Howdy Partner'!!!

I reckon' I had a sweet ol' time at the Halloween shin-dig this evenin'. I was happier than a pig in slop! Me and my bull "Prickley Pete" went yonder to my brothers house for some good ol' fashion trick or treatin'. All the youngin's were there in their fancy get up. Lauren was as cute as a bug's ear in her Ariel costume and my boy Erik revved up all the girls gears as Lighting McQueen. Even little Karl was hotter than a $2 pistol in his Tigger outfit, now that boy knows how to attract the ladies, (takes after his uncle that one does). I'll post more images from Halloween in the next day or so, right now I have to put this dog to bed. See ya'll !!!!!

Where's Waldo? (and by Waldo I mean Me!!!)

Tell the guy with the goofy hat it's not polite to point! Especially at me!!! Also, I believe I mentioned before how I drown out the annoying LA photographers by listening to my ipod. Now we have proof.

Luca Caught at Cavalli

Here is a shot of my friend Luca outside Roberto Cavalli with Tanya. See, I'm not the only photographer who gets mixed up on the other side of the camera! Luca is setting me up with some great secret spots to spend vacation time in Sicily. Maybe tie it in with a Croatian trip next summer?

: - o

Spooooky coffee and a pumpkin muffin. Halloween memories from LA.

Look Familiar?

Saw this and I couldn't help but think I've seen something like it before. Hmmmmmm, I wonder where?

I Can Take A Compliment

I had someone tell me the other day that when they see my work, before they even know that I shot it, they can recognize it as mine. This is by far one of the best compliments a photographer can have. It is nice to hear that my work is becoming recognizable. For me, the best part is the fact that I use very different kinds of light and there is still a consistency in my work, a general style and feel that comes through to the viewer. I try and keep things simple, clothes, hair and make-up etc. The strength of an image comes when there is a connection between myself and the model though their eyes. When they stop looking at the camera and begin to look though the camera, thats when the best images are created.

When Is A Tavern Not A Tavern?

Last night I went out to Gramercy Tavern for a few drinks, which incidentally is not a tavern. It should be called "Old Rich White People Restaurant With Small Bar" (is pretentiousness contagious? I woke up this morning with a slight case of "feeling I was more important than everyone else"). I also learned that Tavern On The Green is also not a tavern. Who knew? . . . . . Probably everyone except me. And you will be happy to know that I'm back to feeling less important than everyone else. I tell ya, Robitussin is good for everything!

More Than Meets The Eye

So I left California and it went up in flames. Like it's unusual for me to leave an area and miss the subsequent natural disaster i.e. NYC blackout, Brooklyn tornado, Manhattan flood etc. I will be going to Chicago on Monday for Halloween with the kids so just keep that in mind. I am taking them trick or treating but I need to dress up. So I am asking all my regular readers to help out in the costume dept. (I know, I can go as white trash or homeless guy by just pulling clothes from my closet, ha ha, you're not that funny. Plus that's what I went as the past few years so I need something new). So help a brotha out and supply me with some cool ideas. Remember, this kids are 6, 4, 2, and 1/2 so the costumes can't be too scary or reference the 90's. The Transformer Optimus Prime is both nostalgic and relevant today and is a heavy front runner (not to mention way cooler than a Gobot).

Closer

When you get in closer, you can really tell how great the make-up is. Thanks Robin!

NY Day 1

I'm back baby!!! And I am finally on LA time so its almost 3 in the morning and I'm wide awake and going through images from Brook's shoot. Here is a tighter shot where I liked the lighting. Let me know if you like?. . . . . and if you do, please do so in your best Borat voice. (I'm thinking enough time has past that it might be cool again). Very nice. . . . . . OK, maybe not just yet.

