Comments (1)

By Webmaster, May 26, 2010 7:57 pm

Class Dismissed

The last class of my Fashion Photography course, Vision and Practice at ICP, was held last night at the Staley Wise Gallery. Etheleen Staley (the co-owner) and Carlos Souza (PR for Valentino) were the guest speakers. Etheleen was so kind to lend her gallery and also tell the students the ins and outs of art galleries and how she started her gallery and why. Along with Taki Wise, they began the first Fashion Photography gallery in New York. True pioneers, they’re vision never wavered, and the gallery is still focused on fashion photography after all these years.

Then of course my dear friend for over 20 years, the dashing, debonair, and worldly Carlos Souza spoke. He was brilliant. Informing the students on how to get the best out of models, clients, etc, most importantly, telling the student the importance of being generous to everyone: to share information, be open and giving. And I might add, he is the personification of all these things like few people that I know, I adore him. This session at ICP was spectacular. The students were very talented, and the speakers as well: Ray Brown (photo agent), Dean Rodgers (model agent of the Marilyn Agency), Jamie Pallot (editorial director of Condé Nast Digital), Steven Torres (photo editor at style.com), Susan White (photo director at Vanity Fair), Andrew Egan (owner of CoolGraySeven Advertising Agency), Sasha Charnin (fashion director at US Weekly), Etheleen Staley (co-owner of Staley Wise Gallery),  and Carlos Souza (Vice Presdient of PR at Valentino). My heartfelt appreciation and gratitude for their participation, and for making the classes as stimulating and informative as they were.

Every week I gave the students 2 assignments, one of which was to create a controversial ad. Included is one which, in my opinion, is amongst the best.

Work by Florenica Ventura

Comments (0)

By Webmaster, May 18, 2010 4:56 pm

A Bright Future

Well the week was challenging. Interns leaving and new ones arriving, scheduling one shoot where the agency sent the model somewhere else and re-scheduling with a new girl who got sick and didn’t bother to call. Hair and make up and photographer ready to go and girl. There should be a law…

However my good friend Tony Baratta and his partner Bill Desmond (of Desmond and Baratta) received the HUE award given by Benjamin Moore for their use of color. This was the first time interior designers were chosen for this award. The prize was $5,000, which Tony and Bill donated to an HIV-AIDS charity (The Center for Special Studies at New York Presbyterian Hospital) and the wonderful people at Benjamin Moore donated another $5,000 to the same charity.

If you’d like to be inspired, get to the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum and see their latest exhibition, the National Design Triennial. It brings together experimental designs and ideas in animation, new media, fashion, etc, and about people thinking outside of the box. You leave feeling there’s hope for mankind!

Went to the NY Photo exhibition in DUMBO. As always, there was a lot to see and many wonderful photographers. As a curatorial effort I preferred Vince Aletti the best. The exhibition was an homage to Irving Penn, so all the images were still life. Sharon Core, Bill Jacobson, Laura Letinsky and Andrea Modica were just a few of many who’s working was moving and thought provoking. The diversity and quality of the images clicked with me.

Comments (1)

By Webmaster, May 4, 2010 4:24 pm

Weekend Review

The week started with a visit to Ross Bleckner’s Studio, the most organized studio I’ve ever seen. The Steinhardt School @ NYU held a fundraiser there. They raise money that goes directly to the students so they don’t incur huge loans while in school. Bravo! Meanwhile, Ross’ paintings were displayed throughout his space, I told him he’s turned into a impressionist painter, and he said it was his “romantic side”.

Speaking of impressionism, I took a field trip with my friend Tony Baratta and Pilar Viladas to the Barnes Foundation, which has the largest group of impressionist paintings in the world. There were works of art I’ve never seen before and never even knew existed. Amongst the paintings, also hanging on the wall were  exquisite metal door latches, and below the paintings were pieces of beautiful American furniture. The entire hanging was such an intimate and personal experience that I’m so grateful I got a chance to see the magnificent collection before it moves to Philadelphia, which in my opinion is so sad and ignorant.

Went to see Falcon Cocaine, a documentary film which showed at the Tribeca Film Festival. The movie begins with a man who’s passion for falcons takes him into a world of intrigue: terrorism, money laundering, and Osama Bin Laden. It’s a bold and important film and if you want to know why Bin Laden hasn’t been caught and could be, see this film. I walked away even more disgusted and pessimistic about the state of the world today, politics, and the US government, and I’m a patriot.

