Quaint and Desolate

A friend and I took the Ikea ferry out to check out Red Hook as a possible place to live. I've heard it's an "artsy" community but I had never made the trek out there. After stopping at Ikea and having really dry salmon for lunch, we headed out searching for the center of Red Hook. What we found was nothing, lots of nothing. It was like going to a tiny town in Maine. Sort of a nautical theme going on, buoys and nets, a crab house. A few bars, some old row houses, a number of warehouses, both abandoned and in use. Not much else. I spoke with a few of the locals who said they really enjoyed the solitude but one should really own a car. There's one bus, the B61, that has a semi-reliable schedule but other than that, no cabs, no subways. Though interesting, I won't be looking in Red Hook for a new apartment. I satisfied my curiosity. Quaint yes, but it's a barren wasteland, "artsy" or not. 

Commuters at the pier waiting for various ferries out of Manhattan.

Ancient warehouses?

One of Red Hook's artists in a very precarious position. As I watched him paint this big "red hook" on his garage door, I envisioned one of those flimsy ladders slipping out from under him, him falling on his ass, resulting  in a broken back or pelvis. Maybe a fractured hip. I couldn't watch...I had to walk away.

A beautiful sunset from the most desolate place in New York City, Red Hook.

The Heat Is On!

Today when the temperature hit around 95 degrees I decided to take a walk around my neighborhood assuming that at least a few fire hydrants would be uncapped. Inwood is notorious for this. It didn't take me long to find at least 5 hydrants blowing geysers into the street. manned by some kid with a juice can as a nozzle.

Trucks full of men working for the water and sewer department drove from hydrant to hydrant shutting them off. Within 10 minutes they were back on, dumping 1000 gallons a minute into the street (so claims the FDNY...seems like a lot).

Each time I would walk up and start shooting, a large group of kids would all quickly group together and ask to be photographed, thinking they would be in the paper or on the news.

Another group, another block.

Walking home a youngish Hispanic woman sitting in a lawn chair on the sidewalk noticed my cameras and asked me if I was a photographer. I told her that yes, I was indeed a photographer.  In broken English she told me that she had been taking classes at a nearby "modeling academy" located just up the street and would soon be getting her "modeling certificate". This certificate would allow her to work as a model according to her instructors. These classes teach you how to pose, how to walk the runway and cost $40 per course. She attends each Saturday from 5:30 to 7:30pm. I asked her how old and how tall she was. She replied.."I'm 25 and I'm 5 feet 5 inches tall". I smiled and said.."You know, most models are 5'9 or 5'10?". She didn't seem to care. She was sure that very soon she would be shooting music videos and doing magazine spreads. Again, as promised by the teachers from her "academy".  She was very friendly, flirtatious  and suggested we do a full on photo shoot.....at the beach no less. Then suddenly she jumped up and struck a pose, showing off what she's learned in school.  So confident and sure of herself.    Who could resist shooting America's next top Hispanic model?  I took 5 frames.

20/20 Shoot Outtakes

Outtakes from a recent 20/20 shoot I did.  A version of the above was the cover. I love shooting eye wear.

 Eerie feeling shooting this model... Like shooting my own twin. Looks just like me...amazing.

All photos shot in a pitch black basement pool hall. Thank God for powerful strobes, gels, a good assistant and extension cords. Very few outlets.

Sights Around Town

 In big block letters was written "POST NO BILLS". Staples left from "bills" that had disobeyed.

 Scowl in Soho.

"Cry for me  I don't care".  Feel the chill.

"Delivery driver wanted. Education unimportant."

Contemplating a leap. Soho

Met Roof

Friday night I went to the rooftop of the Met to meet friends for drinks. Sounded fun and interesting. The weather was perfect. Icy cold beer, great view, friends... It was very nice.

Giant sculpture by Thomas Saraceno on the roof that you could go inside and climb around in. Oddly, even though there's a written warning, many women go up in it wearing short skirts. It's glass, people look up. People giggle and point.

 My lovely friend Tatiana showed up a little after I did--a nice surprise.

 We left around 9:00 to have dinner.... A beautiful sunset over Central Park.

Look, Up in the Sky!

Giant photo of fingers meant to be viewed from the High Line. However, I was standing on the corner of 10th Ave. with a dolly full of equipment when I took this.

I was glancing up at these buildings and snapped a photo just as this jet was passing. Interesting timing. I still have this curiosity each time I see a plane in the sky wondering where it's going or where it's come from.

Odd flare in the sky the other day.

