February 20, 2012
New York - 2011//

New York - 2011//

9:24pm
(Notes: 4)
  
Filed under: 2011 new york invited Black and White 
February 14, 2012
New York - 2011// “Sometimes photographers should just shut up,” he said.

New York - 2011//

“Sometimes photographers should just shut up,” he said.

10:55pm
(Notes: 8)
  
Filed under: 2011 nyc 
February 8, 2012
Barbara - Bushwick, Brooklyn, 2011// Barbara is back in Los Angeles now. Even though this photograph was made in Brooklyn, it makes me think of L.A. I have these strange ties to Los Angeles that I don’t think I can ever break. I want to go back. It’s been three years since I left, but I’m still fascinated by it. It’d be strange to walk down Melrose or Santa Monica again, as if I’d never left. The quick images would come and go, but what interests me most is connecting with the people I met during my L.A. days. What are they up to? What trip could we go on? What photographs could be made?

Barbara - Bushwick, Brooklyn, 2011//

Barbara is back in Los Angeles now. Even though this photograph was made in Brooklyn, it makes me think of L.A. I have these strange ties to Los Angeles that I don’t think I can ever break. I want to go back. It’s been three years since I left, but I’m still fascinated by it.

It’d be strange to walk down Melrose or Santa Monica again, as if I’d never left. The quick images would come and go, but what interests me most is connecting with the people I met during my L.A. days. What are they up to? What trip could we go on? What photographs could be made?

11:26pm
(Notes: 1)
  
Filed under: portrait Black and White 
February 6, 2012
Brooklyn, NY - 2011// I’ve read over and over again that you need to get out of your comfort zone if you want to evolve as a photographer. I generally believe that but I have a tough time doing it myself. I’ve followed essentially the same process for about five years. It’s comfortable and enjoyable but not completely satisfactory on a certain level. For about a year I’ve had a glimmer of an idea for a new project but it really never became clear. Then I was out walking this weekend and the project crystallized. The disparate pieces I’ve been thinking about for the last year united and I saw a much clearer vision. Now, before you think this maybe some big revelation, it’s not. This has happened before with project or ideas. Most of which I tend to discard before starting. It’s a necessary part of the process. Try for as many ideas as possible and see which of them stick with you and won’t leave you alone. I think this new idea is one of those that won’t leave me alone. There have been others like this, most of which I’m still trying to wrap up in fact. A central component of this new project will involve portraits, and that will take me straight into a territory that I fear the most.

Brooklyn, NY - 2011//

I’ve read over and over again that you need to get out of your comfort zone if you want to evolve as a photographer. I generally believe that but I have a tough time doing it myself.

I’ve followed essentially the same process for about five years. It’s comfortable and enjoyable but not completely satisfactory on a certain level. For about a year I’ve had a glimmer of an idea for a new project but it really never became clear.

Then I was out walking this weekend and the project crystallized. The disparate pieces I’ve been thinking about for the last year united and I saw a much clearer vision. Now, before you think this maybe some big revelation, it’s not. This has happened before with project or ideas. Most of which I tend to discard before starting. It’s a necessary part of the process. Try for as many ideas as possible and see which of them stick with you and won’t leave you alone.

I think this new idea is one of those that won’t leave me alone. There have been others like this, most of which I’m still trying to wrap up in fact.

A central component of this new project will involve portraits, and that will take me straight into a territory that I fear the most.

9:56pm
(Notes: 8)
  
Filed under: portrait Street Shoes NYC brooklyn jukebox 
February 1, 2012
New York City - 2011// I remember reading an interview with a photographer (can’t recall who) where they said that they’d often go back into their archives and re-process photographs because their palette had evolved. Boy, that was nice to read! I find color correcting and toning black and white photographs to be terrifying. I generally have a sense of how I want things to look, but getting there is a battle. First, my photoshop chops are feeble. Secondly, reading what the negative or file is giving me can be confusing. Do I force it into a direction I want instead of listening to where it wants to go? None of this even address how any of these photographs look when printed on paper. I don’t mind the process though I suppose. It’s nice having your work in a state of flux. You can always go back and tinker with things. I’m sure photographers who’ve been published in Steidl have gone back ten years later and thought, “man, that looks like shit.” Or maybe not. Who knows. It’d be nice if an interview stating that came out one of these days.

New York City - 2011//

I remember reading an interview with a photographer (can’t recall who) where they said that they’d often go back into their archives and re-process photographs because their palette had evolved.

Boy, that was nice to read! I find color correcting and toning black and white photographs to be terrifying. I generally have a sense of how I want things to look, but getting there is a battle. First, my photoshop chops are feeble. Secondly, reading what the negative or file is giving me can be confusing. Do I force it into a direction I want instead of listening to where it wants to go?

None of this even address how any of these photographs look when printed on paper. I don’t mind the process though I suppose. It’s nice having your work in a state of flux. You can always go back and tinker with things. I’m sure photographers who’ve been published in Steidl have gone back ten years later and thought, “man, that looks like shit.”

Or maybe not. Who knows. It’d be nice if an interview stating that came out one of these days.

