Beautiful Couple
These two model/dancers were a great couple. Perfect models for beginner photographers like me. They had a ton of poses and knew what to do with very little direction.
Weekend Update
Sorry I've been M.I.A. I took an amazing photography workshop called the 15 Minute Portrait with Andy French. It was from 9am to 4 both yesterday and today. I learned a shit ton of techniques, how to use various lights, etc. and am ridiculously inspired and grateful I've been able to take the course. I'll post some pictures later.
In other news, I took the latest Facebook quiz- "What Country Should You Live In" and not surprisingly, it said Italy. Wow.
More Photos
Just in case you haven't been inspired enough- here are two images I am in love with by Graham Miller. Hello vibrant colors! His work definitely reminds me of William Engleston and I also thought of Edward Hopper. Sure enough, I just scanned this interview done in December on Amy Stein's site and he reiterated the same influences. He also mentioned a book by Philip-Lorca DiCorcia that I just happened to be looking for during my break from jury duty today. Wow. It's like the universe is trying to tell me something. Very loudly! My ICP lighting teacher showed us slides on Tuesday. I might break down and buy it on Amazon. Somehow I feel less guilty spending money when it's related to photography. In fact, I've finally become motivated to make my lunch everyday in the knowledge that the money I save can be used for photo tools.
I Love the New York Photography Scene.
It was worth missing my favorite yoga class for the millionth time last night. I'm sure my teacher has given up on me. Last night I went to an Image Maker Lecture Series at the Soho Apple store featuring fine arts photographer and blogger Amy Stein and commercial photographer and blogger Andrew Hetherington. They are awesome. And inspiring. Amy started out in politics, even got her masters. She didn't discover photography until age 32. So there's hope for you late bloomers. Ain't photography the perfect second career? It's all about viewing things from a unique lens literally and figuratively. Andrew had a similar non-direct path finding his way from Ireland to New York and to the photography scene. It was beautiful seeing two people so passionate about photography. Although not surprisingly, pretty much everyone in photography is passionate. Afterward, we all headed to Sainte and had drinks (diet coke for me thanks to my March- no drinking challenge). I chillaxed with some ladies in the field- other art buyers! Yes!!
Amy's Domesticated series, taken in a small, rural town in Pennsylvania where nature has been known to invade the town. She partnered with a taxidermist to create the very real looking images.
Andrew Hetherington started out working in fashion and now focuses on editorial and advertising. His images are colorful, clever and intelligent. This is the one I recognize the most.
Yeah, I was excited about being disconnected while in jury duty but now I realize there are a shit ton of photography blogs linked from these sites that I need to check out while I take breaks from reading Annie Leibovitz new book.
Another Purty Blog
Can't remember if I've linked this one. But I'm going to try and regularly read Cupcakes and Cashmere. Would be nice to see images of a sunny local. And I like this picture. What is it about red balloons? Must do a photo shoot at some point with this.
Jury Duty
JURY DUTY. Putting people asleep since its inception.
I just got back from my first day of jury duty. It was mildly interesting and not as tedious as everyone claims. But that's because I'm only in my first day. I'm a little worried that I'm going to get picked since I committed to some work projects but I guess the trial may not run all day. It's kind of cool to be in Tribeca again- my old work hood and we had a two hour break for lunch. I am the ultimate networker. Sort of. I went to Bazzini's for lunch. Pricey but nice atmosphere. It always seemed to be filled with the movers and shakers of this world. Okay. So I've seen my share of celebs there. Today, a little girl and her grandma sat across from me. My motherly instincts kicked in and I watched the 4 year old while her grams got etc. She share my intense love of purple and chocolate. Her grandmother came back and somehow we struck up a conversation over where I worked. It turned out her daughter used to work for an ad agency and met her husband there. He's now a commercial director and she's on the client side. I'm kicking myself for not dropping off my card if not at least so I could babysit. Perhaps our paths will cross again. Although it would be awkward working with the director and casually slipping in that I have already met his 4 year old daughter and mother-in-law. Such is life.
