Je fixais des vertiges.

ft tilden

2011-09-20T12:54:00.000-07:00

hurricane damage

2011-08-29T07:47:00.001-07:00

uptown

2011-08-06T14:21:00.000-07:00

2011-08-04T21:23:00.001-07:00

Summer resolution: more photos...

vík/manhattan

2011-07-31T20:09:00.001-07:00

This is my personal favorite mistake I've made in a while.

old photos, new look

2011-07-14T10:05:00.001-07:00

My talented friend Dan has updated his website. It features some photos I took. It's awesome. Design by Rachel Kim

beard envy

2011-05-10T08:58:00.000-07:00

This is my damp friend Karl.

covered on the COVER

2011-05-05T16:21:00.000-07:00

Check it out.

The Portland Mercury put me on their cover!

Spring is here!

2011-04-26T05:33:00.000-07:00

It's time to shave my winter beard!

ICELAND

2011-04-23T14:31:00.000-07:00

My sister and I are going to Iceland in a little over a month. We are going to drive all the way around. I am going to take pictures. She is going to write songs. We need your help with the gas money... Help us?

caucasian chalk circle

2011-02-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

I really love working with Pipeline Theatre Company. They are all incredibly talented and give me so much inspiration and motivation. Above is a shot of Maura Hooper and pictured below are Vladimir Margolin, Jacquelyn Landgraf and Alex Mills for promotion of their upcoming production, Caucasian Chalk Circle. Go. See. It.

where i've been

2010-12-30T21:22:00.000-08:00

In the past several months I've been shooting a lot of theater, but am hoping to give myself some projects in the new year. Today I had a shoot at The Whiskey Ward for some promotional theater photos. Here's a shot.

dan

2010-09-13T22:15:00.001-07:00

You've seen him here before. Watch him.

audrey

2010-08-15T08:43:00.000-07:00

The theater is keeping my photography alive right now. I've been a bit too busy to keep up my personal projects, but here is a shot I just did for Keen Company. More theater projects to come...

quick shots

2010-06-02T17:52:00.000-07:00

Took some photos for my friends at the Pipeline Theatre Company.

daniel

2010-05-10T14:53:00.000-07:00

A couple months ago I got to shoot the amazing Daniel Vosovic. He is one of the most endearing people I've ever met.

PSYCHO BEACH PARTY

2010-03-31T20:50:00.000-07:00

Mr. John Early as Chicklet
in PSYCHO BEACH PARTY
BUY A TICKET

carolyn

2010-03-24T22:37:00.000-07:00

The photographer I'm working for told me I should start photographing more people I don't know. This is Carolyn.

projects

2010-03-23T23:04:00.000-07:00

Back in January I shot the postcard image for Keen Company's production of I Never Sang For My Father. I had the honor and privilege to work with Keir Dullea (of 2001: A Space Odyssey fame). It was a quick shoot, so it forced me to work under pressure (which I'm not used to when I shoot in my mini-studio). I've been so busy with work (non-photo) and my internship (photo) that I haven't had much time to do any shooting, but I have had a couple exciting projects that I will be sure to post this week!

sketchbook

2010-02-03T23:11:00.000-08:00

Dan & Marlowe

intern's first assignment

2010-01-25T22:24:00.000-08:00

The photographer I'm now interning for has given me some homework! This assignment was to photograph one man and one woman whom I didn't know. Then I had to chose one photo to present. Here is the photo:

John & Penelope

intern has a photoshoot

2010-01-23T22:36:00.000-08:00

Here are some test shots of my lovely assistants from a very exciting shoot I had today.

so much news

2010-01-14T21:08:00.000-08:00

Firstly, after many suggestions from friends to enter this contest... I did. I had to pay for each photo I uploaded, so you should go and vote for me so I feel better. It would also be cool to win $7000. Go here.

Secondly, I started a new internship a couple weeks ago. I'm already learning so much and my boss is giving me assignments. I love having homework. I've missed it. My new assignment is to photograph two people I don't know (one man, one woman). If you or anyone you know would be interested in sitting for a portrait PLEASE let me know. Email me.

Thirdly, I have a very exciting shoot lined up in about a week. I am slightly terrified and VERY excited. Please stay tuned for the results.

