photogeek23

At the Gallery.

I’ve been a member of SOHO Photo Gallery for about three or four years now. Displaying new work month after month alongside the many talented photographers that belong to a COOP who’s membership spans worldwide. Though I hate meetings and may not have learned a whole lot from the folks that were doing this before I was born. I have taken full advantage of the opportunity. Early this year I decided to take advantage of the amazing space and light gallery has to offer. The buildings white walls, old architecture and little nooks and crannies give me lots of inspiration. Not to mention the surrounding streets of Tribeca and Chinatown. I’ve been conducting shoots while the gallery is closed on Monday and Tuesday. Thus far it’s worked out extremely well. I’ve been entertaining the idea of booking night sessions in the future. But for now it’s working out pretty well.

Tuesday afternoon I met up with actress/model Janet before heading uptown to a pre meeting with next Tuesday shoot. Janet is twenty six but her look skus much younger allowing her to take on younger parts that call for more maturity. Though she was very business minded and serious. I was able to get some really good smiles and even a few silly images. As for my meeting later that night. I can’t say enough. The sample images she had sent earlier did no justice to her beauty or personality. Looking forward to our shoot.

When I get old… okay, really old.

Uncategorized

Last night I met up with Allison at the gallery for a pre shoot meeting. Allison and I have been trying to get together for some time now but conflicting schedules and last minute cancellations have plagued us from the onset. As we sat and talked about our ideas it was pretty obvious that not only were we on the same track but we were sharing a seat on the train that ran along it. The give and take was easy and conversation flowed. I asked a lot of questions and learned a lot about her. We talked about her Texas roots and where we saw our lives heading. Allison being a newcomer to NYC while I’ve lived in and around the area my entire life. I told her that though I loved New York and my current town of Hoboken. Someday I wanted to live an entirely different existence. How I saw myself living in a desert town somewhere in New Mexico growing a long beard, investing in some flowery shirts, selling all my socks and selling my art on the streets. Lofty goals, I know. But a man has to have dreams. Afterward we shared some vermicelli and summer rolls a few blocks east before we head in opposite directions. I really look forward to working with Allison and one day, finding a buyer for all those old socks.

Thanks Rosie.

Portraiture

As we sat and chatted over Summer Rolls and Rice vermicelli Rosie asked me “What do you want to do?” We had been talking about photography and marketing our work. Something I have forever struggled with. Her question was a good one and hit me like a bullet. I’ve been asked that question countless times since before I can remember. I can recall my Mother relentlessly asking me what I was going to do with the rest of my life since my Freshman year of High School. (Can you imagine the pressure?) Her question, as much as it may have rattled me was a very good one. As much as I want to emerse myself in every aspect of photography. I do need to focus on my strengths. As much as I love the idea of keeping myself busy with weddings, babies, travel and every other thing there is to photograph and inspire me. Portraiture is what I’m best at and what inspires me most. It’s where I feel I am at my very best. That’s not to say I don’t want or won’t do those other things. Just to focus on my strengths. Thanks Rosie. You finally got me to focus. Now if you can only get me to stop talking with my mouth full.

Accidents will Happen.

Canon lenses and equipment, Responsibility

I was the last car that had turned from Kennedy Blvd. onto the ramp that leads to 495. Looking dead ahead at the congestion caused by the onset of rush hour and the construction being done. I suddenly felt my skull rattle from what turned out to be the car that hit me at full force from behind. The force of the crash had sent me into the car in front of me. As I sat there partly in shock. the drivers of the vehicles that I was sandwiched between jumped out to inspect whatever damage had occurred and seemingly place blame. The older gentlemen in front of me (He looked as if he had just come off the set of a Grey Poupon commercial.) pointed to the non damage to his bumper. “Look at this!!!” he proclaimed. All while the man who plowed in to me raced to see if I was alright. I was shook up pretty bad. My skull and jaw felt as if they were vibrating out of my skull and for the moment I was barely reacting. As they exchanged information I slowly stepped out of the car. It was my first accident. They both looked at me and said “Maybe you should sit down. You don’t look so good.” I wasn’t bleeding but I was clearly rattled. It wasn’t like I had imagined it. No tow trucks or police cars magically appeared. Though I may have seen a few Geckos they were all imagined figures brought on by tons of steel deciding to act like Rams. We exchanged information and the one man explained what had happen and soon enough they drove off. I thought to myself “What the hell am I going to do?” “Wait here until a cop comes to berate me a write me a moving violation for something I didn’t do?” So I slowly pulled back into the lane and tepidly drove back home. What was first thought to be a slight concussion turned out to just be an. As I write this a few days later I still have some pain in my back, shoulders and leg, but I’m in one piece and it could have been a lot worse. It really makes me think of how careless we are with the things we should be focusing our attention on. People driving while talking on a hand held device. Ladies putting on their make up or better yet, texting. The average car weighs around 4,000 pounds. If you can’t be responsible and pay attention to driving. You should take the wheels off your damn vehicle and turn it into the office, movie theatre or beauty parlor you seem to think it is.

