Kids play in it. Dogs piss in it. The city shuts down in it. I’m sick of it. Here’s some pictures.
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Get Fit!!!
2010 has been a year when I left my comfort zone and tried a lot of new things. Fitness is something that interests me on a number of levels. By combinig my love for lighting with tone, the peaks and valleys that muscle create. There’s so much you can really do artisticaly. Jess and I had been planning to get together for weeks with no concrete plan or script for what we were doing. I wanted to do something but I wasn’t quite sure of my approach and tecnique. As the day approached Jess and I stayed in contact through email and the thing that inspired the most was her energy and excitement about getting together. Jess is pretty small in size. Standing only five feet, one inch high. But she more than makes up for it in personality and overall presence. Jessicas specialties include Fight Coreography, Stage Combat, Stunt Work and Par Kour. She’s also an Actress, Make Up Artist and Writer. I had a great time working with her. I only hope ashe had as much fun as I did.
Busted
I’ve been a member of SOHO Photo Gallery since 2006 and have really appreciated the opportunity to share my work with the gallery members and the people from around the world that visit. However, I’ve always been torn about it.
Whenever joining a photo club or as is the case being a member of a COOP , my goal is to share and learn from the members. To create, inspire and be inspired. And of course to expose my work to new viewers. Having been a member of several such clubs Hob’art, The Palisades Camera Club and SOHO Photo I’ve gotten to do that. Yet, the experience has always left me wanting more. Coming to SOHO Photo was a big step for me. Having to work on submitting a portfolio for acceptance was paramount to my growth. Yet since joining I’ve been left with the feeling that I’ve joined a sewing circle at a retirement home. Each year when it’s time to pay my dues and renew I think long and hard about it. In 2010 I decided to renew with the ambition of shooting there from time to time on the galleries off days. I gingerly brought this up to various members I had hosted with. None of which seemed to show any concern. For me personally, that alone made it worth while. So I decided to take advantage. Recently, while shooting I was confronted by a member(One I had never met prior) . He was pissed off and said he’d be telling the elders. I jokingly said “Hey, point taken. Don’t be a rat and drop the dime.” He saw no humor in it.
Time went by and I got no feedback. no scolding came my way. Yet I still delayed my renewal. Maybe this was it. This was my sign. I got an email stating that I was “overdue” and ignored it. Still thinking. Then I got an official letter with the galleries letterhead and everything. I let it sit. Sunday morning Kayuri saw it on the coffee table and said. “Just renew. It’s not a lot. It might be worth it.” I wavered. “You know, why not.” That was until this morning when I got the email. That Rat dropped the dime on me and it upset some people. I can assure you and them it was never done out of disrespect or in a manner that would suggest I was sneaking around. Having discussed it openly in the past. I replied with just that and haven’t heard back since. But it made me think. I’ve never been much for groups and it’s been quite difficult relating to so many of the members in the past due to the vast generation gap. I’m deciding to follow my instinct and end my association. I can’t complain at all.
Life is what you make of it. You get exactly what you put into it. I never liked sitting in meetings. The openings rarely brought in new faces. It was always a mutual admiration society as far as I could see. There were times when members work totally blew my mind. Inspired me and made me yearn to be better. That’s a good thing. I’d definitely say my experience was a good one. It’s just time to try something new.
Keep it Sexy.
As of late I’ve been getting a lot of requests for boudoir, nudes and work that leads towards the sexier side of portraiture. One of the key elements I’ve worked on is lighting. I’ve played around with window light and on board flash with varied results. However, bringing my Studio lights into the bedroom has given me the best results. I love shooting nudes and such but I want to keep it as artistic as possible. Anyone can photograph a naked woman. Doing it artistically and tastefully is another thing all-together. Chemistry and the trust of and with the model are essential. Lighting is extremely important. I love that people feel comfortable enough with me to be natural and not hyper aware of the fact that there’s someone with a camera in the room. I see a lot of raunchy and sex driven photography on sites like Model Mayhem, which is fine and well. Just not where I want to be. For me I want to keep it more artistic. It can be sexy but it doesn’t have to get raunchy. I’m all about the sexy.
When I get old… okay, really old.
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.
Don’t let Evan Dando near your Bandwith.
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.
The People You Meet.
As we walked down South Street in Philly I notcied this gentleman sitting quietly by the storefront meticulously carving his wooden statue. I began to lift my camera to steal a shot but decided instead to move closer and engage him in conversation. I said hello and asked a few questions about his tecnique and how long it took him to turn a piece of wood into a work of art. He was more than happy to share his ideas and our conversation grew from there. I told him how at an early age I became a fan of Reggae. How artists like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Yellowman, Black Uhuru and Steel Pulse were major contributors to my growing up. The shops owner soon emerged from the store in a Bad Brains shirt and greeted me with a smile. I couldn’t help but share my story of how my date and I left our Senior Prom early in order to see the Bad Brains perform. The experience reminded me what I enjoy most about traveling. Everywhere I go in this world the streets and stores look more and more alike. There’s a Starbucks and a McDonalds on virtualy every corner. There’s a GAP and an Old Navy in every city. I can get that whether I’m in NYC, London or wherever. What’s important is the people you meet and the stories you come back with. That’s what makes it important to me.
The Kids Under the Bridge.
Travel and life in general is all about taking detours and exploring roads less traveled. This weekend while crossing the Betsy Ross Bridge into Philadelphia we sited an interesting old building to the left of us. Many is the time I’ve traveled the highways and routes and wondered about the history and stories of the old buildings that stood off to the sides. This time I was intrigued enough to take that exit and do a little exploring of my own. We exited and followed our instincts back to the old building. What turned out to be an old power plant wasn’t quite as interesting close up as it was off the bridge. Regardless, we stopped and got out to take some shots and explore the nearby railroad tracks.
As I was photographing the garbage and refuse left on the abandoned tracks I noticed three kids approaching in the distance. I could just make out their figures as I gazed into the hot sun. It was like something out of a post apocalyptic movie. I continued to shoot images of the warped LP’s as the grew closer. Just as they reached me they stopped in their tracks and asked what I was taking pictures of. It was somewhat surreal. Here were these kids with no shirts, no shoes walking the rail road tracks. It reminded me a lot of my childhood. From as far back as I can remember we spent much of our time playing on and exploring construction sites and running around in the train yard over in Sunnyside Queens. It seems like much of my childhood was spent ignoring “No Trespassing” signs and entering restricted areas. This trio was very friendly and inquisitive. Asking me lots of questions. Never displaying an ounce of fear or hesitance. Much like I was as a kid. It really brought me back. As I get older I hope to keep some of that adventurous spirit with me.
Holi- the festival of color
Last year around this time I was introduced to an Indian tradition known as Holi (The festival of colors). A few times a year the bosses of her company throw parties at there houses in the Hamptons and in Jersey. Showing appreciation for their hard work and dedication. On this particular day we were told to wear old clothes and be prepared to get dirty. As we drove towards the event Kay filled me in on what little she knew about the event. I was both curious and a little scared. Holi is a traditional Spring festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs in countries like India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. The tradition celebrates the coming of the Spring and the triumph of ‘good’ over ‘evil’. Participants playfully throw colored powder and water at one another. Soaking one another with colored water guns and even going as far as throwing participants into pools. All while consuming alcohol, dancing and signing. By the end of the day our clothes, hair, skin, my camera were all covered in the powder. Kayuri was worried about damaging my camera but I told her “I may never get to witness something like this again. So I’ll take my chances.” We had a really great time that day and enjoyed celebrating with friends. 
Taking on tasks and getting things done.
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.
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