Tag: Artist

A Visit from Stuyvesant.

Canon lenses and equipment, Family Portraits, Humor, Music, Portraiture, Studio Lighting, Stuyvesant

Last night I had the guys from Stuyvesant over for some Band shots. Brian told me they wanted an “Unforgiving Look” while Ralph pointed to Television’s “Marquee Moon” album. I personally looked for inspiration from some of my favorite SST and Dischord Records. In less than an hour we knocked out what they were looking for. I offered them more time and ideas but they were very happy with what they got and were gone before knew I it.  Brian, Ralph, Sean and Pete were very easy going and fun to work with. 

Girl From Ukraine

Beauty, Canon lenses and equipment, Editorial, Portraiture, Studio Lighting
Many is the time that the best pictures came at the very end of the session. You’ve executed your game plan and you’ve got everything thing you need. Suddenly one of you says “Hey, what do you think of…? or “Can we try?” Such was the case with Rocksolana.                  Our shoot was brief but gave us a number of different looks and moods. Hers was my last session of the day. I was exhausted but she brought enough energy for both of us. Roks was really hyper during the shoot. Rarely did she sit still long enough for me to compose.                       At one point I jokingly asked if she was on something. It was all emotion and energy. She kept asking about props and items I didn’t have like the kind of cigarette filters you see in those film noir pictures from back in the day. She loved my hats but seemed flustered when they didn’t fit. None of this was the least bit annoying. She was entertaining to say the least. We were blasting everything from AC/DC to Blondie to the Rolling Stones and getting along like old friends.     I had my share of  technical problems along the way too. My shutter wasn’t cooperating and the battery on my receiver went dead on me.    Regardless, we got some great stuff in a short time. As she was packing up I noticed her pair of doc martens in the corner. “Lana, wait a minute. Don’t change that dress.” I gave her my idea and though she questioned the contrast she put them on. As she was lacing her docs up I stopped her.    “Wait, leave them untied.” Within a matter of minutes we got these shots. I don’t have a habit of posting a lot of shots from one session but these just work in telling the story.     Roksolana is gorgeous. Her dark flowing hair and long legs. A smile that conveys a sense of innocence and wonder. Her eyes are big and wide open to the new experience of living in New York.

5 Pointz w/ Slone.

Canon lenses and equipment, Graffiti, Hip Hop, Queens

We headed out to Queens this afternoon to do some exploring in Long Island City and Astoria. Our first stop was 5 Pointz  where we checked in to see what new pieces had gone up and which ones had survived since our last visit. The more often I go the more I find myself  talking  to both the visitors and artists. Talking about art, paint and the spots I might have missed or perhaps would like to share. Today I met up with Slone (That’s him posing in front of his latest piece) and talked a bit. We exchanged info and if things go as planned I’ll be tagging along one day to shoot a piece in the making.

When I get old… okay, really old.

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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.

Zoia saves the day.

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IMG_8154IMG_8001Mondays are usually pretty dull around here. Even more so with the way the weather has been. Here we are in mid June and it’s rained just about every day. I was scheduled to meet Zola around 3:00pm so I decided to head out early to run a number of errands and take care of some business. On the way back into Hoboken I saw a Police car in my rear view. Barreling down on me at top speed with lights and sirens. I immediately did my best to pull over to the side to give him room only to realize he was gunning for me? As he approached, all five feet of him, he asked “do you know why I stopped you?” Okay, this is a test. Think hard James. “Ummmm, I have no idea.” I really didn’t. Waited for the light to turn green. Made a stop at the red sign that says “STOP”. Didn’t kill or maim any pedestrians. “You got me.” So he goes and tells me I failed to stop at the stop sign. COMPLETE BULLSHIT!!!!! I came to a full stop. There wasn’t a vehicle or pedestrian within a block of me. So I proceeded. Still I get an $85 ticket for my time. Only minutes later I park the car in the garage and go to cross the street. While a woman on her cel phone, driving an SUV, (You know the big ones that kill pedestrians?) runs the light and almost hits me. A block from the Police Station and not a cop in sight.                                                                                                                                                                                             Thank the Photography Gods for Zola. Not only did she arrive on time but she was gorgeous. This was my first time meeting her in person and it did take a little time to get into that comfort zone but once we did ……. It was great. We took some shots over at the Monroe Center. Came back to the studio and ended the day with some shots on my roof. It was an overcast day and rained on and off which made it perfect for getting nice shots. Zola has some of the most beautiful, expressive eyes I’ve ever seen. She came here from Russia some years ago and is studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology. I really enjoyed spending time with her and watching her reaction when we went through the session.  Thanks Zola, you saved the day.