As of late I’ve been completely focused on ridding myself of the clutter and excess that keep me from getting things done and feeling at peace in my own space. One major step in this process is getting all my negatives and slides digitalized. Doing so not only allows me to create a ton of space in my closet, bedroom and office but allows me to finally see and organize years of pictures. It’s been a long and tedious task. Going through box after box of film strips. Deciding what to throw away and what to get digitalized. I’ve found a lot of gems from my early days and a ton of junk I shot with point and shoot cameras that were either begged, borrowed or stolen. I even found some negative strips I shot from a 110 camera when I was fourteen. Jeez, does anyone even remember 110 cameras? Like I mentioned it’s been a long, tedious process. One that might bring some dirty looks and even death threats from the lab I work with. But in the end it was the start of something big and it’s helped my fragile psyche a great deal. I’ve already finished organizing my office. Putting up shelves and either selling or donating old scanners and outdated under used electronics. I got some nice shelves that should be going up this week and I am even breathing better. Before the Spring arrives I hope to have everything scanned. The office in top shape and seriously cut down the clutter in other areas of the apartment. There will be many trips to the Salavation Army, Housing Works and others. It will be worth having more space and piece of mind. I’m sure there are lots of people out there that will benefit from the things that made me crazy.
Author: photogeek23
I'm starting this blog to share my work and experiences with friends, family and anyone who takes pictures or loves photography. Comments and insight are greatly appreciated.
Barbie revisited.
So what ever happened to Barbie? The work hard but play harder role model for little girls everywhere. The woman who launched a million Paris Hiltons and Linsey Lohans. The girl who spent years trying to convince herself and the world that her boyfriend Ken was not the poster boy for the “Don’t ask, Don’t tell” generation. Years of part timing on the runway and bouncing from job to job did not fulfill her dreams of one day becoming anatomically correct. Oh and we can forget the all night binges at the Play House in Malibu. Or the numerous times she crashed the sports car after a night of cocaine and meth binges. Some people just don’t learn. While others were sobering up and moving on to new and better lives. Barbie was still being spoiled with shopping sprees for new clothes, jewelry and accessories by little girls around the world. It was too much too soon for Barbie. For her life was a never ending party. She didn’t foresee that there wasn’t much of future in plastics and her years of retirement would be spent naked in a crowded Salvation Army bin with He-Man (Also gay) or even worse, a Staten Island land fill. I decided to tak a before and after look at Barbie and maybe give a Lindsy and Paris a look at what their future holds. Hope you enjoy.
My day at the gallery
On Superbowl Sunday while most of my friends were glued to the TV watching the Jets lose their shot at getting to the Superbowl. I was sitting at the gallery with fellow gallery member Nandor. Nandor is currently having a spotlight show at the gallery while just a few feet away one of my images hangs in all it’s glory. I’ve been a member of SOHO Photo Gallery for about two years now and display my work their regularly. Unfortunately, it is very rare when I actually have any in depth conversations with the members there. Sure, many of them are very nice, engaging and talented in their own right but for whatever reason, perhaps age. I always feel like an outsider there. However, as I sat with Nandor I felt comfortable and even entertained. He told me about growing up in Hungary and how the combination of cold weather and Communism make for hard and sometimes bitter people. I had mentioned how as a teen and into my early twenties I worked in areas of Brooklyn and encountered many people who came from Eastern Europe. I had met my share of gypsies, thieves and people who made their living off the misery of others. Though the subject matter may seem pretty dark. We spoke in good humor about our experiences. Later in the day we went through one another’s work and immediately developed a mutual admiration society. I sat nervously as he poured over my pictures. It’s one thing to have someone you know and love praise you or tell you they are not impressed by certain images, concepts or ideas, But to have someone who’s work may be on your level or even better is different. I was both happy and relieved to know he liked my work but what blew me away was his knowledge of lighting. As he went from image to image pointing out the source and direction of light I sat in awe. Over the last year or so I have really become an apprentice with light. Not only seeing it but directing it and using it for dramatic purpose. I find I have tendency to go a little too dark sometimes. When I look back at the work I was doing between 2006-2008 I see a tremendous difference. I’ve added a lot more drama and I like that. But sometimes I do admit missing the days when I would just flood the studio with light. It may not have been as creative or ballsy but it was a little more conventional. Not that I want to go back to that style on a regular basis. But I don’t think I’d mind revisiting it every once in a while.
Do What you Love.