Disclaimer: None of the beautiful cars pictured were harmed in making this post.

A Day on the Farm.

Beauty, Canon lenses and equipment

This Saturday Kayuri and I took a trip up RT. 80 to Chester, New Jerssey to go apple picking at Alstede Farms. I’m really a city boy at heart but I always wanted to try things like apple picking, and camping for instance. I just never imagined myself doing it in ninety degree heat. The day was really hot and the sun was pretty intense, but we had a great time and got more than we expected. Not only did we pick a couple of dozen apples of different variety. We also found peppers, zucchini, pumpkins and tons of other veggies and fruits. There’s really something special about seeing it on the vine and picking it yourself. It really makes you appreciate the food on a whole new level. After a long and fun day of walking, picking and enjoying the beauty of nature we headed over to town and had a delicious dinner at Publick House Tavern. Thanks to my friend Mandy for the recommendation.

Extras from my Shoot with Tara.

Beauty, Canon lenses and equipment, Humor, Portraiture, Studio Lighting

Once we were done with getting the head shots she needed. Tara asked me if I could take a few of her in her leather jacket. I could immediately tell that the clothes she had brought fro the shots didn’t fit her or her personality. Once the jacket went on the real Tara came out. It was a pleasure to see. Such an amazing personality and fun person to work with. We were literally rolling on the floor with laughter.

Tara’s Head Shot session.

Beauty, Canon lenses and equipment, Portraiture, Studio Lighting

Early this afternoon Tara stopped by to have some head shots taken. After a failed start in the oppressive heat we moved inside to the cool, air consitioned studio and thing really began to click. Tara is the whole package. Fun, smart, talented and have to ever seen a set of eyes that were more expressive? We chatted about acting and movies over L7, Soul Coughing and Mazzy Star. What had started out as a hot and uncomfortable sesssion ended up with us rolling on the floor laughing.

Over the past year I’ve noticed so much improvement in my ability to take bad or difficult situations and flip them to a positive. Something I deem just as important if not more than actual photography skills.

Tara is one of the actors to be featured in the upcoming presentation of the Pulitzer Prize winning, Rabbit Hole. Which opens Friday October 1st at the Chatham Playhouse in Chatham, NJ.

Box Office Information – Online Ticketing
Performance dates are October 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16 at 8PM and October 10 at 3PM. All performances are at the Chatham Playhouse, 23 North Passaic Avenue, in Chatham. Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for youth/senior.

To access the theater’s online ticketing service, simply go to http://www.chathamplayers.org/tickets.htm and click on the “TicketLeap” logo. The service is available 24 hours a day, and tickets can be purchased online up until three hours prior to curtain on the day of a performance.

The box office will begin accepting phone reservations on September 21 at (973) 635-7363. For information regarding box office hours, please call the box office number listed above.

Lukie-Luke

Family Portraits

Visited my friend Julie yesterday in Brooklyn and got to meet her son Luke for the first time. I snapped this shot as we were preparing to head over to Bedouin Tent on Atlantic Ave. The food was so good there that by the end of the meal I was wishing I was hungry again. Luke isn’t even a year old and he’s already working on a mustache. He’s a pretty serious kid with an amazing disposition. His turn-ons include Toy Story, Snow Peas, naps and strolling around the neighborhood. Turn-offs are very few but include pants and being put behind bars for extended periods of time. I know it’s late but “welcome to the world kid.”.

The Russians are Coming!!! The Russians are Coming!!!

Beauty, Canon lenses and equipment, Nudes, Portraiture, Studio Lighting

Sometimes people take you out of your comfort zone. Challenge you and maybe even scare you a little bit. But when you think about it, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Thus was the case with Iya. A beautiful woman just recently immigrated from Russia and looking to break into modeling. The day we met at the gallery I have to admit beings a bit intimidated. She had this vibe that straight out of a cold war espionage novel. Cold, direct and to the point. That initial day we hardly spoke. The language barrier and very “down to business demeanor: set the tone. We got some great images that day and both left very happy. It made me think. Imagine if we all lived in that safe comfort zone. Life wouldn’t be much fun now, would it?

Don’t let Evan Dando near your Bandwith.

Friendship, Humor, Maxwells, Music, Uncategorized

This morning while checking my email I noticed there was one from Ben Deily of Varisty Drag (also known for being co-founder and at one time shared vocal duties in the Lemonheads.). I got to see the band and meet Ben and his wife Lisa. After the show we talked and doing an interview in the near future for Unite came up. He told me he’d be sending me some of the bands albums when they got home. A few days later I emailed him to say hello and remind him to send said package. Good thing becuase he forgot. A week passed but nothing. So I sent a second reminder. What followed was one of the best and funniest reasons it had gone unsent. “Me getting laid out with the flu for 3 days (I’m just back at work for the first time all week this AM)…the last of which coincided with a visit from Evan Dando, which took up all my limited remaining bandwidth… :-D” All I can say in response is “Damn you Evan Dando.” Here are some pictures from their set at Maxwells. Thanks to Ben and Lisa. They were incredibly nice. It was a pleasure to meat them both.