photogeek23

Documenting My Travels

In all honesty, I never imagined a time when I’d be using my cel phone to take pictures depicting the commuters being inconsiderate pigs, but riding the PATH train and or the Subway daily can flat out make you lose faith in the human race.

However, as I get older and a bit more jaded. I can’t help but want to become a farmer or limit my interactions to dogs and squirrels. In recent weeks I’ve taken to using my phone to capture and maybe even bring attention to some of the people who continually make me want to gouge my eyes out. This image was taken just before rush hour on a train car that could be described as “Standing Room Only”. This rather up class lady made herself comfortable providing a seat for herself and her baggage. There was an elderly lady standing nearby and looking on curiously. I got up and offered her my seat which she gladly accepted and thanked me for. The lady in the picture was so involved with her phone. She never bothered to even look up. So in to my hall of shame you go. Enjoy your time in the spotlight.

The Cold, Hard Truth

Event Photography, Happiness, Music, Philosophy

The other night I posed a simple, yet complex question to a friend and fellow music photographer. “Can you ever see yourself enjoying, or even going to a show or concert without your camera?” It was a question I had to ask, considering I’ve asked it of myself countless times. After what seemed to be a decades long pause, he exhaled “No. I don’t.” The answer was as much a surprise as it was a relief. Having asked myself that very same question numerous times over the years. I find it somewhat strange that I know for a fact that I couldn’t. I don’t see any time in the near of distant future where I’m hanging back with a beer in my hand taking the show in as nothing more than a spectator. Whereas I see myself now as the old man with the camera at the show. I’ll probably end up as the really old man with the moment capturing apparatus at shows twenty years from now. Otherwise, I just wouldn’t know what to do with myself.

Bikeage

Industrial Photography, Lower East Side, NYC

As a photographer I’ve always been intrigued with bikes. Big, small, I love them all. As an owner however, I am a complete and utter failure. If memory serves, I was given my first two wheeler, a red schwinn, at the age of five. Since that time, I’ve had every single one of my bikes sacked, snatched, stolen, swiped or shanghaied.

Despite this life long run of bad luck. I still hold this ancient form of transportation in the highest regard. With lessons learned I find myself remaining grounded giving the soles of my feet the job of getting me to and fro. Regardless of my choice of transportation. I’m still drawn to the eye candy that a road travelled bicycle can bring.

So whenever I come across a sweet looking cycle I make it a point of composing a worthwhile image. One that might detail the bikes history, character or uniqueness. This past weekend I spotted this particular set of wheels outside of a store on Thompson St. in the West Village of Manhattan. I couldn’t help but wonder what treasure that bike’s purse had carried through the years. I’ve promised myself time and time again, that one day I’ll pull together my collection of bicycle portraits, print them up and put them up on the wall. With my luck. They’ll end up getting stolen. Oh well. Such is life.

Buried Treasure

Documentary, Editorial, Exploring, Finding your Zen, Industrial Photography, Jersey City

As I began to plan my route back home last night I ran into more than several dead ends and locked fences. Feeling a bit worn and self aware that I wasn’t exactly walking through territory that saw much heavy foot traffic. The rocky, uneven and muddy ground below me had already began to take it’s tole on my new pair of Nike’s and a slight sense of paranoia had start to set in. Weary of being sighted by any construction foreman’s or pulled over by the authorities. My pace quickened as my eyes widened searching for an opening in one of the fences. As the night grew dark and my path became more like an obstacle course. I kept my eyes close to the ground. That’s when I found buried treasure just below the muddy terrain. Without wasted breath I leaned forward, scooped up a couple and headed towards home. The experience quickly reminded me of my elementary school days when my friends and me would explore the train yards of Sunnyside Queens looking for buried treasure. While I may not be hoping any fences or climbing up on roofs these days. The explorer in me is still alive and well.

The Setting Sun

Canon Lenses, Canon lenses and equipment, Documentary, Industrial Photography, Jersey City, Street Photography

Living in Hoboken for a good ten years. My lazy, nothing ever happens before coffee, ass managed to capture just a handful of sunrises. That said, the sun coming up over Manhattan is a sight worth capturing again, again and again. Since moving to Jersey City however, I’ve come to appreciate sunsets in new and endlessly creative ways. In my first weeks and months here. I would climb up on the construction side of RT. 139, 9 and the Pulaski Bridge to watch the sun set over the nearby Kearny factories. It was, in a sense, the start of my daily meditation ritual. My moment to breathe and release the days stress and anxiety. After a long winter with very little sun to rise or set. During those dark days, I promised myself not to take for granted the little things that make life worth living. So tonight I took a long walk west on Newark Ave. towards the setting sun. Despite the endless string of automobiles noisily passing from both directions. I felt a sense of peace and solitude. Along the way I found some new angles and vantage points to capture the sunrise. And while it’s hard to avoid taking the same picture over and over. I’ve got plenty of time to try new things. Keep chasin’.

