The Boardwalk

Walking off the Q train at 8am on Coney Island isn’t as funny a scene as you might expect. People are meandering to work. Some are certainly still coming home from the nights’ activities before. But generally, it’s quiet. Peaceful.

Turn a corner and there were 200 odd photographers and models gathered for a photo meetup. I’d never been to one. My own fear of being exposed as a fraud coupled with my dislike of meeting strangers in large groups meant this group looked twice as large as it was. But yea, it really was 200 people.

But once the initial ‘holy shit I’m here’ wore off, I began to wander around, get my bearings. I didn’t even know there would be models at this thing so I did what felt more comfortable - found a few ‘real’ strangers to chat with and photograph. See, my fear isn’t of taking strong photographs of people or talking to strangers. The latter part is still hard, but I do it. The former part I know I have so much work to do, but yea, I’ve got some chops. My fear is of showing up and not having the creative juices to impress other creative people. Everyone seemed just so on point. They said things like ‘Fire’ (and I wondered if that’s some new version of lit) and "whats your IG” (the new gram?).

I hadn’t gotten up at 6 and trekked out to Coney Island just to question myself though, so I joined the fray. Initially I was hesitant - crowding around the dozen or so other photographers all going paparazzi with the few models (the ratio wasn’t great). But then when the initial buzz died down, I found a few models kinda hanging on their own. I found my in. I didn’t have poses but asked them to tell me stories about the beach, the water, being at a theme park. I was grateful for every minute we had together and I learned so much in just a few hours working with these talented folks. I had never worked with models before and it was a good lesson in shared-space, creative collaboration, and humility. Knowing when to direct and when to back off.

I’ll be on the lookout for more.

Market personality

I’ve always been fascinated by the stories of the farmers and workers who come to New York’s farmers gardens. From 3rd generation farmers to trust-fund distillers to passionate fish mongers, each little tent holds such a rich story beneath. In the winter months, when they haul out their goods to stand in freezing temperatures for hours after getting up at 4am, my reverence and respect for them increases in multiples. A few weeks ago, I spent some time talking with a few of the farmers who do their thing through sleet, rain, snow, and just about everything in between.

Kurt and his family are fishmongers who usually post up at the Union Square greenmarket but come down to Grand Army Plaza during the winter when the ‘regular’ fish crew travels south for the winter.

I initially asked this man if I could take his portrait and he said “no,” so I lowered my camera and said “sure, no problem.” He then asked, “why are you interested anyway?” I told him his expression was particularly vivid and he said he’d been asked by a few other people in recent weeks as well. We kept talking for a few minutes and as I was walking away he said, “hey, if you still want you can take a couple of photos.” Sometimes people just want to be seen and heard.

2018 - A Year in Review

2018 was a year that stretched my photography skills like never before. I began to use speed lights as my client work moved indoors. I re-learned to crawl with the best of them as my littlest clients (and son) got even younger. Perhaps most important, I tackled new challenges of time management as a new dad, team leader, and photographer. So, to kick off 2019, I’m sharing a visual recap of all that 2018 brought in.

There were events, family photos, and a few side projects. There were hikes, food projects, garden wanderings, and some street venturing too. From Brooklyn to St Lucia and a lot in between, my camera came with me as a trusted friend. Someone who challenged me, pushed me, but ultimately helped me be my best self and see the world in a new way.

Thanks to everyone who’s followed along the blog here and I hope you continue to join me in the months to come.

The surreal, ‘public’ beaches of St Lucia

The year began with a getaway. A pre-baby moon if you will but also a kind of trip Katie and I almost never take. Don’t get me wrong - we love a good beach and splash in the ocean, but rarely seek those features out when we travel. St Lucia was simply sublime. Cliche perhaps, but we leaned into it. Not as much as, say, our resort neighbors who got out their sun oil, cubans, and rum punch by 10am at the beach. But hey, to each their own.

The vibrant colors begin to take shape as a cold spring season begins at the Gardens

I spent hours - probably days worth of time - in the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. I especially loved the early spring - as buds burst forth after months of careful cultivation from the fall by gardeners who could only hope that nature would partner in their designs. Each week seem to bring new textures, colors, and choices and for me, getting close or and playing with movement felt like the truest way to capture the feeling of being both big and small, rushed and frozen all at once.

