A Photo Geeks ups and downs through words and images.
Busy with work and enduring some of the most merciless heat of my lifetime. I’ll share a beloved image from my days as a burgeoning photographer who had recently migrated from my Hell’s Kitchen apartment to the mile-square city of Hoboken.
As I continue to purge past images from my computer and hard drive. I reflect on many of my early encounters. The people I met, the places I frequented outside my home studio, and the countless mistakes I made. And while I’ve built a cottage industry with self doubt and not giving credit where credit is due. In the end. I captured many moments worth keeping. The image below goes back to a timeI often photographed people at Hoboken’s nearby Monroe Center. The five story building deep within Hoboken served as the areas art center and housed every form of art one could imagine. With endless halls of cascading natural light and access to it’s roof. The Monroe Center always provided the right mood and environment to create. This particular woman had beautiful, emotive eyes and became a good friend. This just might be my favorite shot from our several sessions.
After years in Seattle and Virginia. The planning of a road trip to our former home in North Jersey was long over due. Being that we lived in Hoboken and Jersey City for the first fifteen or so years of our marriage. We experienced many of our adventures just across the river from where we first met and married. The plan came together when we learned that a long time friend was finalizing her bands tour in Jersey City. How else could we get to see as many familiar friends at one place and at one time?
As Hoboken’s Drum Den celebrates its tenth year in business, I reached out to my old friend Pete to talk about the business and life behind the drums. http://www.jerseybeat.com/petemartinez.html
I was having this conversation with a potential client when my humble studio beginnings came up. I shared how I somehow managed to set up a makeshift home studio in my small Hoboken apartment. Not only was the space incredibly small, but those who dared venture in to the mile square for a session had to follow up their nightmarish search for parking with a three floor walk up to said apartment. Strangely enough, I made it work to moderate degrees of success.
Fast forward a couple of years and I’ve just about quadrupled my space in nearby Jersey City where parking is a breeze and elevators seem to be all the rage.
Still, with the sizable change. I often find myself trying to find space to set up a full function studio as well as finding closet space to store away equipment while I’m not using it. And while any mention of clutter or booby trapped studio equipment is strictly that of an over worked imagination. I’ve been ever vigilant to keep things, if not out of mind,. At least out of sight.
Needless to say, my new found focal length has given me the space between my subject while having my subject further enough from the background to avoid unwanted shadows and unexpected falloff.
Yes, I’m still clumsy, but I haven’t broken anything or caused any permanent damage since I got here. Hopefully, with a little coaxing and improved balance I’m beginning to feel more confident in myself snd my work. If that continues, doors are sure to open.
Last night I added a KIDS section to Damion Photo which includes studio and location shots taken at local parks and beaches. Working with children and families has been one of the most rewarding parts of my photography life. Something I hope to dive head first back into in the coming months. I’m currently booking Spring sessions which include visiting clients homes where kids seem most comfortable. I also plan to continue taking advantage of Hoboken’s Parks and beautiful Hudson River view. There will be many updates and additions in the coming days, weeks and months. Come visit and watch for the coming updates. Yours Truly, The Photo Geek
Realizing it was the fourth of the month and we had yet to pay the garage. We raced over with minutes left before a late fee would be added to the already pricy cost to house our vehicle. Though our attention was squarely placed on getting there before the strike of midnight. The layers of fog and downright ghostly spell our town had fallen under. Upon return home I quickly reached for my camera and headed back out. Though I have less than zero skills when it come to night photography. I felt I owed it to myself to at least try. The crisp night air and solitude provided a sense of tranquility I rarely experience. I find these little moments of peace to be priceless. It clears the mind while awakening the senses. Not bad if you ask me.
As stated in my last post. I finally had the chance to wander the halls of Hoboken’s landmark building Neumann Leathers. After hitting the drums for an hour or so I took a few minutes to explore the nooks and crannies of this character filled old factory. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved going to factories, junk yards and “Off Limits” areas to explore, investigate and take pictures. Sadly, most of these places have quickly disappeared. Ultimately being replaced by soulless high rises and retail franchises. Forv me personally, finding spots like these is like winning the lottery. Below are several of my favorite images from my exploration.
In my ten plus years as a Hoboken Resident I’ve driven or walked past the Neumann Leathers building countless times. And though I had taken many pictures around and outside of the sizable landmark. I had never once ventured inside the building.
That was until today. In recent weeks I’ve had the pleasure of running into Pete Martinez. Best known to me as the drummer for New Jersey Power Pop kings Stuyvesant. I consider him, like many of the musicians and bands I rub elbows with to be more of an acquaintance than anything. Yet during the last couple of times we’ve talked at shows, he’s extended a hearty invitation to come pound on the drums at “The Drum Den”. Which, by the way, is located just inside Neumann Leathers. So today, with a few hours on my hands and a lot of aggression to work on. I took Pete up on his invitation.
Following a hearty welcome and a healthy tour of the facilities, (The place is a lot larger and organized than I ever envisioned.) we got down to business and started laying the foundations of learning to play the drums. Though I went in there to just basically make some noise and take out some pent up aggression. 
I found myself listening and wanting to learn more. Though I lacked any sense rhythm, I listened and learned about the kick, the snare, the toms and the symbols. I learned how to position myself, hold the sticks and hit the snares properly. Honestly, I got a lot more than I came for and Pete? I just can’t say enough about the guy. He put up with my lack of timing and rhythm and was a true teacher. So much so that I’ve convinced myself to go back and take some lessons.
After we finished I managed to stick around for a while, take some pictures and eventually meet Mitch Cady. We briefly spoke about the place and me wanting to take some shots. I gave him a couple of business cards. Both of which featured images taken at Maxwell’s. 
Turns out he used to do sound there. Well, small world. From there I creeped around the building getting some shots of the old factory. It’s become quite evident that there are fewer and fewer of these places around anymore. Places with a sense of history and character. I feel lucky to have had a chance to see it in it’s original form. I’m sure that my return will reward me with further corners and crevices to explore. Hopefully my rhythm and timing will be improved when I do. Thanks Pete. Thanks Mitch.
It’s been a while since I posted anything but that doesn’t by any stretch of the imagination, mean that I haven’t been busy. Though the heat and some planned renovations have brought my studio work to a grinding halt. My event and real estate photography have taken off. One of the strangest yet most rewarding types of work I’ve been getting is animal photography. I’ve always loved animals and in particular dogs. As a kid my parents had a saluki, my grandmother a collie and my step dad a doberman. When my wife and I were getting ready to buy a condo in nearby Jersey City, we talked as much about getting an Bull Dog as much as we did about new furniture. Spending much of this Summer cavorting with canines has been rewarding both personally and monetarily. Experiencing the relationships and family bond between dogs and humans. One can’t help but absorb the warmth and love. Hopefully my dog day will come soon. 
With a new air system I’m looking forward to a much more comfortable studio environment which should bring more exciting shoots to muse about. I just upgraded the blog giving myself a new domain name and unlimited space which will allow me to go crazy with the amount of images I can upload. All my best to my friends and those who’ve been keeping up with the blog. Stay cool and remain calm.
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