Interviews have always been one of my strengths. I started honing my skills at the age of fourteen convincing Frank the Butcher that a scrawny little kid could deliver meat on a bike that was twice my size and weight on some of the steepest hills of my neighborhood. By Eighteen I had received a Masters Degree in the art of the sale. My boss at the time. A fast talking salesman from the Middle East told me I could sell pork chops to a Muslim. The Father of my on and off girlfriend sat me down when we first met. Looked me dead in the eye while he popped his can of Bud and said “James, I like you. You’ve got a good line of bullshit.” It wasn’t so much bullshit as it was feeling comfortable in that one on one. Kind of settling in for the interrogation. Knowing what to ask and just how much to show. This Monday I had a chance to sharpen my dulling skills. Sitting with this woman over coffee I went over my skills and strengths. Sharing anecdotes. All along she’s describing the job and the studio. There I was ready to offer my time, talent and to a degree my soul. As I’m looking across the table confidently I realize this is a woman who is offering me nothing. She had been with the studio for less than a year and seemed determined yet defeated and dissatisfied. She told me about the shitty pay and hours. The cliquish staff that was cold to new comers and the dark depressing clothes they were required to wear. Prior to the interview I was able to peak into the studio to take a peak at the equipment they used. Pretty much the same thing I use. A medium to high end digital SLR, a Soft Box and a Strip Box. Late in the interview she told me that the settings on the camera were never changed and the lights were not to be changed. That I would not be taking the pictures I was used to doing. There I was listening intently and speaking honestly and respectfully. I shook her hand and agreed to take a few days to decide. The same night I was reading an interview in Esquire with comedian Tracy Morgan. In the interview he talks about his love for comedians like Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx (cudos to him for that) along with his love for SNL creator Lorne Michaels. But something else he said said really resonated with me. He says “How we treat each other- hilarious. How people fly off the handle for nothing. Go off the deep end for nothing. If you hate your job, motherfucker, just quit. You hate your Spouse? Leave. Just stop being scared.” I notice a lot of people including some friends. They hate their job, their boss, their commute, their life. Why in the world would I take a job I know won’t pay my bills and make me miserable? When that woman told me to take a few days to think about it she was basically giving me the keys to the getaway car. Did she actually think I’d call the next day and say “Sign me up for some misery.” “Oh and can you recommend a place where I can buy black clothes?” Fear would never force me into taking a job that would make me hate doing what I love. I think if I’m going to be a photographer I have to work for myself. Otherwise I am basically giving away my rights to any work I do. That would be a waste of time. I’d rather go drive a truck than work somewhere like that. Do what you love. Love what you do. Life is too short to regret your choices and bang your head against a wall all day.
Legion of the Sonne solo shots
This weekend I had planned to see Legion of the Sonne perform live at Outburn Magazines “Battle of the Bands”. Due to the death of a childhood friend I will be attending a wake instead. I know I promised David I’d be in attendance but I’m sure he understands the weight of my reason. A few months back I had the opportunity to work with the band on some promotional photos and had a great time. I had stepped away from working with bands for some time but these guys made me love getting back into it. As the session came to a close I stepped away from the band shots to photograph them individually. If you guys ever decide to do solo albums. You know where to come.
Welcoming the New Year
In case you haven’t noticed we’ve entered a new year and decade. I’ve been feeling particularly creative as of late and have my eyes on new projects, new adventures and new avenues for exhibiting my work. As the new year rolled in I signed up with a few networking sites and groups including Smug Mug and Model Mayhem. I mention these important networking tools because this week I had my first face to face experiences with both. Attending my first Smug Mug workshop at B&H and working together with my first Model Mayhem contact Diana. My first experience with Smug Mug and Rob ‘Ninja’ Nicholson was excellent. Entertaining, informative and completely reassuring at the same time. Listening and watching Rob made me better understand why people join cults and believe in alien abductions. I wanted to stay and meet everyone but there’s something about crowds that sometimes give me overwhelming anxiety. The room was so packed that all I could think of was fresh air and how close I was to the door. The very same week I had my first meet up with my very first Model Mayhem contact Diana Lo. What drew me to Diana’s profile was the simple beauty of her pictures on the site. A lot of the work I had seen on the site was a combination of sex, raunch and endless hours of Photoshop. Her photos stood out to me. After a couple of emails and a phone call we chose a date and time. I’m always a little nervous before a session. I admit that after all these years I still get the butterflies before every session. Working with someone and trying to capture their essence five minutes after you meet some one for the first time definitely has it’s challenges. But Diana and I had instant chemistry. During our phone conversation she told me how much she liked the location work I had done. So I promised her we’d visit some of my favorite spots before we went back to the studio. She had never been to Hoboken before so I was more than happy to give her a tour. As we talked and took pictures Diana became more and more instinctive. I almost immediately noticed that the pictures on her profile, although beautiful, didn’t even scratch the surface. I meet a lot of beautiful, unique and special people in my line of work. Diana however took it to another level. She reminded me of someone who was very special to me a child. Someone who opened my eyes to the beauty the world has to offer. Whenever I think of that particular person I have so many special memories. To this day I get choked up just thinking about her. As we went from one spot to the other Diana would thank me for showing me these new places, explaining my approach to each photo and making her feel included. She told me about growing up in Hong Kong and living in Manhattan. What was scheduled to be a two hour session went past five hours and I can honestly say that not a minute was wasted of forced. We both loved the shots we took and enjoyed the whole process. Sometimes I forget how lucky I am to be doing what I love. I’ll go back to this session and this blog post whenever I need a reminder.
