MJ, never to be forgotten

I’m Gonna Make A Change,
For Once In My Life
It’s Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right . . .

me + abandoned motel =

Brigette

What do to on a cloudy morning?

Here I am, dancing away as usual. I literally can’t stop myself sometimes from jumping in front of the lens. I feel that my self portraits are shifting. I’m not exactly sure the new direction, but I’ve definitely been speeding up the shutter.

When in town…

My friend John, who I met while living in Sao Paulo in college, was in New York recently and I managed to lure him to Brooklyn for a shoot. Valeu!

Party in Philly

On this beautiful Sunday in May, we gathered for a Greenberg family celebration.

cover art

This weeks New Yorker magazine features a cover by Jorge Colombo done with his finger on an iphone! Watch a video here of how he made the image step by step. Pretty cool.

our time

Pics from Cali.

Went out to the Newport Beach Film Festival last month for my friend Matt’s premiere of his movie Our Time. Him and three buddies took a road trip across the country stopping in all 50 states interviewing the youth of our generation. Check out the trailer here.

Suzanne and Aicha

A little color for this rainy day

H.O.T.

Latest Vogue feature shot by Steven Meisel

Nicola Vassell

Had the pleasure of photographing the lovely Nicola Vassell, a director at Deitch Projects a few weeks ago:

Influence

Just watched  Tierney Gearon: The Mother Project. Go see it. (You can get it on Netflix)  Again, blown away by someone whose work I wasn’t all to familiar with going in. Film follows photographer Tierney Gearon working on a series documenting her schizophrenic and manic depressive mother and in turn deals with mother-daughter issues,  Tierney’s own relationship with her children and the balance between family and art. Below, some images from the final project:

She makes me want to shoot film!

And make pictures with my own mother.

Super excited that I’ll be in LA this coming weekend and will  be able to see the very last day of her new exhibit entitled “Explosure”  at the  ACE Gallery.

Some recent me

in brooklyn:

in the hamptons:

Ah, New York

Don’t you just love it when out of the blue (well, through your google reader) you find out about a photo lecture, have never heard of the photographers, attend, and are simply blown away and are introduced to a whole new world and philosophy on photography? Well that happened last night. South African photographers, Oliver Chanarin and Adam Broomberg presented their work at the Visual Arts Theate and Susan Bright (who wrote Art Photography Now, a must read) was there to follow the talk with a candid discussion. I am extremely fortunate to be living in New York and have free access to events like these. Highly urge you to go to their site and read what they have to say about their work and study each image. I found them to be quite brilliant last night. Images by  Oliver Chanarin and Adam Broomberg

them @ work (image from arts-co.com)

Playback

Thanks to my awesome friends Jon, Raissa, Kara and Lucas for letting me shoot them for the new clothing company Playback!

Nadav Kander talks about his “Obama’s People” Portraits

The photo blog Lens Culture has just posted a fabulous audio interview here, with photographer Nadav Kander. Kander discusses his intentions behind the hotly debated portfolio he shot at the end of 2008 of Obama’s People for the New York Times magazine. You can view the whole essay here. Some of my favorites below:

Rahm Emanuel: Chief of Staff

Euguene Kang: Special Assistant to the President

Joseph Biden: Vice President

Samantha Power: Advisor

Dennis McDonough: Senior Foreign Policy Aid

Ken Salazar: Interior Secretary

Gui the cover superstar

I met the Brazilian photographer Gui Mohallem last year in New York during the maddness of the first New York Photo Festival. I was introduced to him through a friend and we immediately clicked. It was the kind of connection that only happens every once in a blue moon where even though you’ve known this person lets say for just a day, you feel like you were meant to know them your whole life. Even rarer, the fact that I’m not talking romance here, (Gui is gay, as you’ll see below), but a pure connection on some deeper human level.

Gui was in town for a solo gallery show in Dumbo that he miraculously arranged while visiting New York on vacation. It featured an on-going series of his called “Rehearsal to Madness” all made using a digital pinhole technique. When I went to Brazil the following month, I was fortunate to be included as part of the series.

We were spinning around and around, hands clasped together and camera strung around his neck, atop a hillside looking over the city of São Paulo, when this shot was taken.