The Japanese Gardens were a favorite - finding new ways to see them was a challenge

As spring turned to summer, walks in the parks turned up fun surprises that you only get in a city where it’s entirely possible that a dog’s wedding gown was more expensive than my own wife’s. This was one of my favorite street photos of the year and for me it captured much in what was changing in my photography. While many others turned their lenses on the couple, or even the dog while it was in their laps, I tried to position myself to where it was going to go - to create the juxtaposition of the two brides. Of course I got lucky, but I also set myself to maximize that luck too.

But May also brought us other surprises - and while I won’t be posting any photos of our son yet, the cake below was our first celebration of the incredible news. He has brought so much joy and happiness into our world and it’s hard to imagine life before him.

Even with our new addition, I made time to reflect and explore the gardens in new ways. From macro to blur, I wanted to tell the story of change without losing the importance of the individual elements. Some of what I created felt dull and unoriginal, but the creative constraint helped me develop both new techniques and perspectives.

The summer also began my first family photos of the year - this one with our neighbors who had a child only two weeks apart from ours. Watching them grow up together has been hilarious and illuminating and I loved working with our friends for an intimate session in one of my favorite spots.

I was also thrilled to work with my close friends when they had their second child. We’ve been through so much together - our early years of teaching, weddings, illnesses, and just about everything inbetween. We’ve toasted each other, cried on each others shoulders and I loved working with them to capture this precious moment in time.

One of my favorite client groups to work with are entrepreneurs who are seeking ways to capture the value of their work in distinctive ways. From events to editorial pieces, portraits and headshots, I’ve been fortunate to have worked with a number of clients this year who have exciting new businesses and a powerful story to tell. My goal of making high quality photography at accessible prices makes me humbled to work with such hard working, creative folk.

Callan from a Spark Collective

Larnell and Jonathan at a Soulful Experience

As fall rolled in we took a trip to Lexington, KY and had a chance to soak up the quiet beauty of the fields and farms. I realized how long it had been since I had been out in more rural country that seeing even relatively small farms triggered quaint (and naive) thoughts about life away from Brooklyn.

As the year came to a close I did a final gig with a family who we’ve been close to for over a decade - the couple that introduced me to Katie and with whom we’ve stayed close ever since. Sharing their joy as they welcomed their baby into the world was icing on the cake.

Thanks for reading and joining in a complex year filled with joy, new beginnings, new ventures, and new ways of seeing familiar sites.

Beautiful Island. Beautiful People.

On our first night we walked down to the beach after a brief storm had passed through. That was the cadence of the week: sun, storms, sun. Within those moments though, were startling visions where the light would play in fantastic ways. 

Locals are used to the rain patterns - some keep umbrellas around, others ignore it. This man rocked a hat that was both functional and eye-catching. I had trouble understanding him but he loved being able to see his photo in the back of the camera.

The people on the island knew how to embrace color - young and old. Their houses were colorful; their clothes were colorful. They mimicked the vibrant colors of the nature surrounding them and it transformed people and place.

Religion plays a strong role across the island but everyone has their own version. These two women represented many of the different contrasts on how people practiced. More to come on photographing in sacred spaces - a topic that has been on my mind for years.

With thousands of acres of protected rainforest in the middle of the island, only a handful of towns and cities dot the coastline. It's an extraordinary place and each view is distinctively dramatic. One of the technical challenges of photographing the island was dealing with the haze - a wash of sand blown over the ocean from the Sahara. A polarizer helped but even after I worked hard to bring the image back to the emotions I felt looking out over the sea and land. 

A note about headshots

That's me. And it's a fairly terrible photo. You can barely differentiate my skin from the wood log in the back. My eyes are dark shadows hidden by my brow and my neck looks like a blob of black fuzz. But it also feels a bit like me. It's a genuine smile and there are some tell tale signs. More on this later.

That's my wife, Katie. She is extraordinarily photogenic and while we weren't planning for it, this works on a lot of different levels. Sure, there's a 'one way' sign going into her ear (not ideal but kind of funny if you think about it) but the time of day works in our favor and her choice of outfit and earrings really bring out the color in her eyes. This was actually a pretty spontaneous shot, but again, it works because you can feel she's excited for the night ahead.

