Christmas

After a little craziness we finally made it up north for Christmas. We got to see both sides of our family and as usual I didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked to. I didn't have my shoulder bag and I've realized how much of a difference it makes having my camera right at my side. I don't think, I just shoot. We also picked up the sound gear, super excited to get that ball rolling. My grandparents were up from Florida, it was really good to see them, I promised I would visit some time in the next month or so. Love to get the chance to photograph them some more.

Other exciting news, I just ordered another camera, it's a polaroid 110b camera frankensteined w/ an old Crown Graflex 4x5 film back. Basically making a 4x5 range finder. Check it out here. I've been thinking long and hard and I know I want to shoot an upcoming project 4x5. Of course I want the look and beauty of large format photographs but just as important to me is the subject's relation and interaction with the camera. What camera you shoot dictates how you photograph, but I think it is often forgotten how the subject reacts when different cameras are pointed at them.



Kate & Shug 2007 Freemont, NH Christmas Day

Honeymoon in Playa Mujeres, Mexico

Just got back from the honeymoon. We stayed at an all inclusive resort and did exactly what your supposed to do in those kind of places, eat too much, drink too much, relax too much, which didn't lead to a lot of picture taking or picture taking that I can post. Neither of us had been to a place like that before so it took us a bit to get in the groove. We met a bunch of nice couples and the staff was amazing. We both enjoyed just chillin' by the pool, sipping umbrella drinks and just not having to think so much. But I think on our next vacation we are going to be a little more adventurous, i.e. S. America or Asia.

Heading up to MA for Christmas and we're going to pick up the sound equipment that I ordered. Hopefully I'll have a multi/rich/(whatever you want to call it) project up in the next month or so. I plan on doing a couple of shorts to start to get used to the equip.

Afternoon with Aloke

Yesterday I spent the afternoon taking pictures for my friend's band Aloke. Good time, got to know the other band members a bit more, all really nice guys. Basically we cruised around their hometown area, reminded me a lot of my hometown. I really like a couple of the shots, especially the portraits and tighter stuff. They're getting their new album mastered right now, so hopefully they'll be pitching it to labels early next month with a couple of my pictures in their promo. I think I'm going to head up to Boston with them a the end of Jan. which should be fun. They're also planning a road trip to CA for west coast tour, I mentioned maybe meeting up with them out there and hitting a few cities and they seemed down. I'd like to work it into a trip to LA to shoot Saber some more and a trip to SF to see Goggs. Its not till March so we'll see what works out.

Here's a couple of quick JPGS. Love any feedback.

Swindle Icons Issue 2

Its been a bit since I've had something published, but this is a good one. Swindle Magazine's Icons Issue 2 has just come out and I have four portraits in it of graffiti legend IZ the Wiz, writer Naomi Wolf, writer Richard Hell, and musician Perry Ferrell. I've just posted some jpgs of them on my web site. Two good friends of mine have pictures in that issue as well: Clay Patrick McBride and Chad Griffith.

Update: I just picked up the copies that were shipped to Kate's office. I was looking through the mag's credits and saw they listed me as a staff photographer.

Ouro Preto, Brazil

I just got back from my third trip to Brazil, but this time I was in Ouro Preto (wiki link). An old mining town from the Golden Age of South America, I guess you can tour the mines which brings some tourism money there. We were too busy to do a tour, but we got to see alot moving from location to location. The client was very chill and over all the job went really well. I almost got into fistacuffs with the model on the last night, but that is whole other story. It was really great to see a different place than Rio, although Rio has a much better night life and is just over all rad, Ouro Preto has very low crime and is a beautiful country town. Rio is basically the most dangerous place I've ever been and makes 80's NY look tame, so to not constantly be watching your back and be able to constantly have a camera on my side was a nice change. I would have loved to explore like I did in Argentina, just walk and find things, I was confined to each location we visited. Once again I was working with Jon Johnson which is always a good time. The kid is a real photographer's photographer. We had great conversations about photography and both made some nice flicks. Like I had mentioned in a previous post he makes these great polaroid diptychs and triptych that you should check out on his site. I think he made several great ones on this trip I'm sure you'll see at some point.

I think I'm finally getting close to being happy with my digital color work.




On our drive out to Ouro Preto we stopped briefly at a small bar, the light was amazing and like most amazing light it lasted maybe 5 minutes. The color there was crazy.

Somewhere in Brazil 2007






Jon Johnson. Ouro Preto, Brazil 2007




They were crazy religious in this town, they would recite sermons over a loud speaker several times a day, so loud you could hear it echo everywhere.

"Christ and Mary" 2007







"Graffiti scrawl on wall of a church" 2007







"Ouro Preto Landscape 1" 2007





We did a shot a little outside of town and there were a bunch of local kids, and as usual they were really interested in what was going on. Whenever I'm working on a commercial shoot and we're in a poor town here or abroad I always feel like we're taking advantage/exploiting the place. This job was no exception, especially when shooting a white model in an outfit that could cost upwards of $10,000. So I usually try to be as cool as possible to the locals and kids. I gave them a bunch of polaroid out takes and Jon shot a couple of polaroids of them, which he gave them as well. They were so excited to get them. I feel it leaves a good impression for whomever comes next.

"Cousins" 2007






"Local Boy 1" 2007






"Local Boy 2" 2007







"Ouro Preto Landscape 2" 2007

two quick pictures

I shot these just before I left for Brazil.


This portrait of Jon was shot in this old factory building in Long Island City, Queens. It's owned by an old eccentric lady who has had it for years. I've worked many jobs there with both Clay and others, so many possible pictures there. The place is massive, old, and filled with all kinds of interesting stuff.

Jon Mildenberg. LIC Queens, NY 2007



Kate and I on one of our many walks with Shug.

Kate. Cooper Park Brooklyn, NY 2007

Almost home

Tomorrow night I'm traveling back from Brazil. I got a bunch of great flix can't wait to get home and do a big update.