And speaking of coincidences. I am continuing to be errr stalked by this girl I went to college with. She's a model and happens to be in many stock images that we pull up on stock searches. I have seen her on the street in the past. Recently I saw her on a poster. A few weeks after that, saw her in a commercial. And yesterday, saw her walking her dog while making the long trip to B&H. Freaky.
OKAY! So there is a god! I'm off to Fat Cat to play some ping pong with coworkers. Cheers!
East Village Oddities
Happy Wednesday. Um. Or Something. I've been super inspired with my photography class. I have so much to do related to photography that I can't accomplish during my lunch break. Grr. And there's the whole issue of B&H not being open on Friday evenings or Saturdays. This weekend I'm taking a weekend intensive on the 15 minute portrait. I'm looking forward to it but not, of course, waking up that early. I'm nearly contemplating putting my gym membership on hold unless I truly become a morning person. It's becoming nearly impossible to balance work, working out and photography related activities. Anyway, check it. And to see what I've been up to lately- my flickr page here.
Look What I Found!
More information about Rosie and Aaron just in case you were curious. I guess MSNBC picked them up which I'm glad for. These kids are talented. Check out the article and get inspired.
New Jersey Travels
Yesterday I waited for the bus to take me into the city for 15 minutes. While I was carrying all my worldly possession- i.e. camera, laptop, flash, lenses, etc. - 1 back pack, a weekend bag holding my tripod and a purse- it started to rain. Fortunately, I had a conveniently broken umbrella. I passionately waited with another traveler. We fell into conversation. Panicking about the lack of bus can do that. And of course the requisite "Are you in school or something?" me: "Um, no. I graduated a looong time ago." Then, completely out of the blue, a white Scottish Terrier runs up to us, coming from down the street. Barks at us as if he's trying to tell us something. I stopped from asking "What is it Lassie." Then barked some more and ran away. That reminds me, I need to check my parents' local paper to see if there were any stories relating to the strange dog.
Because I haven't Posted a Photo in a While
My all time favorite photo shot when I was studying abroad in Florence, Fall 2001. This was either taken with my Pentax (click ads so I can get it fixed) or a disposable camera.
10 PM Plus
And the fact remains that I can't leave my apartment without running into someone I know from my past. Around 9:15, I had the sudden urge to jet over to The Strand and check out some photography books. I really need to amp up my photo book collection. The internet is great and all but sometimes..
I get to the photography section and who do I run into, but someone I grew up with who happened to be a fantastic photographer. He still is and is getting his MFA. Hmmm. That's an idea... But the commercial and fine art world are so different. I suppose I should look at getting an MFA from a financial perspective. I don't have a trust fund and the likelihood of me winning the lottery are slim to none. In any case, I thought it was a fun full circle sort of night. Running into someone who was considered probably the best artist in my class. Unfortunately, I came in second. But we were both in the same aisle, he pursuing the fine arts and me involved in the commercial.
Nighty night. I must rest. I have another session with my trainer tomorrow. Yeah, what was I thinking? I've tricked myself into thinking I'm fully recovered - enough for an intense workout. At least the weather will be nice!
It All Happened Before 10am
I rolled out of bed ready for work after 3 days of being holed up in my apartment.
While walking to the Mud truck, I saw a cute puppy.
The owner of the puppy turned out to be a girl who grew up a block away from me in NJ.
I would have said hello but I was too lazy and still recovering.
At the Mud Truck, the coffee guy informed me that his mother liked the picture I took. Could he have a jpg. Probably shouldn't be writing about him cause I gave him my email and flickr link which includes my blog.
After feeling upbeat from receiving free coffee, compliments, etc. I walked next to a woman pushing a stroller with a cute baby.
I proceeded to do the usual. Make fish faces at the baby.
She started smiling and laughing. The caretaker knew I was making the baby smile but had no idea why.
As is usual when I make the fish face, the cute baby attempted to mimic my movements.
I concluded that despite still feeling doped up on various medications, this was going to be a very good day.