That's my friend Callan who I worked with recently to create some headshots for her website. Here we were going for something specific - a reflection both of who she is and how she approaches her work as a coach. We wanted to balance a sense of confidence with an approach-ability and comfort. Humble yet wise. A get-stuff-doner but patient. There's a certain alertness and inquisitiveness in her eyes that's brought out by a slight lean-in. It's the subtlest of movement, but quite clearly there.

Sometimes the background adds significant value as well. Here my friend Makeda was getting ready to start a new job doing work with housing and community development and wanted to capture the spirit of that work in her portrait. While we fought the weather a bit, this more environmental portrait was integral for the look she wanted and the story she was telling.

My approach to headshots and commercial portraits have evolved over time but ultimately boils down to the same key elements: the best way to tell someone's story and make the viewer feel what they feel. In that way it's different from a lot of photography where the goal is to express more about what 'I' feel as the photographer. Here, it's to understand, extract, and capture that moment that's most revealing of what lies beneath.

A Brooklyn Family Tale

When a friend approached me asking if I'd be interested in doing a photo shoot for their just-turned 1 year old, I told them I'd love to. Before we got started, I asked two simple question that helped me better understand how to approach the gig: why? why were you doing this and why me?

The first may seem like an obvious question - families get portraits all the time. And, as I mentioned here, finding a way to grab that fleeting moment as children age is a common desire. But each family has their own spin on the 'why', and when my friend and his wife explained theirs, I was on board.

Curious and fierce

But they 'why me' surprised me a bit and hints at the notion that sometimes you need other people to help see who you are. They said they loved how close and revealing my portraits felt of others - from strangers to clients - and wanted to really show off the personality of their one year old who was just beginning to show off her own stripes. I admit that's not how I would have thought about the session beforehand and the answer helped me better understand how my approach could work in family photography.

Timeless

As we went outside on a cold day, it was trickier to get those up close shots with more layers on, but more important to capture the family as a whole and how they live in their neighborhood.

Tears of joy (or cold)

And I'll never get tired of getting close when their eyes glow like that.

How I interview people

When I began doing street portraits, I tried to study how different photographers approach their subjects. I learned from Brandon Stanton of Humans of New York who has spoken extensively about his approach, the importance of developing trust, and how to work with a subject to tell their story. From David duChemin I learned how to cross lines of difference with humility and respect. How to close both physical and emotional distance to create space to help people open up.

But 'learning' these ideas in abstract is just one step - applying them in my own context, my identity, and personality requires disciplined practice, reflection, and ongoing improvement.

A moment of solitude

When I approached this man sitting near Columbus Circle, he looked simultaneously serene but also conflicted. His music offered one way to block out the crowd but I sensed he had other thoughts swirling in his mind.

I've borrowed HONY's strategy for approaching strangers by asking simply, "can I take your photograph?" No pretext about a project or interest, but just a desire to connect. From a first photo or two, I'll then ask a few questions. Also borrowing from the HONY method, I skip the small talk. This is really hard for me - asking strangers to share vulnerable moments, hopes, challenges, is not something that comes naturally. But there's no way around this. While many people have said 'no' to my initial question, almost no one has declined to share once we get going. Being a stranger helps. They have a chance to open up and talk without concern for consequence and the connection that creates is powerful.

If I'm being totally frank, I think my camera and neck-strap actually help a lot. They are items of interest - tools of the trade that signal more than a passing interest. Yes, there are many significantly more talented photographers who can work with just an iPhone. No, you don't need a fancy camera or craft neck-strap. But from my own experience, they create a small amount of trust that I take what I do seriously. I'll often actually get questions about my camera - is it film, who makes it, do I like it, why did I choose it? While these questions have nothing to actually do with my approach to photography, they help create a connection with the people that I photograph. I'll take it.

Opening up

As we continued talking, he shared a deeply personal and honest story. As it unfolded, he seemed relieved to have a chance to share it. It was that moment of relief, honesty, a touch of timidity, that I tried to capture in this second image.