Fourthly, check out thedailymake.tumblr.com

sketchbook

2009-12-25T16:21:00.001-08:00

a time to collaborate

2009-12-05T19:12:00.001-08:00

This is Paul. He has a photo blog. We're gonna collaborate.

photo by Paul

These are some photos we shot today... stay tuned for more.

sketchbook

2009-11-28T21:37:00.000-08:00

new project

2009-11-23T21:14:00.001-08:00

I wanted to start a project that would force me to take pictures everyday. I thought of one. http://thedailymake.tumblr.com

chloé

2009-11-20T20:09:00.000-08:00

post show wrap-up

2009-11-10T20:13:00.000-08:00

Brad

Thanks to everyone who came out for the show on Friday! It was quite a success and it was awesome to see people looking at my work. You can swing by Grounded within the next few weeks to check out the pieces I have hanging (if you keep up with this blog you're probably fairly familiar with all of them). I'm hoping to get some more self portraits taken in the next few weeks... stay tuned.

DAVE AND SUZI an art show

2009-11-05T15:07:00.000-08:00

If you are in the New York area and you are free tonight... come hangout with me and look at some photos I've taken. They're hanging on the walls at Grounded Organic Tea & Coffee House on 28 Jane Street in Manhattan. Here's a MAP. We'll be there from 9 pm till around 11 pm drinking wine, viewing the art and hanging out. I'd love to see you all there! Our Facebook event is linked to the image on the right. And below is a low-res cell phone photo preview of what you can expect...

happy halloween

2009-10-31T20:39:00.000-07:00

Raleigh & Margot

jill

2009-10-27T20:05:00.000-07:00

jonathan

2009-10-25T20:24:00.001-07:00

intern gets to work

2009-10-23T19:01:00.000-07:00

Janna

Today was a full day at the office. I've been learning a lot about digital files/how they are saved/stored. I was even alone for about an hour answering the phone, making faxes, burning discs and playing with the dog. I'm really enjoying myself there and absorbing as much information as possible. I took this portrait recently of my good friend Janna. More portraits lined up in the near future!

show

2009-10-22T00:11:00.001-07:00

Come see some of my photos on a wall instead of the internet.

anthony

2009-10-17T11:55:00.001-07:00

burning man

intern gets inspired

2009-10-10T17:50:00.000-07:00

This week I put together my boss's new portfolio. It was very inspiring to see so much great work. I'm going to be taking more portraits this month and planning a project that I'll unveil later. Today I started organizing all of the digital files that my faithful Canon has taken.

EXCITING NEWS! I got photoshop and a tablet thanks to my amazing little sister.

intern works the files

2009-10-03T12:12:00.000-07:00

David

Yesterday I returned for my second day as the intern. I did a little retouching and lots of filing. It just reminded me how important it is to stay organized. So, I'm going to try my best to complete more of my summer projects. I feel like my work and blog have become stagnant and would like to freshen things up a bit. If you're interested in being a part of a project please let me know. I want to take more portraits here in front of my little gray backdrop. My "studio" is also currently full of clothes and the set pieces from the show I was in this summer. That's where my organization will begin today!

meet the intern

2009-09-25T18:32:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posts/photos lately. I've been working [more than] full time and haven't had much free time for projects. The good news is... today was my first day as an (unpaid) intern! A little late, I know, but I'm so excited to be learning from people who've been doing this for quite some time. I'll keep names out of it, but will be updating with lessons I learn (and huge mistakes I make) on the job.

My first task is to get my hands on some software. As some of you know, I don't retouch my photos. I'd like to say it's because I like all the artistry being done with the camera... but mostly it's because I don't know how to use Photoshop... and I don't have it. Most of my work as the intern will be using that oh-so-expensive software, but I need to practice at home and teach myself. Can anyone help me legally obtain Photoshop?

I haven't taken many photos lately... so here's one of me.

tourist for a day

2009-09-05T12:23:00.002-07:00

Alex and I pretended to be tourists. We wore fanny packs.

