Gobble Gobble

Let's see, Thanksgiving. A day to be thankful for all that you have followed by a day to curse for all that you've spent. I tell you one thing that I'm thankful for, I'm thankful I no longer have food poisoning. Yeah, that wasn't fun. (and yes I know it looks like I've lost weight, not eating solid food for 3 days tends to do that to you). I will be spending this Thanksgiving, (as I do every Thanksgiving) evaluating where I've been, where I am, and where I see myself next year at this time. . . . . . . . oh, and re-touching. I will not be spending it with my family because 1. I just saw them last week. B. because I will see them again in 2 weeks. and 3. because they could probably use the break. Truthfully though, I am very thankful for all that I have, great family and friends and a job that I love, and I will do my best not to take them or it for granted. Now back to business. Above are some images of Jessica we took during my last trip to Chicago! . . . . . . By the way, she could be the nicest person I've ever met. Period. Plus she drives a black Jeep Wrangler, (which was my first and only car), so she gets bonus points. . . . . . man I loved that car.

Oui, It's Been Awhile

Since my last post we've had 5, no make that 6 shoots. It ran the gamut from high end de-lux apartments in the sky, to an amazing motel, (that I've wanted to shoot at for over a year), where we had to pay by the hour. Both equally incredible in their own right. The high end shoot took place on Chicago's Gold Coast. We shot in the penthouse apartment complete with it's own library and a "Great" room, which, you guessed it, was very good. The subsequent shoot took place at this motel on the south side whose rooms might not have had a library, but you could rent one where the bed looks like a sandwich, and no I'm not kidding, a sandwich. The weather for both shoots was amazing for November, (70 and sunny), the kind of weather I waited all summer long for but never got. I'm in the process of re-touching all the images this week, but here are 2 samples, one from each shoot. Can you tell which ones from which location??? Also check out the fall story we shot at the beach last week here, it's entitled "L Automne A La Mer", which I thought translated into "The Car from March", but I guess translates into "Autumn by the Sea", which makes much more sense.

I Listen To The Wind

I just completed my edit for this editorial we shot on Thursday. So as I get ready to head out this Halloween, I thought I'd take a few minutes to share some of my location images as well as an out-take from the shoot. It was crazy windy and cold on Thursday and the location was this beach on the near north side of Chicago. The area we shot at juts out into the lake, and as you know, Chicago is "The Windy City" and the reputation didn't disappoint. Combine that with some chilly temps and lets just say when we knew we got the shot, we were done. Period. Next outfit. I did however want to re-shoot the first look, but in looking back at the images, my first instinct was correct. . . . . but don't tell anyone from the shoot that I prolonged their exposure to the elements for no reason, that won't be received well, trust me. Here are a couple shots from my location scouting trip, along with a blurred out-take/accident from the first look. My camera focused on the tall grass for a split second blurring out Michelle. It won't work for the story, but I thought it was kinda cool, so here would be a good place to post it.

When In Rome

In this case it has everything to do with the cliche and even more to do with the band! The lack of recent posts is directly proportional to the amount of visitors I had this past couple weeks. My friend Crystal was in town for the past month combined with an overlapping trip by my friend Beckett which resulted in many late nights complete with our own soundtrack! As many of you know, Shazam for the iphone is like the best invention ever! And no place do I put it to better use than at Tortilla Flats which (in my opinion) has the best soundtrack of any bar/restaurant in NYC! Crystal and I had our own theme music as we walked the Highline post Tortilla Flats listening to "The Promise" by, you guessed it, When In Rome! And yes, people did think we were nuts. By the time Beckett arrived late last week to style an editorial, our playlist for our time together was packed with songs by George McCrae, Betty Wright, King Harvest and Tommy James. Thanks again Tortilla! (although you do owe me one umbrella, but I'll let it slide since our table did dominate trivia Sunday night and your tequila reserve is no doubt a little depleted as a result). Here are some pics from our NYC adventures, and I'll add some songs to my playlist below. Notice the flame in that last image. Crystal wanted a drink "on fire", what was crazy about it was not the fact that she wanted a drink "on fire", but that none of us actually saw the flame with our eyes, but when we looked at the picture I took, the camera caught it as it quickly vanished into thin air! . . . . . . what, you're not amazed? well, I'm easily amused, what can I say.

Where Has Summer Gone?

The answer? It has moved to Australia, thus beginning my attempt to secure an apartment "down under" come Jan, Feb, or March. My goal is simple. Move to Australia for 2 months. Establish good connections with Australian agencies and magazines. Soak up as much culture and sun as one can. . . . . oh, and learn how to surf in the process. I would like to use my LA template to complete this mission. My LA template consisted of "life swapping" as I swapped lives with my friend Courtney for a month where she stayed in my apt in Manhattan, and I stayed at her place in Venice Beach. Both sides came out winners in the end. She was able to go on castings here in NY and not have to stay at a cramped models apt, and I was able to live a few blocks from the beach in LA and shoot in a nice warm climate with different environments as my backdrop. So, if you are a currently living in Australia (Sydney), and are looking to establish connections either in the photography or model industry here in NYC, (because that's really the only 2 places I can probably be of service) shoot me an email and I would be happy to discuss any and all of the particulars of a possible 2 month "life swap".

Jacked

Until Tuesday, I had never been to Jack's Studio over on the west side. An amazing space at the 601 building that brought me out again Thursday night for a photo exhibition/party. I thought the views during the day were great, but at night, they couldn't have been better. I took the first photo with my iphone using the Helge feature from Camera Bag. I shot it though the window towards the Empire State building, but something cool happened, it decided to partially reflect back into the studio giving this cool inside/outside effect. The other photo was part of the photobooth set up at the studio complete with a ringlight! I tell ya, when photographers have a photobooth they go all out.

Do You Have A Passion For Fashion?

Don't worry, that title was meant to sound corny. . . . but then again saying something "sounds corny" also sounds pretty lame. . . . whatever, let's begin again. This is the first season I elected not to document ny fashion week. However, this freed up all kinds of time to take part in all the festivities that I was always too exhausted to enjoy. Like Fashions Night Out, which meant hopping from shop to shop in Soho and enjoying a drink or three among individuals like Marc Jacobs, Vera Wang and Philip Lim! Or last evenings party for Metal magazine which brought out all the beautiful and funky people from Barcelona and Madrid! Too bad my friends Aina and Pol were back in Spain, I miss those two. (By the way, look for my portrait of artist Nick Cave in the next issue of Metal!) But it wasn't all fun and games. When I wasn't "out and about" this week, I was in front of the computer for hours on-end re-touching and finalizing Laila Azhar's lookbook shoot as well as a shoot I did with Dierdre from Elite. Above you will find a few samples from that shoot. I'm starting to work a little more in B&W these days. I find I can really blow out the whites and create some nice softness. Look for more black and white images in the next few months.