspenseful visuals with historic charm, the piece invites viewers to step aboard and solve a story set in motion.

The Iron Triangle

A concept trailer for a documentary exploring the Iron Triangle, one of New York City’s most overlooked and contested neighborhoods. The project examines themes of urban neglect, redevelopment, and the communities caught in between.

Kingston NY Rail Traffic Study

Narrated by the city's mayor, this is aerial footage paired with custom map overlays to support a rail traffic study in Kingston, New York. The visuals were used to illustrate existing conditions and help stakeholders evaluate potential infrastructure improvements.

Echo2Base64 Audio DAW NFT

An original electronic track released as an NFT, complete with downloadable source files for remixing and exploration. A custom landing page was built to showcase the piece and invite interaction with its underlying audio layers.

New Haven Music Scene

A concept project centered on New Haven’s music scene, exploring the relationship between local artists, venues, and community advertisers. The idea aimed to document and promote the city’s cultural landscape through a collaborative multimedia platform.

Pawtucket Island Repairs

A responsive website for a Pawtucket-based marine repair shop serving the Narragansett Bay area. Features service listings, video showcases in portrait and landscape formats, and a nautical-inspired theme to attract freelance boat repair clients.

Music Player

A custom-built music streaming interface featuring my original tracks, created with the help of AI-assisted code. The player allows seamless browsing, playback, and showcases a personalized approach to sharing music online.

Bun Lai (Miya's Sushi)

A website honoring Chef Bun Lai and the legacy of Miya’s Sushi, a pioneering force in sustainable cuisine based in New Haven. Designed as a living platform, the site allows space for continued storytelling, evolution, and future projects.

End Of Year Livestream

A multi-camera livestream setup for an end-of-year event featuring the CEO and broadcast to thousands of employees company-wide. The production combined DSLR inputs through an ATEM switcher, streamed via OBS into Microsoft Teams for a polished and seamless virtual experience.

Corporate Engineering Graphic Design

A portfolio slideshow showcasing past work in engineering-focused graphic design, including visualizations, infographics, and branded materials. Created to support internal communications, proposals, and public-facing campaigns within the corporate infrastructure space.

3D Design Animation

A 3D design animation developed as part of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas Master Plan. The animation was used to visualize proposed concepts and communicate future development goals to stakeholders and the public.

RFP Cover Designs

A collection of proposal cover designs created for WSP, tailored to align with both client branding and internal visual standards. Each cover was crafted to make a strong first impression in competitive RFP and RFQ submissions.

Genetics Research

Scientific illustrations created for a Yale University genetics research paper, translating complex biological concepts into clear, publication-ready visuals. The work supported data presentation and helped convey key findings to both academic and broader audiences.

Wordcloud Animation

A conceptual animation developed for the Project Controls group, visualizing team values and key responsibilities through a dynamic word cloud. Designed to be used in presentations or internal communications to foster identity and cohesion.

The Boo Slick Show

A web miniseries exploring inner-city urban history through the lens of storytelling, humor, and lived experience. The Boo Slick Show blends documentary style with personality-driven narrative to spotlight voices often left out of mainstream archives.

Mayoral Interviews 2013

A series of long-form interviews from the 2013 New Haven mayoral race, pairing candidates with everyday citizens in unscripted conversations. Pre-dating the podcast boom, the project highlighted the impact of direct dialogue and community-centered political discourse.

Pell Bridge - Historic to Rendering

An animated transition that blends a historic photograph of the Pell Bridge with a modern computer rendering of proposed updates. This composite fade illustrates the evolution of the structure and was designed to support public engagement and planning efforts.

Write A Song with Adam Christoferson

A short biographical piece featuring musician and community leader Adam Christoferson. Write A Song captures his creative process, personal story, and the healing power of music in connecting people across New Haven.

Space Pirate

A composite music collage project created using Reason and ReCycle, blending samples and original beats into an interstellar mashup. Space Pirate was pressed to vinyl and serves as a sonic exploration of genre, texture, and time—equal parts orbit and underground.

The Shops at Yale

A televised commercial for The Shops at Yale, The spot aired nationally on The Tennis Channel, showcasing local retail in a polished, inviting light.

7 Grand Openings

A highlight reel of seven ribbon-cutting events across New Haven, celebrating new developments and community partnerships. Created in collaboration with Yale Vice President Bruce Alexander, the video was presented to the Yale Board of Trustees to showcase the university’s role in local economic growth.

Fashion Show Promotion

A promotional video for a fashion show hosted by acclaimed New Haven designer Neville Wisdom. The piece captures the energy of the event while highlighting Neville’s signature approach to style, community, and local craftsmanship.

