Not Always Puppy Dogs and Ice Cream…
Naturally, guy was all smiles. Beer in one hand, cigarette in the other. America.
Italy Redux – i Bianconeri
I would make a terrible photo editor. ”Yes, I know you sent me these almost two weeks ago but I still haven’t decided what I like. Maybe tomorrow.”
As a photographer, life is good any time you’re someplace different, someplace new. Italy brings it to a whole new level. It’s like being someplace different, someplace new and someplace with Tagliatelle! Three years ago my family took a trip over to visit my little brother, who was just finishing his “studies” in Florence and putting down two or three pizzas a day. I want pizza.
Armed with my trusty Canon point-and-shoot, I walked through the piazzas, past the palazzos, over the ponti and stopped at pizza places. I realized how much I loved taking pictures, and it was something I wanted to do well. Some people feel that way about jogging or personal finances. Yeah, no. I caught the photo bug. There’s just something badass about seeing something, then having it documented, remembered, even relived. I had no visions of grandeur, no desire to be better than Bresson or Smith or Koudelka or Salgado, didn’t even know who they were. But those Italian people with their perfect little side streets made me want to take better pictures. A few weeks ago I was right back in the same place that I started out.
I’ve been fighting with these photos for days. ”Do I post a photo essay on the Market? Should I make one about the water taxi’s in Venice? Gondola’s are cliché. Bicylcles. What about when the Pope speaks? Maybe I should just separate it by family and not family. Meatsauce. Things that I like and then things that everyone else might like. Penne all’arrabbiata! I loved this photo yesterday, why do I want to slay it with a thousand swords today?” Typical.
So I’m going to shut up now and show you some photos because I’m not Bresson or Salgado. To the place that made me want to be a photographer…good to see you again. Color’s up next, but for now: Italy Redux – the Black and Whites.
Cherry Blossomish
I created this post about three weeks ago but never published it. No better day than today. 
(Brandy) Manhattan, Please…
I’d like to thank Jeff Hutchens for allowing me to tag along with him up to NYC last week on a multi-day shoot. The two blown tires may have slowed us down (boom), but we got there late Monday night and were shooting throughout the week. In addition to being a highly accomplished documentary photographer, Jeff specializes in stylized reportage portraits and most recently, documentary HD video. I learned a great deal by watching him work and from our car-ride and over-coffee conversations. I’d bounce his light any day.
My trip wouldn’t have been possible without my good friends, Kristin Larson and Stacy Federer, who found time and space for me in their busy work-week schedules. Lots of wine, good food and trips down memory lane…I couldn’t be more thankful to you both.
In the space between, I got to know New York City. The last splash of brandy and vermouth went down easy and I stepped back out into the cold and lit a cigarette, watching the smoke disappear into the night air. I walked her streets, rode her trains, ate her food and have had trouble sleeping ever since. I can’t seem to get her out of my mind…I’m crushing on NYC.
DC Thundersnow 2011
Last week we had some shitty weather here in capital city. Yeah, I said it. It gets compounded here in DC because traffic is so bad to begin with; many drivers are from other states and countries and the three plows we have take their time getting around.
I had some fun on facebook with my trip updates – here’s the first one trying to get out of Georgetown at 4:30.
Needless to say, it was an exercise in patience. Final tally was about 3 hours, 6.4 miles. Luckily I had my camera to keep me occupied on the streets and highways turned parking lots.
Just Walkin’ About
CDIA had what is now known as a “Photo Walkabout” this past Saturday. Premise is simple: meet at the school, pick a random intersection somewhere in DC, go to said intersection and roam around a two block radius for a couple hours and see what happens. I like to refer to it as “walking until something’s interesting.” I found the following things interesting. Those who know me know I love black and white, which explains why these are in black and white. So without further ado, black and white interestingness.
Personal Shots at a Professional Event
I’ve been shooting more events lately, which is basically, “Ok, looking right here” *flash* ”great, thank you…”
At a recent black tie, I was able to do a little “me” work while the guests were having dinner. They’re very particular about not poppin’ shots while they’re poppin’ skrimps. Then, they danced.
Crushing Blacks at the Arboretum
Yes, easily the most racist blog post ever…but before I move on, let me clarify. ”Crushing blacks” is a term used in the photography world when you expose an image so that the “blacks” (darkest parts of your image) are “lost” – completely black without detail. And if you don’t succeed, crush ‘em in post. I like this. Always have.
A few weeks back, the class I’m assistant teaching field tripped to the National Arboretum here in DC. I crushed some blacks. I tried to compose. I had fun.
Welp, see ya later…
Chris Alvanas’ Affirmation
Over the course of the past month and change, Chris Alvanas, the Director of Photography at the Georgetown campus of BU-CDIA, has been working with a team of students and instructors to create “Affirmation,” a short film shot entirely with the new Nikon D3S. If there are any extremely wealthy blog followers out there who haven’t bought a Christmas or birthday present for me in the past 15 years – go ahead and ship one my way. What a camera!
It was great to be “on set” collaborating with the cast and crew; choosing lighting set-ups, shot types, scouting locations…very cool and a relatively new experience for nearly everyone involved. My buddy Erik and I did our best with the lighting (looking forward to my “grip” credit) but again, it really was a concentrated, collective effort. The “premier” screening will be taking place this Friday, July 23, at CDIA in Georgetown. I’ll be sure to post the link as soon as the film is available to view online. These things take time, people!
The following are a few stills from the set.
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Twas a Nice Day for a CDIA Wedding
Promise kept. Wedding shots!
The images below are just a small sampling from what was a crazy fun day. The mock wedding at CDIA is an all day event that includes getting ready, a pretend ceremony at a church, lunch, strolls through Georgetown and a reception complete with introductions, wedding cake and dance music. (I provide the jams. My DJ skills will one day rival my friend, Drew Gulan, and I will then challenge him to a spin off. My scribble-scratch backspin loop makes all the girls go “haaayyyy.”)
Planning in Minnesota? Book Drew for your wedding at www.midwestsound.com
*Reminder* – click on any image to see it full size.
Abstract Black, White and the Space Between
The kids are in Composition and Design this week with Robert Severi, an accomplished commercial photographer in the District and all around cool fella. Yesterday we set them loose on the mall with the only assignment being to come back at the end of the day with 10 images. That’s the kind of freedom that a professional photographer, as Bob would tell you, dreams of. Bob was telling me about two assignments he had in the same week a few years ago. Early in the week, he had to shoot Magic Johnson for Pepsi and then a few days later he had to take some abstract architectural images of a building for that building’s website. In the first assignment, he had to deal with Pepsi’s Art Director, handlers, assistants, lighting setups, a celebrity, etc. In the other assignment, it was just his camera and creativity.
It’s a great assignment, albeit a difficult one, trying to find the interesting in the everyday…I tried to focus on architecture.
Some favs…