On another note- I was delighted to receive an email from him this week with a link to the cover of UK’s MC Mag featuring none other than Gui himself!

Click here to see the entire gorgeous photo spread shot by Manuel Nogueira.

Miriam

In the cab on the way back from seeing God of Carnage.

two photographers venture to the island of marth’s vineyard for a weekend in march

It’s fascinating to revisit a place that is so familiar to you with someone who is seeing it for the first time.

Lucas took Polaroids of what he saw:

while I took pictures of him and all his cameras:

and a few others…

Black White + Gray

Just watched Black White + Gray: A portrait of Sam Wagstaff and Robert Mapplethorpe by James Crump about the life of Sam Wagstaff and his undeniable contribution to the discovery of photography.

For those with any interest in photography at all, it is a must see. You can watch instantly on netflix.

From the director:

Black White + Gray meditates on Wagstaff’s life journey and his transformation through shared passion and experience with Mapplethorpe. It points to how Wagstaff found his true role as a collector of photography and through Mapplethorpe was enabled to visit and unlock parts of his true self. It likewise gives new dimension to Mapplethorpe and his role inspiring Wagstaff in his early collecting of photographs. The film I hope demonstrates the symbiotic bond that grew out of a chance encounter in 1972 and how the work of both men continues to resonate today. When Wagstaff and Mapplethorpe made their first discoveries and triumphs in the medium, photography didn’t enjoy its present status nor the hyperbolic values now being realized at auction. I think both men would be amused by their joint influence, which continues to play itself out in the art world.

(read more here)

Scanwiches

Jon Chonko has started a clever site,  Scanwiches, where he takes scans of the sandwiches he eats for lunch.

Simple idea, beautiful results.

Melanie Flood Projects

Last night I attended March Madness at Melanie Floods. What a treat. It was a salon-style event in her Fort Greene home. very casual. nice mingling. goodies. (dumplings and cadbury mini eggs!) and a room full of uber talented photographers. It was nice to finally meet Noah Kalina in person, after having seen his face all over the internet. I also got to not only meet, but have a rather lengthy conversation with Juliana Beasely, whose work I came across fairly recently. I really like this image from her new series entitled Rockaways.

Below is an excerpt from a great interview with Melanie Flood about her prrojects. You can read the rest here.

The Current State of the Art Market Q&A with Melanie Flood of Melanie Flood Projects

1. Please explain to us about Melanie Flood Projects…How did it start it? Why in your house?

I began Melanie Flood Projects over the summer of 2008 because I felt that artists and photographers (like myself) needed a new style of venue to showcase their art. I was tired of it being utterly impossible for a young, talented artist to display their work, other than online or in crowded group shows that require a participation fee.

The Idea came to me when I was in the position of Managing Editor at Zingmagazine. We were involved in Art Chicago 2002 and while visiting I came across stay at home mothers that ran public galleries from their homes. These women were artists, curators, collectors, and they didn’t allow motherhood prevent them from being involved with what they loved. I was influenced most by a young woman who had Amy Sillman watercolors displayed on her fridge with magnets. Made me think differently about he way art should and could be displayed.

So based on the inspiration from these women, I decided to base the gallery from my home and I am fortunate enough to live in a lovely brownstone in a great part of Brooklyn. I am also drawn to the idea of the home as a social hub apart from public spaces such as bars, clubs, galleries, & cafes.

Infinity

From the blog Horses Think:

At one point [Nikki S.] Lee made a statement that struck a chord with me as it probably would to most artists as it related to how there is no border between working and not working. Meaning that as an artist one is constantly working on the next idea. She expressed the desire to work a 9-5 job from time to time as it benefited from having a definite beginning and end. This way she could just come home and leave her work behind at the office.

Vanity Fair parodies itself

I find this absolutely hilarious!

VF March 2006 cover:

And in the current issue:

Doesn’t Paul Rudd look eerily exactly like Tom Ford?

Cali postcards.

These were shot on our road trip from San Fransisco down to Big Sur.

deYoung in San Fransisco

saw two great exhibits while visiting my sister out west in san fransisco at the deYoung museum

1. Warhol Live

2. Yves Saint Laurent

© The Estate of Jeanloup Sieff

My partner in crime, Amelia, and I had the pleasure of going on the museum tour of the YSL exhibit. What a hoot. It was us and about 35 other 60+ yr old women. They provided as much entertainment as viewing the exhibit! Weren’t you always wondering what exactly haute couture means?

