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.

Back from Virginia

Back from Virginia after a 10-day visit. It was my Dad's 80th birthday on May 18th and it would have been my mother's 79th on May 20th. Happy Birthday Dad (and Mom)!  Stopped by the cemetery and took a snap of Mom's grave. Hard to believe it's been almost a year since she passed.

I found some old photos in a box in Dad's basement. This is 100 years ago with my third camera. My first, a Minolta, was quickly traded for a Canon, which was quickly traded for a Nikon FE. The beginning of a long love affair.

Another found photo, this one of me with Keith Richards in Soho. My girlfriend Laura and I ran into him on one of my first visits to NYC many years ago. She took the photo. I think I tried to smile and my upper lip stuck to my gums...odd toothy smile...how embarrassing. Nice porn mustache....

Back in NYC. Good to be home. Last night walking through Times Square. It's Fleet Week...  A sailor gets lonely on those long deployments at sea.

On Broadway (and off)

I had the very good fortune of photographing Tracie Bennett for Conde Nast this week. She's in a play about Judy Garland called "End of the Rainbow" now playing at the Belasco Theater on 44th Street. She's getting rave reviews.

I never know what I'll get when shooting backstage or in a dressing room. They're always dark and dimly lit and you never know what type of interaction you'll have with an actor. And, to make matters worse, the local union won't let you plug in any lights. So, you have to rely on battery-powered strobes. Tiny room, no light, usually huge egos...sign me up.

I was waiting outside (for my turn with her) in a dark rainy alley and she came out and lit up a cigarette. Much to my surprise Tracie was a pistol. Tiny little woman with a heavy Manchester accent. She was amazing. Very sweet, funny, and best of all incredibly accommodating. I had one light and she posed for me any way I asked. Afterwards we walked outside for a smoke and I snapped a photo with my point and shoot.  My finest Broadway experience--ever!

Old stage door at the Belasco. I wonder who's gone in and out of that door since its opening in 1907.

 "Judy's" eyelashes

 I often fall asleep on the long ride home from downtown. The train rocks and clacks and lulls many to sleep. Stepping off recently, I saw this person and decided I should try to stay awake from now on. Most people are not pretty sleepers.

While strolling the High Line the other evening, I saw this construction worked assembling some sort of art piece. Two guys who seemed like a money guy and a foreman watched and talked about the project. Later it struck me as an odd photo...the perspective...a little man.

Frustration, Art & Artists

Been very busy. Shot a portrait of designer Marc Jacobs the other day. As with many celebs, I got less than 10 minutes with him (told I'd have 30). Frustrating to be expected to create a great image in such a short time. Can he design a dress in 10 minutes? Can Gaga write a song in 10 minutes? I don't get it. I need ample time to "do my thing" as well.

The next day I shot for 20/20 Magazine. One of my favorite clients. Shot eyewear in a dark pool hall. Extremely hard to light. Turned out to be a great day. Good crew, two great models, tacos for lunch... What's not to love?

I've been going art crazy. Galleries every Thursday night as well as a few shows during the weekend. As I've mentioned many times before, I walk out of most galleries scratching my head wondering how in the hell that artist got a show in the first place. It's truly one of the great mysteries. Right up there with the pyramids, crop circles and where the hell is Jimmy Hoffa. Baffling.

Here was an odd one. Among the other mediocre work was a woman perched about 20 feet off the ground, topless, blowing on an egg suspended from a string attached to the ceiling. Frankly, I don't get it.

I enjoy the work of Alice Neel. Her paintings seem simple and true. She led a colorful yet troubled life. Her first child died and later her husband ran off to Cuba with their second child causing her to have a nervous breakdown. She attempted suicide and spent time in a sanitorium. She painted still life, family members, lovers, artists, intellectuals and friends associated with the Communist Party.
At David Zwirner gallery, 525 West 19th Street.

Bags, Etc.

I read recently that Americans now use 60,000 plastic bags a minute! Nearly all these bags end up in landfills and many in the ocean. This is bad, very bad. I very rarely take a bag when shopping. I always carry a nylon bag with me for groceries. I never once thought of using a bag as a hat. Even in a hurricane, wet blowing hair would look better than a plastic bag on your head. In this instance it wasn't even raining.

With the average speed in the city of around 35mph you don't see this too often. Odd sighting in Chinatown.

Tagged by a cynical and emotionally bruised graffiti artist.