Some Inspiration
I haven't been putting pictures up lately mainly cause I've been holed up in my apartment. So I'm taking the lazy way out. Check out Design Sponge.
I'm Back!
My TV works! I guess I should call back Time Warner and cancel the appointment. I did manage to focus and nearly finish Madame Bovary. And I finished Liar's Poker last weekend. Okay, so one's about a lust for love and sensual experiences and the other is about a lust for money. Apparently Michael Lewis wrote Liar's Poker as a warning so Wall Street wouldn't have another crash. Instead, Wall Street guys took it as a "how to" make tons of money and not get caught. This paragraph in the Epilogue sums up what he learned and is a powerful reminder of the disparity between what Wall Streeters reaped and what they deserved.
"My father's generation grew up with certain beliefs. One of those beliefs is that the amount of money one earns is a rough guide to one's contribution to the welfare and prosperity of our society....One thing that was almost always true was that people who made a lot money were neat. Horatio Alger and all that. It took watching his son being paid 225 grand at the age of twenty-seven, after two years on the job, to shake his faith in money. He has only recently recovered from the shock." p. 247
When did this belief change? Actors, businessmen, traders, etc. make tons of money while even doctors aren't being paid what they used to. Teachers- guiding our futures, get paid a mere fraction of the top earners. We're not paid on our over all contribution to society, but our immediate ability to generate a profit regardless of the long term effects.
Grrrr
My instincts to avoid the cable situation were correct. After being put on hold for 10 minutes, the rep told me to unplug my cable box, then plug it back in. Genius. BUT it didn't work. So they're sending a technician out- wait! This is good... earliest on Monday! So now I'm sick with the flu, stuck at home with no TV. Okay, perhaps God is screaming at me to read a book. I'm supposed to call back tomorrow morning between 7am-10am to see if I can get an earlier appointment. If there's an opening tomorrow that will be beautiful because obviously both me and my roommate are home.
In other news, I find it ironic that my EX-friend who deleted ME as a friend on Facebook, uses a profile picture that contains me in it! She cropped me out, of course, but you can still see my hair. Weird. And mostly creepy.
TV
It appears that my cable isn't working. I haven't checked it in an hour.. am sort of avoiding bad news. Maybe it's God's way of telling me to read a book. But every time I try and read, I get sleepy. It's too bad I'm too tired/ lazy to do all the stuff I've been meaning to do but haven't had enough time. I'm keeping the schedule of a cat. Sleeping 17 hours a day.. okay. Maybe that's an exaggeration.
Just saw the latest episode of Ugly Betty online. I'm totally in love with her new love interest. Completely adorable. Totally my taste. Did some research on him but the guy, Daniel Eric Gold, doesn't have any information about himself on IMDB. Don't know where he's from, how old, if he's gay or straight. I'm still searching. Maybe once he's a regular on the show, they'll put more info. Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing more of him.
Aside from sleeping, eating, drinking, sleeping, and watching TV, I also bought things on Amazon. I had a $150 gift certificate from various sources. Believe it or not, it actually took me about an hour to figure out what to buy. I bought a coffee maker, a few books, a Klean Kanteen to compare to my Sigg bottle. A portable coffee mug, and few other odds and ends. It wasn't enough for me to buy big ticket items like a new camera or photo gear but still a lot of money. I'm looking forward to my coffee maker even though it will mean limiting my stagnant relationship with the cute Mud truck guy. I suppose I can go once a week.
Only in My World
My roommate and I are both sick with the flu. No, we don't make out. This shit happens when you live in tight quarters with someone. i.e. a shoe box. She thinks she got it from her cousin.
I just stepped outside to get a prescription. It was a calculated move.. not too late before the sunset and before Oprah. I'm all bundled up. No makeup of course. Geek specs, generally looking rather shitty. And who do I run into on my 10 minute errand? No other than a coworker. Mother freaking aye. What are the chances? He was out to get lunch at the late hour of 3:30! I texted him later saying I didn't think it was that cold after all to which he replied that I was crazy. So I guess 101 degree temperatures are good for something after all...