My own worst enemy
I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve always been a little clumsy. I’ve had my share of slips, trips and falls. I’ve even broken a few things in my time. Having to work in a small place doesn’t help any. Before I went wireless I was always tripping over wires and getting tangled up. I’ve improved a lot by using simple common sense and analyzing the situation before taking action. Yet everyone now and then I have to go and prove just what an accidental prone dork I am. The other day I decided to trim one of my seemless backgrounds. Over the past week my white background had been walked on, stained and torn at it’s edges. Now I love working with the seemless backgrounds but being that they are basically made of paper does not allow for a longevity. Cutting paper might seem like a no brainer to most if not all. But if anyone is going to complicate the simple it would be me. Most of the time I use a scissor but it always ends up crooked and uneven. So this time I decided to lay the background down at the edge of the tile and use a razor. Fast, simple, straight and neat. So genius here is laying down that razor making a nice clean, straight cut when things took the slightest turn and Sliiiiiip…….. I cut my hand deep and the blood is everywhere. There was that initial rush of pain but what put me in fear was how fast the blood came. In a matter of seconds my hand was covered in blood. Blood on the background, floor, carpet and before long the sink. I was amazed how much blood I lost and how quickly. Luckily there was someone in the other room to bandage me up and stop the bleeding. I kept thinking of that scene in Goodfellas where Henry helps the guy who was just shot near the Pizzeria. Tuddy looks at Henry disgusted and says “You wasted eight fuckin’ aprons on this guy.” I really need to pay more attention to safety and the little things.
Joe Coffee and a host of others @ Dingbatz in Clifton
On January 2nd my buddy Chris and I decided to brave the below freezing temperature and ring in 2010 with some live music. Cold, hungry and thirsty we gassed up the Civic and headed to Dingbatz in Clifton for (in particular)Joe Coffee and a host others. As usual we arrived early so we grabbed a couple of seats at the bar and just watched as the people began to come in from the cold.
- Let it be said that I have never been a big fan of Oi but 45 Adapters (great name btw)were an eye opener. Good on the ears and a great stage presence. Their singer had the crowd dancing and singing along. They were a definite crowd pleaser. They brought a following with them and definitely left with some new fans.
Next up were another NY band Step to Far. I remember meeting their singer Frank in the 90’s down at CBGB’s. He was always a familiar face and a friend on the scene. On this particular night he was doubling on sound while also fronting his band. Step 2 Far brought some gold old NYHC to Jersey on this particular night. Just in case those Jersey kids forgot who was runnin’ shit. Nice seeing Frank. It’s been a while now. Maybe since the closing of CBGB’s.
By the time Joe Coffee took the stage I was a bit snoggered but steady on my feet. As Paul and the band took the stage I felt a slight crack in the concrete as the world seemed to shift on it’s axis. I had not witnessed Paul Bearer’s greatness since his days fronting Sheer Terror but have had Joe Coffee’s “As bright as the stars we’re under” on heavy rotation for some time now. Needless to say the man is an ominous, dark anti-hero. Yet he still has this “favorite yet oft hidden uncle meets W.C. Fields” quality. With all that said Joe Coffee is a band to be reckoned with. Mixing so many different styles. Call them Punk. Call them Hardcore. But I’d best describe them as brutally honest Rock n’ Roll. In between songs Paul went on lengthy rants while drinking a bottle of gin. Brutally honest, spiked with humor, fueled by booze. I’m glad the years haven’t softened him.
Last and not least were the Hub City Stompers. I’ve been hearing about this band for quite some time now but finally got to see for myself what everyone was talking about.After the dark cloud (and I say this with great respect) that Joe Coffee brought. This band was definitely what the crowd needed to send the crowd home on a very high and positive high. The Hub City Stompers hailing from that great band factory New Brunswick keep that great Reggae/Ska/Oi beat going strong. Great musicianship and a contagious energy. They had the whole place showing love. I love a show when you have bands who bring different styles and moods. This was a really good example of it. I think all of the taste buds were refreshed with this one. It was good seeing a familiar face in Brian Macko and meeting the guys from the band Feet First. The ride back to Hoboken was an adventure and story in itself. Flirting with the Dunkin Donuts girl at 3:00 am and Chris’s Jack Daniel’s fused jibba jabba. One of those nights that reminds why live music will always be a special part of our lives.