7:56pm
(Notes: 4)
  
Filed under: 2011 New York 
January 31, 2012
Times Square, NYC - 2011// Last summer when I was spending time wandering around Midtown I got sucked into Times Square a few times. I asked myself, “Why not try to make a few photographs here?” I’m not jaded enough by NYC yet to find it completely revolting. There’s a certain absurd peacefulness to it that I find comforting at times. That normally lasts about 20 minutes though, and can be shortened to about 5 minutes if a bus passes by with tourists waving their hands back and forth as New York New York blares. Where’s a camera when you need it? I haven’t been back to Times Square with a camera recently. I work on 34th St so I could wander over there after work if I wanted but the thought rarely pops into my head. Maybe that’s some sort of sign? I’ve been here for three years now which is nothing really in the grand scheme of things. Maybe I’ll go visit some crummy sports bar in Times Square soon to recapture some of that 2011 nostalgia.

Times Square, NYC - 2011//

Last summer when I was spending time wandering around Midtown I got sucked into Times Square a few times. I asked myself, “Why not try to make a few photographs here?”

I’m not jaded enough by NYC yet to find it completely revolting. There’s a certain absurd peacefulness to it that I find comforting at times. That normally lasts about 20 minutes though, and can be shortened to about 5 minutes if a bus passes by with tourists waving their hands back and forth as New York New York blares. Where’s a camera when you need it?

I haven’t been back to Times Square with a camera recently. I work on 34th St so I could wander over there after work if I wanted but the thought rarely pops into my head. Maybe that’s some sort of sign? I’ve been here for three years now which is nothing really in the grand scheme of things. Maybe I’ll go visit some crummy sports bar in Times Square soon to recapture some of that 2011 nostalgia.

9:59pm
(Notes: 3)
  
Filed under: Street Shoes NYC nyc 
January 30, 2012
California - 2008// Today the shelf with all my photography books and negatives collapsed from the wall, spilling everything all over my desk, bed and the floor. Nothing was damaged except at power strip. RIP. Looking at all the negatives scattered everywhere nearly gave me a panic attack. It’s as if they were saying to me, “You have to not only scan us again but organize us in a meaningful way. Then you need to store us properly for posterity.” These negatives are needy and demanding. And now they’re sitting on top of my dresser in a pile. I’m sure my negative problem isn’t as severe as some people so I should probably stop complaining and move onto other topics.

California - 2008//

Today the shelf with all my photography books and negatives collapsed from the wall, spilling everything all over my desk, bed and the floor. Nothing was damaged except at power strip. RIP.

Looking at all the negatives scattered everywhere nearly gave me a panic attack. It’s as if they were saying to me, “You have to not only scan us again but organize us in a meaningful way. Then you need to store us properly for posterity.”

These negatives are needy and demanding. And now they’re sitting on top of my dresser in a pile.

I’m sure my negative problem isn’t as severe as some people so I should probably stop complaining and move onto other topics.

10:19pm
(Notes: 1)
  
Filed under: esvt negatives 
January 27, 2012
New York// I have no recollection of making this photograph. I’m guessing it was from a night out in Brooklyn but I don’t know for sure. Did I meet this couple that night? Or were they complete strangers? I’m not likely to figure it out anytime soon so I guess I’ll just have to go with it. Surprise photographs on rolls of film are great. 

New York//

I have no recollection of making this photograph. I’m guessing it was from a night out in Brooklyn but I don’t know for sure. Did I meet this couple that night? Or were they complete strangers?

I’m not likely to figure it out anytime soon so I guess I’ll just have to go with it.

Surprise photographs on rolls of film are great. 

10:12pm
(Notes: 4)
  
Filed under: Black and White portrait 
January 26, 2012
Brooklyn, NY// I’ve been thinking about buying the Epson V700, but I’ve heard it’s not that great for 35mm. Damn it. I’ve also been thinking about those mirrorless cameras, especially the Olympus Pen series. Very tempting. Maybe I’ll just give up on 35mm film and only shoot 120 film. That seems like a good compromise. Still, I have all this 35mm I need to scan again for a couple of projects I want to close the door on once and for all. Or maybe I’ll just wait until I’m 65 and make it a project for retirement.

Brooklyn, NY//

I’ve been thinking about buying the Epson V700, but I’ve heard it’s not that great for 35mm. Damn it. I’ve also been thinking about those mirrorless cameras, especially the Olympus Pen series. Very tempting.

Maybe I’ll just give up on 35mm film and only shoot 120 film. That seems like a good compromise. Still, I have all this 35mm I need to scan again for a couple of projects I want to close the door on once and for all. Or maybe I’ll just wait until I’m 65 and make it a project for retirement.

8:39pm
(Notes: 1)
  
January 21, 2012
Brooklyn, New York// I can see the Empire State Building from my window in Greenpoint. When I first moved here I’d look out frequently wondering about Manhattan. Now I work on 34th St., a few blocks from the Empire State Building. During the day it’s all business. You go to work. Do your job, then get on the train back to Greenpoint. Looking out the window is nice though. You can pretend, make up stories, project what you want onto the city, and time, and space, and existence. We take our imaginations for granted when we’re young I think. Eventually it withers up and decays. I can already sense it. 

Brooklyn, New York//

I can see the Empire State Building from my window in Greenpoint. When I first moved here I’d look out frequently wondering about Manhattan. Now I work on 34th St., a few blocks from the Empire State Building. During the day it’s all business. You go to work. Do your job, then get on the train back to Greenpoint.

Looking out the window is nice though. You can pretend, make up stories, project what you want onto the city, and time, and space, and existence. We take our imaginations for granted when we’re young I think. Eventually it withers up and decays. I can already sense it. 

11:07pm
(Notes: 2)
  
Filed under: landscape