Wish I could go

I will be out of town on Sat, but if I were in the city, I would definitely go to Sarah Small’s “The Delirium Constructions Meet Tableau Vivant” extravaganza. Click here to see what I mean. Not something to be missed. How to be in two places at once. hmmm.

Love this image of hers;

My Blog Intake

People often ask me what blogs I read. Well here goes….

(Thanks Google Reader!)

Gallery Walk

© Alex Prager

Photo pal Jeff and I ventured the Chelsea grid yesterday and hit up several galleries.  One I have not been able to get outta my head. “The Big Valley” by Alex Prager @ Yancey Richardson. Struck by each image.

Amazing, right?

Also worth mentiong. Steven Shames @ Steven Kasher.

Time Out NY pics

Click HERE to see a slide show of images I took for Time Out New York about various Brazilian goodies around the city.

post shower

Callahan Photo Contest

UPDATE: I won!

On a whim I submitted this image to a photo contest on The Year in Pictures blog and am now a finalist. Yay.

The contest was to recreate your own version of this iconic Harry Callahan photo:

You can still vote for me by adding a comment on the blog here.

When the Brazilians come into town

Lots and lots of shopping to be had.  Photo books are rare commodities in Brazil. Lets say a photo book costs $50 here, if you can even find it in Brazil, it will easily be four times that amount there. Nothing like the Strand for outtatowners to fill up their day. (They obviously had already spent and entire day at B&H as well!)

Visiting was Patricia Stavis, a photographer friend of mine from São Paulo.

In tow was her boyfriend Toni Pires, who happened to be the photo editor of the most prominent newspaper in Brazil (Folha de São Paulo) for over 15 years.

NY Times Mag

Why is it so damn good??

Here to see the whole portfolio

Caroll Taveras: You can still get yours too!

I went and got my portrait taken by Caroll Taveras this past Sunday.

Open until February 11th.
Photo Studio
539 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn 11217
Tuesday – Friday, 1-8pm
Saturday – Sunday 12-5pm

Michal Chelbin

My awesome roommate recently purchsed Michal Chelbin’s new book “Strangely Familiar,” which means I know get to look at it whenever the mood strikes. I find its one of those rare books that every image is equally striking. When I saw this image

I immediately thought of this one by Sally Mann. (who by the way, was my absolute first inspiration in photography)

Here’s some more fav’s from Strangely Familiar. I’m in love with Chelbin’s use of color.

Laura

I did something daring recently and posted on Craigslist looking for subjects. What I found was an overabundance of people willing to trek out to brooklyn in the deepest of winter on a leap of faith that I may be able to create a nice image. I particularly liked Laura as she was willing to do all the silly things I asked her.

Playtime

This is Sasha. One of the few baby shoots ive done.

some more of me on this snowy day

I have been feeling pretty unmotivated lately. I’m hoping its just the winter blues. I definitely need to cut down on time checking my gmail, google reader, facebook and the like. Although the photoblogs are often a source for some inspiration. Forced myself to go outside.

I can’t stop watching this

Dinner Party Fun

Featuring the lovely and talented: Janessa Markgraf, Manjari Sharma, Kara Brodgesell, Erika Hokanson, Andrea Patton, Bill Gaines, Jeff Denton, Victoria Stevens and Adam Krause

Obamarama

MARTIN SCHOELLER

I was fortunate to be able to go down to DC for the inauguration festivities. There’s something to be said about being amongst the crowds at a time like this. I brought my camera everywhere but the photos became more of a documentation of what was going on and less strong visual images; proof again that I am not a photojournalist. I did manage to see two photo exhibits that I would recommend to anyone in the DC area. The first was at the National Portrait Gallery. Aside from seeing the original iconic Shepard Fairey acquisition, there is an exhibit there titled Portraiture Now: Feature Photography featuring the works of KATY GRANNAN, JOCELYN LEE, RYAN MCGINLEY, STEVE PYKE, MARTIN SCHOELLER, and ALEC SOTH.

