Bahamas Day 2

We arrived yesterday and were greeted at the airport by Mark, the other photographer shooting this week and the overall man in charge of this event. We went back to the hotel and met with the stylists and discussed the logistics of the shoot then went to dinner. There seems to be a lot of amazing spaces to shoot around the island. I will know better this evening after Mark and I tour the island. This morning Jen (one of the make-up artists) and I made our way out to the beach for a Pina Colada and some sun. Before I went down I took this shot from my hotel room. A quick storm passed by and caused the sky to go dark and the water to really pop!

Bahama Mama

I will be in the Bahamas for the next week or so shooting the finalists for the Bahamas portion of the Ford Supermodel of the World competition. I'm looking forward to some fun in the sun and I'll try and update as often as I can.

The Natural

There are a couple movies, that if I stumble upon them while channel surfing, that I always have to watch. Goodfellas and The Natural are 2 that I can think of off the top of my head, and The Natural is on right now. So, as I re-touch the images from Valeria's shoot on this rainy Friday, you can be sure that I will be watching what I consider one of the best baseball movies of all time. I love the light throughout the movie, super soft and warm. (I wonder if it has any influence on my post-production?) Here are a couple more images from the shoot.

Funkytown

OK, from previous posts, we all know how much I like to comment on television commercials, (it's a prerequisite for my future career on Madison ave, I plan on being a big player in the "ad" game). Sometimes I love, (Red Stripe), sometimes I hate, (IO Cable) and sometimes I dance like in the Areva commercial that plays "Funkytown" (click here for the video). I still don't know what Areva is or does, (from the commercial it looks like a new Sims game but could be a multi-billion dollar energy company, one or the other) either way, as I sit and re-touch images from Valeria's shoot today I can't help myself from dancing while sitting in my chair. Dancing while seated is what us white folks do best, it requires no lower half coordination, and absolutely no rhythm (just check out the white couple in the video for proof). . . . . . . . . Any respect you had for me up till now is gone now isn't it. Above you will find a quick shot of Valeria from today's shoot.

Stu Stu Studio

OK, so if you don't get the lame Phil Collins reference I'll just assume your under 18 and probably shouldn't be reading this blog anyway because of it's rampant "objectionable content", (not to mention it's run-on sentences). Now, for all you adults out there, here are a couple samples from another lookbook I shot during the madness of NY Fashion Week. We shot it "in studio" which is a departure from my usual "in apartment". The label is LP & P.

Lookie Lookie

Here are a few images from Laila Azhar's lookbook shoot. You can find her collection at Barneys on the wall next to Alexander Wang the current NY "it" designer. Check out that last top, it has only half of a bow, genius! I visited Laila yesterday at the Coterie over on the west side. That was a pretty wild experience. Building after building filled with every major designer from across the country, I was exhausted just walking through it, (and I wasn't even wearing my heels!) Let's just say if you are looking for a 20 -30 something woman, involved in the fashion industry, this is your mecca. You might even see that blonde girl from "The Hills", I did. . . . . . not that I watch that show or anything.

Backstage

I posted a new collection of backstage images on my website. Check it out!

NYFW SP 2009 Day 7

The day started at VPL where I shot Dei from Ford. Then I had a break and ran a few errands before I was off to Custo Barcelona where I ran into another model from Chicago Lindsay. I shot her the same day I shot Laura last summer. Finally it was the Aurelio Costerella show where I met up with Mia again for a nice little chat. Thursday reminded me a-lot of the 4th floor of my 5 floor walk-up, by the time you get there you wish it was over, but you know it's only one more floor till your home free. I think many of the models felt the same way today, especially for a 9 o'clock show. Not much energy backstage and who could blame them. I really felt empathy for a-lot of the models today, and I really started to notice how annoying some photographers backstage can be. They even started to annoy me so I left early. But before I left I tried to take a candid shot of Alice through the curtains, but it looks like she spotted me. Tomorrow is the last day (5th floor), I just hope I have enough left to make it through the door. . . . . . . . ok, maybe I'm taking this analogy thing a little too far.

In Leu Of Day 6

Lookbook.

NYFW SP 2009 Day 5

I started the day dropping of the final images for Laila's look book, then headed to the Altman building to shoot Sophie Theallet's show. All the models were black and the theme was "African Queen". . . . . . . . makes sense. You might recognize Atong's lips underneath that white hood. I didn't have a show until 2 so I went home and took a power nap, then it was on to Araks, where Lais and Pilar spotted me from across the runway. Then a hefty break until Benjamin Cho where I saw my make-up artist friend Natasha and Laura who I shot back in Chicago. Another hometown girl making it in the Big Apple. I didn't manage to shoot Laura in her final look, they were running way late, but I did shoot this girl in a dress adorned with keys. It was about then when one of the Olson twins scurried past me and up the stairs to her seat for the show.

NYFW SP 2009 Day 4

I missed the morning session today because I had to return the equipment from yesterdays shoot and also because I managed only 3 hours of sleep that night. However, the look book is complete and everyone is happy so that makes me happy. At Ohne Titel I shot Myf. She is like my new favorite model, so striking and willing to have her picture taken. It's very refreshing. Then I took a break for lunch and stopped by the Jordache show. Lots of pictures of butt's in jeans. . . . . . . maybe that's why I got the "content" warning (that you know doubt had to go through if you are reading this now). But I'll save that explanation for another time. But just so you know, I'm furious about it!!! Then came backstage at Gottex. Gold was everywhere and everyone wore robes. I felt like I was in an Austin Powers movie!

Orange Is The New Black

Orange is supposed to be the hot color for next spring. . . . . . . . . I'd say it's more like sweltering.

In Leu Of Day 3

I will not be shooting Fashion Week tomorrow. Instead I will be shooting a lookbook for the designer Laila Azhar. Her collection is amazing and very "downtown". So instead here is a shot from today that caught my eye. This image hasn't been cropped, this is how it was framed in camera, and I wouldn't of had it any other way.

NYFW SP 2009 Day 2

I loved this girls Converse All Stars backstage at Charlotte Ronson and I asked if I could shoot them. About 10 minutes later she tracked me down and asked me why I took a picture of her shoes? I told her that they were cool. She smiled and said "Oh" and walked away. Then I saw Lindsay Lohan storm through backstage mobbed by paparazzi. I took a video of the madness and as soon as I figure how to edit video I will post it. . . . . . . . . but then doesn't that make me part of the paparazzi? I might have to re-think this. Then I saw Mia at Tony Maticevski. She's friends with my old roommate Matt. Very sweet Danish girl. Then at Andy and Debb I had a nice conversation with Myf. She was wearing a beautiful Josh Goot dress and was extremely friendly and personable. I tried to shoot her in that dress but she was whisked away into first looks. However, she did give me a nice twirl as she exited the runway.

NYFW SP 2009 Day 1

Today started early with backstage at the Michael Angel show. Under normal circumstances I probably wouldn't get up that early for a show, but Michael is the coolest guy and an amazing designer, so I made an exception. That's Regina in one of his dresses, stunning! Next was Yigal Azrouel where Behati gave me a little kiss. Yeah, I know, rough life. Last was Form, where Ford's Alexina came out with me on the roof for a quick portrait. Why haven't I shot her yet? I'll have to make a call.

Model Mania

I was searching for a Fashion Week schedule this morning and I ran across Mikel in the Model Mania section at hintmag. The image jumped out at me because I not only shot it, but styled it as well! I just saw Mikel on Saturday when I held a casting for look book I am shooting. Still as freckled as ever and working a ton!