One last thing, last night I went to the 30th anniversary of St. Ann’s Warehouse, which has become one of New York City’s most important and compelling live performance destinations. Last night featured the music of Fela Kuti, and the Band from Fela on Broadway. Everyone got up from their seats and was moving to the joyous music from the beginning to the end of the performance. The New York Times got it right, “where new ideas are born” & “an oxygen tank for New York theater”. That’s St. Ann’s. Artistic Director Susan Feldman has created something special, I wish her continued success for the next 30 years. And my friend Stanley Cohen, lawyer extraordinare, thank you for such a delightful and unexpected invite.

Comments (0)

By Webmaster, April 28, 2010 9:57 pm

School’s in Session…

My ICP class started last night. It was sweet. Ray Brown, the super agent who also owns Hudson Studios, the best in NY, was generous enough to let me have the class there. Ray and Laura Beckwith spoke about the business side of photography, what a photographer needs to do to be competitive in todays market (which, my fellow shooters, is VIDEO VIDEO VIDEO!!!), how to get started, how to put a portfolio together, the different agency jobs and what they mean (art director, creative director, account executive, etc), the need to know your market and create a niche for yourself, and the agent-photographer relationship. Ray and Laura showed portfolios of their photographers’ source books (Le Book, Black Book, etc), and talked about fee and percentages. They provided the class with a wealth of knowledge. The students were so impressed and grateful and so was I. During the talk it was revealed that some photographers let their assistants take the picture, which, quite frankly, surprised me, since its something I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing. The reason being the photographers who practice this think of themselves as directors, and having done both film and still myself, in my opinion, still is about capturing a moment. Therefore its the person who’s clicking the shutter at the precise moment of the capture that determines that “shot”, that “single shot.” Film keeps rolling, so you can set up a shot, direct the actors, and let the film roll while being in front of the camera, to the side of the camera, or in the back of the camera, even on the floor. As long as you can see the action, it doesn’t matter where you’re viewing it from. No physical act is required. I’d like to know what your opinion is about this.

Comments (1)

By Webmaster, April 13, 2010 5:20 pm

Fire! Fire!

In January of 2010 I completed a photo essay of New York Fire Fighters. This project was inspired by my presence at the seven-alarm fire that struck the Deutsche Bank in 2007, a fire that severely injured over 100 firefighters in a single night. As an artist I was drawn to their magnanimity and heroism. The limited edition series of photographs embody the vivid tones of their glow-in-the-dark world. The continued cutbacks threatening the New York firefighters make this work unquestionably timely and sure to unite viewers and buyers alike around a common cause. I would love any suggestions or connections you might be willing to share to help me get this work out there.

Comments (0)

By Webmaster, April 12, 2010 9:28 pm

Weekend Review

Moma

To walk the halls of Moma is to breath in the very essence of the New York art scene. But if you don’t plan your visit appropriately, the breadth and depth of the current exhibitions might leave you gasping for air. To avoid overwhelming your senses, I highly suggest absorbing only one artist per visit. The following, however, should not be missed:

William Kentridge

His large scale charcoal drawings and animation offer a delightful and fascinating exploration of human emotions.

Marina Abramovic

I am not sure if I loved or hated this. Her often sadistic and sometimes downright disturbing works left me wondering where the line lies between art and porn. When art is just as vulgar and all-bearing, what differentiates the two?

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Impeccably curated, I couldn’t help but lament the ongoing demise of the photojournalistic field. Bresson’s mastery in capturing a moment and imbuing profound meaning into everyday life is always inspiring.

I relish the fact that Bresson was not a dark room maven. As a 25 year veteran, I am increasingly delegating the retouching of my work. Overseeing post production has granted me the freedom to focus on the moment of making the photograph without getting bogged down by photoshop.

Chelsea

James Welling at David Zwirner

Welling presents a vibrant and colorful interpretation of one of residential architectures greatest treasures. His playful use of filters, color negatives, and printing techniques give a distinct cross-medium feel to his creations.

Sculptographs at Andrea Rosen

Other galleries I visited this weekend and recommend:

Bruce Silverstein – For his guest curators

Hasted Hunt Kraeutler – for their extensive photography exhibition

Danziger Projects – For the fashion photographer who ventured to africa

Lauren Augistine – For an impressive carousel filled with sound and visual delights

The Art Auctions

Historically I have avoided attending the pre-shows preferring to participate in the actual events. This year was different. Acting as a consultant to a friend, I spent a portion of my weekend browsing through the Christies collection. It was a refreshing way to participate, and a wonderful chance to get up-close to the art.