The second exhibit was at the Corcoran Gallery, and while not free like 90% of the museums in DC, was totally worth it. The exhibit, Richard Avedon: Portraits of Power is an astounding collection of five decades of work from one of the great masters. I have been a huge fan of Avedon since day one.

RICHARD AVEDON

dad take two

gone wild on ilha bella

a day in the studio with Elsa and her polaroid

To complete a tripytich orignally started in 1988, my siblings and I partook in the third and final sitting this past week in front of Elsa Dorfman’s almighty 20×24 Polaroid camera. There are only 6 of these camera’s in the world! (The Polaroid images comes out at 23″x36″.)

Below, the originals from 1988 and 1998. (excuse poor quality)

And the final image taken in Dec 08:

88 Keys

This is 88 Keys, a record producer who recently came out with his own album, Death by Adam. He’s worn head-to-toe Ralph Lauren exclusively for over 15 years. I shot these pictures of him for METRO International a few weeks ago which ran in several countries, including Brazil!

Bored @ home

People often ask why I take so many self portraits. One of the simple answers is that I’m always around.

My cousin Maria

View from my new roof

Moving from Manhattan to Brooklyn.

Watch a month in my life:

Camp Jabberwocky

Camp Jabberwocky is a summer camp for the disabled located on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. These are some photos I took while attending a summer barbecue with the camp this past August.

ROOM Blog

Got a shout out from the blog over at ROOM studio:

MOMA Shoes

Just have to do it

Cara Phillips

I was very fortunate recently to get the chance to work with Cara Phillips. I have been a huge fan of hers since I began reading her blog Ground Glass about a year ago. As an emerging female photographer myself, it was truly an inspiring experience to be a part of the project. We worked on her series “UV Beauties” photographing people off the streets, You can read and see more about it here. Below is the shot she did of me!

And this one of Fury Young who also helped out.

I am back

Ok ok, its been a while. A lot has happened. I actually am working a lot these days. Yay. Even got to travel around for work a bit. Double yay.

Chris Buck and I in São Paulo in Sept.

Also moved to Brooklyn and am loving it. I will post about my new apt soon.

Jon

my dear friend Jon. he’s just too pretty!

thanks ari!

Sholom

These photos come from a shoot I did of Sholom Keller, an Iraq veteran, for the magazine New Voices. The issue hasn’t come out yet, so I’m posting a couple shots that aren’t going to be published and will post again once the issue is out and tell you more about him then.

I(prounoun) show

Some good news. I was selected for Projekt30’s online show called I(pronoun) which showcases self portraits in various mediums. (thanks to those that voted!) You can view the show here.

Flashback to college living

While in Philly for work, these photos come from an impromptu photo shoot of my brother Niko and his roommates, all students at Drexel University. There is something that totally screams college about these, right?

Some roomie fun

this is kara

Jon & Raissa

Meet Chris

Mom

Jon

Typical Chilmark afternoon?

My dear Alex

Chris Fischer

Chris is a local farmer and chef on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. Episodes of his cooking show “edible island’ can be viewed here.

afternoon lunch with sheila

so ive been playing around with some still photos and video. heres an attempt. i took these while living in brazil. they’re from an afternoon i spent in a favela in the city of Salvador.

Caged in

IPhone Series

So I had this idea to photograph parts of the body using my iphone as the only light source. this was my first attempt. thoughts?

Have always loved photographing legs…

Mom and Dad

View from rooftop party. Pretty Sweet.

Michael

The mighty Lucas

I miss Rio

My lastest muse

Alex and Leah

Shot two of my favorite people this week

Pure isolation

Kaelen and Melinda

Tory

Elicia

Shot this poster today for a friend’s recital.

the one and only

Alex

Pal

John @ Quintandinha

We like to pose

Melinda and Jenna

in the streets

back to some self portraits

Waiting for subway in brooklyn

The dancer

Latest of Leah

Scenes from Brazil

Dad at the Waldorf

In the News…

My work was featured in these two online photo galleries.  (The first one, my photo was chosen as the cover.)

Dance!

I took some headshots of my roomate and his ballet dancer friends yesterday. Looking forward to shooting them again.