Santa Night in Montclair
Friday night I had the pleasure of participating in “Santa Night” a (very fun) fundraiser for the National Cervical Cancer Coalition which provides support, education, and service to those in need. More than ever I’ve been inspired by people who give of themselves to help the people in their communities and beyond to better the lives of those in need. So when my friend Mandy asked me if I could help out with this event I was honored and ready to do anything to help. (even dress up in an elf costume and sing out of tune.) So that night a busload of Santa’s Elves went from one designated bar to another caroling, spreading merriment and raising money for the NCCC. I was amazed at the response of the people we met. They were all laughing and singing along. Afterward, they gladly dropped cash into our ELF hats. The first gentleman I approached gave me $25 and that set the tone for the rest of a very exciting and successful night. I can’t say enough about the people I met that night. All of the elves worked very hard, had a lot of fun and looked good doing it. Which is not always easy in an elf suit. They were truly Santa’s helpers. And to Mandy who organized and worked so tirelessly on making this event. I can’t say enough about how you inspire me and so many others. You’ve motivated me to do so much more with my time and leave the best footprint possible on the places I’ve traveled.
By the way, it’s never too late to give of yourself and your time. Here are some links that I highly recommend.
Scream reunion @ the Black Cat in Washington D.C.
When I got home late the other night there was a message from my old friend Freddy letting me know their was an extra ticket and seat for the ride down to D.C. for the reunion of the band Scream. It was an automatic and enthusiastic “YES” for me. I had been craving a road trip over the last couple of weeks and the opportunity to see the legendary Scream was as good an excuse as it gets. Though the weather called for snow I hoped for the best and kept my fingers crossed. Saturday came and the snow came as forecasted (imagine that, an accurate weather forecast.) The snow came and kept on coming. By the time Freddy called me Saturday night it had turned into a blizzard. Freddy’s voice did not sound good. “I don’t know man. The snow is pretty bad. I heard that D.C. is blanketed in it. I don’t know if I want to go.” I know how he felt but asked that he wait until the morning to decide. The next morning I was jolted by the phone. It was Freddy again. “We’re going. Meet us at Great Jones at noon. I jolted out of bed, got dressed and headed to the city. Freddy Alva, Mark Ryan, Nikki Sneakers and yours truly packed into Dave Steins car and headed out. Prior to our leaving I had pictured the cover of the D.C. benefit compilation “State of the Union” where homeless men are covered in tattered blankets while covered in snow. In all honesty I pictured us going 20 miles and hour in Antarctica like temperatures and Siberian snow drifts. But the roads were clear and there was no traffic to be seen. Within a few hours we’d be in D.C. The trip was pretty uneventful. Dave and Freddy in the front Me, Nikki and Mark in the back. Bad Brains and Cromags playing on the iPod. Eventually we arrived in D.C. and found a spot right in front of a good record store a few blocks from the club. I scored an Urban Blight and an Undertones record while Nikki seemed to make a serious killing. After that it was over to Busboys and Poets where we were joined by more people for dinner. B&P is a combination book store, bar and restaurant with some great books and even better food. I highly recommend the catfish btw.
Afterwards we headed up the block to the Black Cat for what would be an amazing night. What were originally scheduled to be four bands were narrowed down to two. Rust Buckit and Scream. Rustbuckit which features for members of Black Market Baby were a good teaser. Playing balls out rock ‘n roll that the crowd really got into. They had a good presence and got everyone whipped up. As the set ended I noticed the club was filling up quickly and from there I never looked back.
For the record Scream was perhaps the last of the great D.C. bands of the 80’s that I fell in love with. That said I have done a lot of catching up over the years. The band fired into a set that was powerful, emotional and memorable. The bands energy coupled with the crowds response were impossible to contain. Pete paced back and fourth on the stage belting out a set that was an even mix of old and new songs. Skeeter plucking away on his bass and Franz firing his guitar. I heard a few comments about them playing too many new songs but if you ask me the crowd was too whipped up to mind. When the band returned for an encore they were joined by none other than Brian Baker on guitar. My mind was blown. The crowd became even more frenzied and the bodies started flying off the stage. I remember seeing a sign that read “No stage diving or crowd surfing allowed. You will be thrown out.” But by that time it didn’t seem to matter. The night was just about over. Elated and exhausted we headed home. Special thanks to Dave Stein fro driving and the door to door service. It was much appreciated.
Dave Stein later had this to say and I couldn’t agree more.
“Taking a road trip like this just confirmed to me how important not just music is to my life, but LIVE music. I’ve hitchhiked, taken buses, flown, crammed in vans and trucks and cars to see bands I love and I look forward to having the reason to do it again.”
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