LA Day 9

On my way to NYC today. Now back to the wine tasting last night. So I thought it was going to be some casual wine tasting at a friend of Todd's. And it was. . . . . . . technically. What I thought it was going to be was a couple of his friends sitting around trying some wine and having snacks, uh, yeah I guess that was true too. But his friends house was a mansion in Laguna Beach, the wine tasting took place in his wine cellar complete with over 15,000 bottles of rare wines, and I found out the second bottle we opened went for $6000.00 at auction (more than I made my first year in photography). He opened bottles of wine like I would open a 2 liter of Pepsi, (but I would have been less generous with the Pepsi). Before I found out about the cost of the wine we were liberally consuming I actually wrote down the name of this 1975 wine that was truly amazing. I mentioned to Todd "You never know, maybe when I'm out and about and I see this on the wine list I'll get it". Thats when he mentioned that it cost $1500.00 a bottle. I guess I'll have to settle for that wine that comes in a box, or 2 buck chuck from Trader Joes.

LA Day 8 (What Happened To Day 7?)

I shot a great girl today from Ford. She was a total sweetheart. Although I realized I came all the way out here to LA, I have trees, the beach, all this new environment and I basically could have shot this thing in my apt back in NYC. But the air is cleaner, and there wasn't a five floor walk-up which is nice. . . . Oh, and I drank my first $6000.00 bottle of wine tonight, but it's late and I'll save that little nugget for tomorrow post breakfast.

LA Day 6

I took a swing over to my friend Todd's office in Venice. He has an amazing dual level outside patio overlooking the ocean with these cool, totally California, classically rusted metal chairs. As soon as I saw them I knew I had to shoot up there. So last night at dinner, (when I wasn't talking about myself for 3 hours, (turns out I have alot to say, who knew?)) I discussed the details with my friend Steve from Ford about a shoot for Saturday. Right now finding a make-up artist available on the weekend on such short notice is the only hang-up.

LA Day 5

I felt bad for the fat guy. I thought about it and decided to give him an opportunity to apologize and he did. Problem solved. I will tell you how photography is different from NY to LA. I've been in NY 4 years, not once did anyone ask me if I followed Britney around. I've been in LA 5 days, already I've had 3. The first time I actually said "Britney who?" I thought maybe that was the designers name. I guess I'm clueless. . . . which in this case, is a good thing.

LA Day 4

OK, so I almost got into a fight with this smelly fat photographer over what he claimed was his spot on the media riser. What are we like 12? "This is my spot! See, my names on it!" Pathetic. So I gave the fat little baby his spot and wouldn't you know it, like a 6' 4" guy winds up right in front of him totally ruining his shot. What can I say, Karl Karma. On a positive note. The designer featured in the above photos wanted me specifically to document her collection backstage based solely on the backstage section of my website. I thought that was pretty cool. Some notes on the images above. The woman zipping up the girls is the designer Dina. I shot the girl with the iphone because I think the iphone is the best thing ever. And I just liked the runway rehearsal shot with the girl between the other girls legs. (and if you got to my site because you did a Google search for "girl between girls legs" please leave now and don't come back).

LA Day 3

Notice, no white plastic backgrounds, no shots into mirrors. Aren't you proud of me? I re-connected with some great people that I haven't seen since the last time I shot LA Fashion Week (which was about 2 years ago). I also realized that some LA photographers can be quite annoying. I'm talkin' to you, "guy who has to comment on every model walking down the runway". If people wanted to listen to the non-nonsensical ramblings of a photographer during Fashion Week they would read my blog! Also, look for me on Jay Leno this week. That flamboyant gay guy that does those wacky interviews was backstage interviewing that biker dude who was married to that porn star. . . . . . . Like how I'm so specific?

LA Day 2

I wish there was something interesting I could post from the shows last night. Unfortunately it was all quite lame. I promised myself no more shots into mirrors and no more runway rehearsal shots. What was I left with? Squadouche! The backstage area is all white plastic tent material which it very unattractive to shoot against. I might just concentrate on shooting the runway, but then I miss out on the hair shots for the salon magazine. Not quite sure how I'm going to approach it yet. It's a conundrum I tell ya! Above is a shot of some very colorful and healthy beverages from lunch yesterday with my friend Todd and his girlfriend. (Todd is the one on the left)

Urth Caffe And The IPhone, I'm So LA

All I need now is a Prius, a fake tan, and a boob job and I'll be an official resident.