Loretta Lux, Irving Pen, and surprisingly the Michael Crichton collection stood out. For very different reason.

For the most part, the Photography prices were reasonable.

A Question to The Photography Industry

Every image goes through post-production. In photography’s early days this happened in the darkroom, today it happens on the desk-top. My question is this: do photographers allow retouchers to show before and after of their work? In my opinion, there is a lot that goes into a final print and I feel bearing it all can be detrimental. Would to hear your thoughts.

Comments (0)

By Webmaster, April 5, 2010 7:09 pm

Spring Fever

As spring takes hold of New York city dwellers eagerly emerge from their winter coops. For a few brief weeks the lingering scent of flowering trees dominate before the summer heat turns the air into a vile concoction of city scents. As the streets and parks flood with sun worshipers, the season for people watching hits its peak. Rev up your cameras and get out and enjoy the warm spring air. Here’s a shot I took this past weekend.

Comments (0)

By Webmaster, March 30, 2010 2:19 pm

Faceless

A desire to refresh my make up, the absence of touch-up essentials, and an unconscious utterance of  “I left my face at home.” It was an ordinary day, in front of an average mirror, but the particular kind of mundane experience that inspires me to start a new project.

Women go to great lengths to present their best face to the world. We hide our imperfections behind a mask of make-up. Without it are we faceless? 

Comments (0)

By Webmaster, March 29, 2010 5:45 pm

Art and Projects

Otto Dix – Neue Galerie

This iconic and infamous German artist showcases a varied range of technique and a diverse cast of characters. Setting his focus on the dark, intense, and wild underbelly he masterfully illustrates murderers, rapists, and prostitutes as vivid and vibrant portraits of 20^th century German society. His superb use of color to define the character and personality of the sitter provides a deeper level of connection and dimension to his portrayals.

I am admittedly desensitized by modern life (and the constant stream of imagery that bombards my daily existence) but I still found his depictions of older women utterly disturbing and repulsive.

Otto Dix is fantastic, inspiring, and unique.  It is astounding to me that this is the first ever North American exhibition of Dix. I hope to see a lot more of his work in the future.

Humane Society Auction

I have been asked to contribute the above image to the upcoming Humane Society Photography Auction on March 18^th.  It is a wonderful organization and an amazing cause. I encourage everyone to participate in whatever way possible: http://www.humanesocietyny.org/

Vincere

A disturbing tale of Mussolini wrapped in a visual feast. The opening love scene is incredibly visceral and inclusive, and reminded me why I like Italian men so much.

Comments (0)

By Webmaster, March 22, 2010 7:41 pm

Weekend Review

Red

Ten years after his emergence as a known entity in the New York art world, Rothko had developed a tightly honed artistic vision. He sought to connect with the viewer on a level more powerful and unsettling than an “optical shudder” – to elevate his paintings to enablers of deep meditation. The commission presented by the sexy, new, state-of-the-art Four Seasons promised to be a long-sought-after temple to this desire; offering a hallowed space where his luminous panels could envelope the viewer. In reality, it reveled itself to be nothing more than glorified room decoration. A temple to champaign and foie gras where his art would be most viewed by the backs of diners. After much agony, Rothko opted to return the money and refuse the commission.

Although set in the late 1950s, the question of artistic integrity and seriousness of the art and artist is incredibly timely and appropriate.  We live in an era where the lines between commercial and artistic endeavors are entirely blurred. A time where artists sell as brands and brands vie for an increasing mindshare of cultural arts. Is promotion seen as selling out?

Hackel Bury and the Starn Twins

Despite strong discouragement from their gallerist, when The World of Interiors came calling the Starn Twins agreed to the interview. The article caught the attention of the MET whom in-turn approached the twins about a multi-year commission of a lifetime. Once again I can’t help but feel that even when people have our best career interests at heart, it is the individual artist who has the greatest control over their success.

Ryan McGinley at Team

To say that McGinley received a rockstar welcome would be an understatement. It was astounding to witness the receptivity and admiration towards the young artist. Unlike Avedon who had no interest in photographing young people, I happen to be attracted to the naivety of youth. I found McGinley’s work refreshing – the compilation filled with strong shots and interesting angles. But it was overkill. He showed too much. For me, the abundance diminished the impact of the body of work.

Delighted by John

This weekend I attended the birthday party of John Demsey in his stunning east side townhouse. Demsey, among many other things is a great lover of photography and an ardent collector. I am honored to say that John has chosen to include the photograph I made of Andy Warhol for Vogue in his collection. Thank you for a wonderful time John, and for being a continued support of my work.