New Haven

A fundraising and promotional video created for the New Haven Economic Development Corporation, highlighting the city as a launchpad for business and innovation. Blending personal stories with cityscape visuals, the piece positions New Haven as a welcoming, opportunity-rich place to get started.

Shelburne Roundabout

A public information video explaining how to navigate the proposed Shelburne Roundabout in Vermont. Similar in approach to the Vermont DDI project, this piece uses animation to illustrate traffic patterns, lane choices, and safe travel through the new intersection design.

Sol Lewitt at SOM

A behind-the-scenes look at the installation of a Sol LeWitt wall drawing at the Yale School of Management. The video documents the quiet precision and collaborative effort involved in bringing the large-scale conceptual work to life within an academic setting.

F.L.Y. at NHFPL

A documentary short highlighting F.L.Y. (First Love Yourself), a youth empowerment group based at the New Haven Free Public Library. Centered around uplifting Black girls and young women in Newhallville, the video captures the group’s mission, voices, and impact within the local community.

All Our Kin

A video created for All Our Kin to support an awards submission, highlighting their transformative work in early childhood education and caregiver advocacy. The piece blends interviews and impact-driven visuals to convey the organization’s mission and the deep reach of its community support model.

Stevenson Dam

Aerial footage capturing the Stevenson Dam and surrounding areas in the aftermath of significant flooding. The drone imagery was used to assess water impact, highlight structural resilience, and support ongoing infrastructure monitoring.

New Haven Autumn

Aerial footage showcasing New Haven in peak autumn color, capturing the city’s blend of natural beauty and historic architecture from above. This visual study highlights the seasonal vibrancy of the region through carefully composed drone cinematography.

Grand Ave Bridge

A recreational drone flight over the Grand Avenue Bridge during its renovation, capturing the structure in transition against the backdrop of New Haven’s riverfront. Shot for visual study and personal exploration of evolving infrastructure in the city.

Photovoltaic Installations

Licensed electrical work specializing in residential photovoltaic installations during the early rise of solar adoption in Connecticut. In 2009, I completed approximately one-tenth of all residential solar projects in the state, contributing to a pivotal year in renewable energy growth.

Circuit Symbol Puzzles

An educational puzzle book designed to teach circuit theory through visual logic and symbol-based challenges. Created as a freelance project, the book offers an approachable, hands-on way for learners to build familiarity with electrical components and schematic reading.

How's The Weather

A motion graphics film created in After Effects to visualize complex environmental health data. Produced for the Environmental Health Project, How’s The Weather communicates the human impact of air quality and climate conditions through clear, compelling animation.

Pinball Scores

A personal archive of authenticated top scores across multiple pinball machines, earned at public venues and verified through official leaderboards. This ongoing pursuit blends recreational skill with competitive tracking in the broader pinball community.

Robot Monster

A high-energy rock music video produced for the band Robot Monster, blending gritty performance footage with stylized visual effects. Though unreleased, the project captures the band’s raw sound and aesthetic through dynamic camera work and bold editing.

MDOT Photo Assessment

A comprehensive photography project documenting multimodal transportation infrastructure for the Maryland State Department of Transportation. The assessment included roadways, rail, pedestrian access, and transit hubs, supporting planning, evaluation, and stakeholder reporting.

Money In Your Shoe

A rap music video filmed in Newhallville featuring DJ Remarkable and Boo Slick, capturing the vibrant energy of the local scene. Produced for the New Haven Music Scene project, the video highlights community roots and authentic storytelling through performance.

Last Night Was Fun - Lost Riots

A comedic punk rock parody music video for Lost Riots, filmed at the iconic Cafe Nine in New Haven, Connecticut. Produced as part of the New Haven Music Scene, the video blends humor and raw energy to capture the spirit of local punk culture.

Xavier Serrano - Enantiodromia

A folk music video for Xavier Serrano’s Enantiodromia, filmed amidst the natural beauty of Beacon Falls, Connecticut. Produced for the New Haven Music Scene, the video blends intimate storytelling with scenic visuals to complement the song’s reflective tone.

Kaaterskill Falls

Drone footage capturing the majestic Kaaterskill Falls, the tallest waterfall in New York State. This freelance project highlights the natural beauty and scale of the falls through sweeping aerial cinematography.

East Coasters

A dynamic music video filmed in New Haven, Connecticut, featuring a chaotic and energetic motorcycle event. The project blends drone footage and live action to capture the raw energy and community spirit surrounding the ride.