In the end, there's something revealing about that first image too. It speaks of a man with a need to get a way - who has lived much of his life hidden behind a facade. But personally I like the second one better - it speaks of the connection we had in that moment. Fleeting, earnest, sad, but still hopeful.

This is my process and it continues to evolve.

Transformation of a Portrait

"You caught me on a short beard day!"

I met this man sitting on a bench enjoying his paper in Union Square and his beard and hat immediately caught my attention. There was a story there, but I wasn't sure what it was. Pulling out my camera, I asked him if he would be ok if I took his photo - "I really like your beard" I said. I definitely wasn't ready for his response (the "short beard" comment above), but more importantly over the next ten or so minutes we continued to talk with me occasionally taking another photo.

What started as a portrait of a consenting but unconnected subject transformed into a glowing portrait by the end as our connection began to become more real. There's still a lot more story there (about how his predatory landlord was working to evict him, how he's been squatting for decades), but without the connection, there is no photo. But almost all of them start with the same question and the willingness to be told no: "can I take your photo?"

Team Time

"How many will you be?"

"A lot." It was a jerk answer I realize, but the bar was empty and from first glance there were only booths available and I figured we were just going to stand around. Jerk move, like I said.

"Can you give an estimate?"

"About 20."

The bartender took us to the "back room" where there were a dozen tables we could sit around and a much more open space. They were more than accommodating and as our team entered crunch time, it was time to loosen up a bit too.

This sums it up about right

It was great to have so much of the team out together. We don't go out often, and too frequently in the past couple months it was to say goodbye to teammates leaving.

So, here's to more laughter (and less jerk).

A moment. A story. A family.

A friend recently approached me to do a family portrait session for them. Their little ones were growing up quickly and they wanted a chance to capture the preciousness of their ages and the memories of the moment. 

Little guy stole my hat

My family never took portraits and the idea always struck me as a bit odd until I started seeing some of the photos my friends had. They were natural, fun loving photos that captured that small sliver in time for the family. I've seen them in hall ways, frames, and yes, social media too. And so when I thought about what I wanted to bring to the shoot, my focus was on finding ways to capture the little personalities running around the park and the dynamic the family has together.

Penguin style

This didn't mean no direction at all - just a careful mix of direction and giving kids room to be themselves. It meant keeping a read and pulse on how much patience both kids and parents had and choosing moments for a little more careful composition carefully and making sure I was ready to capture it.

up in the air

I'm still finding my style with family photos but loved the opportunity to bring this one to life. Thanks Meghan and Brendan for letting me into your world for the morning.

A Chance Encounter

It's funny how so much of New York City life boils down to whether you live on an avenue or street (or outer borough equivalent). When I first lived in Harlem, we did both and it was a decidedly different experience. Later, when we moved to Brooklyn we experienced both within a short period. While the microcosmic neighborhoods of South and North Park Slope were definitely different, there was an undeniable change in the tenure of the pace of the street when we moved from a quiet row to a mainstream avenue equivalent.

But then there's Eastern Parkway. Designed in the fashion of the gallant boulevards of Paris by none other than Olmsted himself, Eastern Parkway is not your typical busy street. 

So I made a commitment to take a walk every night down the promenade and soak up the rays and sights. At least on days when it's not nasty hot outside.

Shadows converge

There's a spot right before you get to the Museum where the sun hides behind the trees and the last warm glow of its rays stretch out as far as you can see. On days with cloud cover, the effect is even more spectacular, and the dome of the museum glows. I also love these moments because bikers, walkers, runners, strollers, and just about everyone else is also out negotiating the space.

My first engagement shoot

Portrait photography is my thing. I love exploring new ways of seeing people, of sharing their stories, of sharing the spectrum of human emotion.

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So when I offered a pair of close friends the gift of an engagement shoot I was totally upfront with them: this was my first, I would probably be gaining a lot more from the experience than they would, but they would be happy with at least one thing from the shoot.

But I was scared - feeling perhaps I had stepped farther outside my comfort zone than I was ready for.

I've been thinking a lot about creative fear recently as my team at the DOE embarks on designing new tools for educators and support staff. It's hard to break away from conventions. Bar graphs are easy. Good bar graphs are really hard.