While Coming Home

 I've seen this elderly couple a few times on the train since living in Inwood. Last night I gave up my seat for them (yeah I know...a real humanitarian). The old gentleman is very slow, she seems a bit younger and more spry. They got off at 190th Street and I wondered about them climbing all those steps to exit the subway stop. He had the gaunt, hollow-cheeked  facial features of a WWII concentration camp victim. They held hands and dozed off for most of their trip home. I was so curious about their past.

I was shooting on the Upper East Side and walked past a spa that does waxing. According to this sign, if you were some hairy ape like Robin Williams it'd cost you about $323 to have a total depilatory treatment. Then again, I'm fairly certain they'd give you some sort of discount for being a human gorilla. I almost stopped in for a #5...the forehead wax.

The Beach

Today I went to Coney Island with my friends Sophie and Eileen. Sophie needed some body shots for her portfolio. At 5'10" she's amazing. I always enjoy shooting her and love going to Coney Island so it was a win-win situation. Contrary to weather reports, it turned out to be an odd mix of hot and chilly as the sun came and went behind some dense clouds. In the end we took some nice photographs, ate some crappy boardwalk food, drank some beer and had a great day overall. And really, what's better than a day at the beach with pretty girls, ice cold beer and camera in your hand?  Not much...to me anyway.

Another Day in Paradise

 I started my day early (rare occurrence) shooting 10 designers in their showrooms on 38th Street from 9:00am until 11:00am.  Then, I rushed downtown to a studio in Chinatown to shoot more "Resort Wear" from 11:30am until 1:30pm. Jumping back on the subway, I went uptown to shoot still life photos in the Conde Nast studio on 46th Street from 2:00pm until 4:30pm. Afterwards I went downtown to five gallery openings and dinner with a friend.  A busy day.

 More doe-eyed perfection... Did I mention I love my job?

Lucky Fashion Man

I've been shooting for Conde Nast for the past few days. I love nothing more than going into a studio and shooting a beautiful model. You can't help but catch yourself staring at some models the way you might a fawn, a racehorse, a tiger cub or some other purebred animal. It's not leering, it's admiration. How could anyone not want to gaze at them? And why would you deprive your eyes of such a visual pleasure? Large piercing eyes, beautiful straight noses, lean thin bodies, perfect features. That's why they're models. The cream of the crop of humanity (visually speaking).

I was shooting in a studio on 26th Street today. Catered food, bowls of M&Ms, beautiful model, great clothes, perfect hair, makeup and styling. I truly can't imagine a more wonderful way to make a living.

Bushwick

Sunday I went to to the BOS (Bushwick Open Studios). Took the L train to Jefferson Street and then proceeded to walk about 5 miles zig-zagging through Bushwick, running up and down steps to various artist lofts. I saw some amazing work (see above and below) as well as some real crap that looked as if a third grader had done it. Fun, inspiring day.

Though it looks like a grainy photograph, the above is actually about five layers of screen, like the screens on windows. The screen was ripped or cut away from the parts she wanted to be lighter... Genius.

I question why people bother to write certain things on walls. "We Chillin'".   Actually, I think the proper phrase is, "We Be Chillin'".

After my long day of art and walking I met my friend Katherine for dinner in Carroll Gardens, another part of Brooklyn. While waiting for her on the subway stop, just at sunset, I noticed the few last moments of sun hitting the tops of these buildings.

Tracie Bennett - WWD

Here's my photo of Tracie Bennett, which ran in WWD this past week. I snapped this as a quick grab shot, not thinking it would be used.  I'm supposed to get a ticket to her show "End of the Rainbow" sometime soon. She's gotten rave reviews so I'm looking forward to seeing it. One of the nice perks of the job.

Times Square

Walking through Times Square tonight I was accosted by the Naked Cowgirl. After chatting for a few minutes she turned on me like a pitbull telling me it had been a waste of time talking to me because I was cheap and not paying her. So, I pulled out $2 and she instantly because sweet as a kitten. I first saw her many years ago on a local cable channel telling the filthiest jokes I've ever heard in the nude.

There was chemistry there...we exchanged information. The future Mrs. Sullivan? I can only hope.

This is not the "real" Naked Cowboy. I haven't seen the original in quite some time. This guy seems very personable but sort of squishy and soft to be walking around in tight little underpants. I sat there for 10 minutes and this guy made a killing at two bucks a hug.

There must be 15 different characters walking around Times Square. Muppets, the Tin Man, a few Hello Kittys, more than a few Mickey and Minnie Mouses and 3 or 4 Statues of Liberty. This guy charged $5 for a portrait (you supply the camera/iPad). He raked in about $50 in 10 minutes. I find this to be the ultimate scam as well as incredibly lucrative. I need to find some old mascot suit at a yard sale.