LA Day 1

I decided to have some fun with light. The shows took place in an old church which provided the opportunity for some interesting backgrounds.

I (heart) LA

I forgot how much I love LA! The flight was a bit long (6 hours), but once I landed, everyone was so healthy looking and friendly, the car rental agency even gave me a free upgrade! "Hollywood Nights" (how appropriate) by Bob Seger was playing on the radio as I drove the 405 to Courtney's place in Santa Monica, which by the size of it, would be a 5 bedroom in Manhattan. Oh, did I mention she lives just a couple blocks from the beach! Not too shabby huh.

Poor Courtney. I just spoke with her in NY and she's staying in a cramped models apt with 2 other girls in the LES, while I'm out here in her spacious 1 bedroom. Seems like we've switched lives for a week.

I met up with my old roommate Matt who lives just down the road in Venice for a quick bite to eat. Tonite I'm supposed to meet up with my friend Todd and some of our other friends for dinner and drinks and then to a birthday party. I tell ya, I feel so fortunate to have such a great group of friends. I just wish some of them didn't live so far away. . . . . but what the hell, it just gives me an excuse to come visit more right?! . . . . . I wonder when Courtney is planning another trip out east?

Out-takes

I took these photos before the Naoiki show, but they didn't quite fit my backstage collection (they were too blue. . . . . oh that's right, you're not blind). They were taken while we waited for the show to begin. See, I'm always workin'. Even when I'm waiting I'm workin'. . . . . I think I work too much. Tomorrow I'm off to LA. To do what? . . . . . . . . You got it. Work.

I Wonder Who Tanya's Looking At?

I had a number of people ask me if I also shoot runway. I guess it's because they only see backstage images on my website and blog. The above images from the Rosa Cha show should answer their question.

Bicoastal

Seems like this is the time of year for everyone in NY to go to LA and vice versa. My friend Steve from the womens board at Ford LA came out this week to work at Ford NY. We've been having a great time bar hopping this past week, and I've gotten a chance to give him "Karl's NY Tour" which is by far the best tour NY has to offer (Screw you Times Square!). This season it has been more Brooklyn intensive and last night was no exception as we ventured out to Habana Outpost in Fort Greene for some great Cuban food in their amazing outside patio. Next week, my friend Courtney is coming out from LA to NY for a month. I will be crashing at her place in LA while I venture out to the west coast to shoot LA Fashion Week and visit with some friends whom I haven't seen since Vegas. I picked up a beauty magazine as a client for LA Fashion Week, don't be surprised if you see more of a focus on hair and make-up in my next round of backstage shots. And as always I will have my point and shoot to document the whole trip. Who knows, maybe Lindsay Lohan will snort, shoot up, or crash into something so I can sell the photo to TMZ and retire early.

Go Phillies! Make Me Look Like A Genius!!!

Way back in April I had a conversation with my friend Frank back in Chicago. We picked who would make it to the World Series. I picked the Phillies from the National League, and how could you not pick the Yankees from the American League with their lineup and payroll. Both teams look pretty good to make it all the way, but no one predicted the absolute collapse of the Mets to allow Philadelphia the opportunity to prove me right. I must say, it was a long shot considering they haven't even made it to the playoffs in like 15 years or so. But I took a chance and it's paying off. Now if only I would have put some money on it when I was in Vegas. . . . . . Ringtone update: I wasn't able to get the Curb Your Enthusiasm ringtone, but if your walking around Manhattan and you here Timbaland coming from someones phone, it's either a 16 yr old Puerto Rican girl from the Bronx?. . . . . . . . or yours truly.