“Hope Springs Eternal”

Jersey City, Philosophy, Street Photography

It was a beautiful Sunday. So my wife and I decided to get out early and head to Manhattan for some vegetarian Dim Sum. It was the first 60 degree day we’ve experienced in what’s felt like years and there was no way it was going to be misspent. Our usual walk to the Journal Square PATH train involves my complaining about how the neighboring homes take little to no effort to maintain their homes or follow even the most basic sanitation standards. (Par for the course when you’re an old curmudgeon like me.) As we turned the corner on to Newark Ave. We both lamented the fact that it had been so long since we took advantage of the areas bountiful Indian cuisine. Promising, “This Summer we’ll sample each and every one of restaurants offered to us.” As the long, punishing and somewhat endless Winter has finally shown signs of old age. Seeing colors, anything not gray for that matter, seems promising. So when I saw this display adorning one of the local restaurants. I knew I had to stop and document it. Like Alexander Pope said, “Hope Springs Eternal.”

Birds on a Wire.

Exploring, Jersey City, Street Photography

On a courageous Sunday afternoon I convinced my wife to put some pants on, brave the cold and drive ten minutes to our favorite Mexican restaurant Los Tres Chilitos for breakfast. As we approached the red light at Central Avenue. I spotted a gathering of pigeons on the telephone pole above us. Not having many opportunities lately to snap a worthy picture. I grabbed my camera and to my wife’s dismay, quickly evacuated the vehicle. After a few shots I managed to catch up to the car, find a parking spot and enjoy a delicious plate of rancheros huevos and authentic Mexican coffee. Not bad for another lazy Sunday. BTW, here’s my review of Los Tres Chilitos below. I highly recommend a visit.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/los-tres-chilitos-jersey-city?hrid=4iYEch8muoE5EJK6fIP_-Q

A Slight Change of Plans.

Canon Lenses, Finding Solutions, Natural Beauty, Studio Lighting, Studio Photography

The lights and backgrounds were all set up the night prior to the shoot. The pre shoot nervous knots were kicking and screaming and the beautiful woman scheduled for that afternoon arrived on time. The dye was set. Or so I thought. As the session began, the communication I shared with my model began to taper off. She seemed antsy and uncomfortable under the lights and during the moments I tried to keep a comfortable distance from my subject. She seemed to object, asking that I sit closer. Before long I realized it was the studio setting that made her feel overly self conscious and uncomfortable. Before I could suggest it myself. She asked if we could shoot in natural light. I wholeheartedly agreed and from there on we were cookies and milk.

After a short break we restarted. Finding a balance between window light and that of my external flash. And while I have come to detest using external flashes indoors. I found a nice way to bounce it properly to avoid those ugly shadows created when using it directly. I’m extremely happy with my new surroundings. The loft offers a nice balance and barrier between my work and living space. In the future, I’m going to have to work on defining and ultimately, separating the two. Until then, I have plenty of room to improvise.

Balancing Your Creative Passions

Portraiture, Studio Lighting, Studio Photography

If there’s anything I missed in 2014. It would have to be portraits and studio photography. While the year presented many opportunities for travel, event and real estate photography. My studio work suffered greatly for many reasons. Moving to a new and spacious loft in nearby Jersey City offered new opportunities while allowing me to expand and grow. Unfortunately, I stalled in the process and temporarily lost my way. It seems I lost my ability to communicate in a way I’m used to, in a way I’m accustomed to. Then came the winter, the cold, the ice and the snow. During that time, I kept busy, worked on other aspects of my photography and waited. Suddenly an opportunity showed itself when our interior decorator, friend and neighbor stopped by to see the remaining pieces he ordered for our kitchen. A great communicator and story teller in every sense. I asked him to sit for me as I tested some lighting set ups. He happily obliged and within five minutes we had some great photos to go with the stories we had shared. It was a nice moment that reminded me about navigating the highs and lows of creativity. How when one aspect of your work loses steam, another might thrive. Like life itself, creativity is a balancing act. Thanks to my new friend for reminding me.

The Deep Freeze.

Humor

Earlier today I missed an opportunity to attend a free Lightroom workshop at B&H due to my inability to deal with the freezing temperatures. A deal was brokered between myself and Mother Nature that clearly stated “If you are continuously thrown snow, ice, slush and 20 degree temperatures at me on a weekly basis.” “I will no longer treat you like a like lady and refuse to continue spitting in to your wind gusts.” I’m sick of it and I will fight cabin fever by cranking up the heat while dancing around in a swim suit and skuba gear. “Fuck you winter, I’m done.” The end.

Below is a picture I took of my bedroom window. If you look close and long enough, you can see icicle aliens fornicating somewhere in the heart of Antartica. Enjoy.