And so when I first began to look for ideas an inspiration, I realize I went about it all wrong. I looked at Pinterest boards with titles like "top 50 engagement poses for the fall" and other eye-glazing leads. I was preparing for an engagement shoot by doing what other people did, not by reflecting on why they had agreed to do it with me.

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That was the most important insight I took away from the day. I was so worried about delivering something conventional and "likeable" I lost confidence in what they liked about the work they had already seen. It was only until later in the shoot, when I began to feel my rhythm more, that the shots we took together were more inspired and authentic to my style.

Not gonna lie - when their invite came with a few photos from the shoot I was over the moon. I'm pretty sure I would have paid for the opportunity for the chance to make them something special.

Get Outdoors

"People who spend time outdoors are generally better humans. Getting them out there, leading and supporting them to that end is what I (and the DBA team) do.

Working outside is the easy part, even if I'm exhausted. I'm almost always sharing the outdoors with people who are having a great time, connecting with nature, and gaining perspective.

The office work is the greatest struggle - overcoming the fear of routine. Embracing (and owning) the routine makes me more consistently productive, levelling out the peaks and valleys of productivity."

- Dave from DBA

Portrait of a memory

As I think more about the perspective I bring to my photography, I find portraiture the defining narrative with all its metaphors for life, character, and moment. A few weeks back I was in New Hope for my cousin's wedding and as I moved around, capturing moments and freezing time, I realized perhaps for the first time that I was saving a memory.

I admit that in writing it it seems fairly obvious. That's what defines photography in one of its most basic interpretations. But it's not so simple if you scratch a bit harder.

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This might be how interior designers, architects, and even UX/UI experts think - they see the whole coming together as one - the people, the smells, the reflections, the way the light carries from one part of the space to another, the way the space drags people out to dance and repels others... I could go on. As I imported my photos and began editing, what emerged was infinitely more complex than individual photos side by side. A portrait of a memory arose with its range of emotions painted in color, contrasts, textures, and choices.

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I admit I don't know exactly what I'll do with this new insight except to hope that by sharing it with you, perhaps something resonates in a way it hadn't before. Perhaps we'll all learn something together.

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Making a connection

"We lost the diversity of the community. I used to know everyone. When I got married, all my neighbors cheered me on as I walked out in my dress. Now it's just like park slope - babies, strollers, white kids. The one good thing is that the restaurants are great. I just try to maintain a connection to my neighbors." - Elena 

Industrial Chic

"We designed this place from the ground up - a gut renovation - about six years ago before anyone else was doing it. Now we look around and it's all over the place. It kind of makes me want to tear everything out and start over. But I still love it - reflects the feel of what we're trying to do here.

I remember high school being so competitive. The first thing my parents would ask when I would come home was 'did you get any grades back.' That had a real effect on me. I think that competitive edge continues to drive me as an entrepreneur but I also knew I wanted to work for myself. I felt that first selling knives for Cutco - it's like the first thing you can do as a kid that's really self-powered. And man, I made a lot of money. Like, serious bucks for a kid."
- Brian

From Times Square to Crown Heights

"The international crowd always amazed me. It was just so crazy how they fit all the stereotypes - and the Australians were the nicest people in the world! But coming from Times Square to here was like moving home. There are such incredible people here. Although now we're starting to get tourists too. I guess we got written up in the guide books. Things change fast." - Chloe

Church Basements too

"I went to this one underground bar in Fort Greene to scout it out a few months ago. I go back last week and it's already gone. That's the pace of this place. And it's not just the trendy places. We used to be able to rent a church basement for like $1,000. They were just happy to see some extra income come in. Now they've got all sorts of packages and are selling themselves like high end studios. Hard to believe sometimes."

The end of physics

"I loved science and experimenting with new gadgets. Then there was Vietnam. That was the end of physics. Now I come to the gardens to be at peace." - Arthur

I miss the fire

"I miss the fire. I was always passionate about Japanese culture, but more for fun stuff like the games and art. Making the transition to making it my work meant more discipline and learning about it in new ways. I like doing sushi and the job here is great, but it's not the same. Cooking with heat just feels different"
- Julian