I took some photos.

overexposure

empire state building!

collision!

wait, we were wrong. THIS is the empire state building!

al y al

poops

nbc

growing tired

jennie's idea: photos of people from very far away... can you spot the faux tourist?

nypd

film shoot

missing home

mimicry

buttery

weeny

this HAS to be the empire state building

look, a tunnel

real tourist

ending the day with a carousel ride

and motion sickness

PROOF I WAS ALSO WEARING A FANNY PACK:

Yikes, it's September and I don't have long to complete my summer projects. I'd better get shooting.

sketchbook

2009-08-17T15:18:00.001-07:00

I think I've started some kind of series.

Home is the Sailor, Home From Sea.

2009-08-10T10:32:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay in my summer projects. I'm currently working on a show in The New York International Fringe Festival. If you want to see the other thing I do, come see it! It's a great story about friendship and mourning AND it's pretty darn funny. For tickets go here.

preview of a summer project

2009-07-20T17:01:00.000-07:00

Guess which one...

summer projects announced

2009-06-26T18:47:00.000-07:00

Summer weather in New York so far =

After gathering your emails, facebook messages, anonymous tips and phone calls, I have compiled a list of summer projects. This list will probably be expanded, but for now...

Summer Projects

Benjamin's idea: Reverse Ekphrasis... take a picture that represents a poem or something else literary.

Jake's idea: Portraits of Dancers.

Josh's idea: Take an item and place it where it doesn't belong (or where it wouldn't normally be found), and then, of course, take a picture.

Emily's idea: Variations on Diane Arbus.

Emily's idea 2: Trompe-l'œil (either I'll photograph an example of this or try to create it in a photo)

Chris' idea: Find one or two photos by photographers you admire. Try to recreate them exactly.

Steve's idea: Nudes.

Andrews' idea: Negative spaces.

Jennie's idea: Pictures of people from very far away.

My ideas:

Tourist for a day. Dress up as a New York City tourist with a friend and go around the city taking photos that emulate/put a spin on typical tourist photography.

Street walking. Randomly select a number then walk across Manhattan on the designated street from river to river. Take at least 2 photos per avenue block.

Portrait station. Setup shop on a sidewalk or in a park with a sign offering free portraits. I also want to photograph everyone I know.

I'm not sure what order these will go in, but I hope to get one up by next week. If anyone sees something they'd like to be a part of, please let me know. My camera is collecting a little dust so I need to get moving!

P.S. Thanks to Paul for helping me make my photos larger!

sketchbook

2009-06-14T20:42:00.001-07:00

help me with my summer projects! see previous post.

summer projects

2009-06-09T12:01:00.000-07:00

Now that my assignments are complete... I need more. I'm going to compile a list of summer photo projects. I have some ideas of my own, but I'd love your input! I think there are 3 of you who follow this blog and I love your comments, constructive criticisms and ego boosters... now it's time for you to put on your thinking caps and toss me a project idea. Maybe your idea is to have me photograph YOU! Let me know. Comment below or send me an email. I'm down for just about anything [with my camera].

Mandatory photo...

New Museum

assignment 12 [PROJECT 5]

2009-06-02T18:32:00.000-07:00

PHOTOGRAPH ANYTHING.

I decided to take some simple portraits for my final project using film.

papa

penno

This means my assignments are complete! Stay tuned for my list of summer projects. I will keep updating my sketchbook until then, with more film shots.

sketchbook

2009-05-25T22:20:00.001-07:00

assignment 11 [PROJECT 4]

2009-05-19T21:48:00.000-07:00

Take a picture of the human figure.

I decided to make this more exciting than simply one photo of one person. I wanted to choose something really specific that got me to venture outside of my comfort zone. This is a series of people in their underwear eating their favorite foods. Thank you to all of my wonderfully cooperative models.

cookie dough ice cream

cooler ranch/pb&j

mcdonald's cheeseburger

steak taco

assignment 10

2009-05-12T11:12:00.000-07:00

Recreate 10 of the images from the handout.

These drawings were in a packet I received in my drawing class. My recreations are not exact, but pretty darn close. Sorry this took so long, I've been working on my next project.

Drawings by George Bridgman, Domenichino, Peter Paul Rubens and Michelangelo

assignment 9

2009-04-21T21:57:00.000-07:00

Take 10 pictures of the human figure in 10 different positions.

This assignment was very exciting/scary for me. I don't take a lot of pictures of people. I want to do that more. I just tried to experiment and play a little without thinking too much.
Thank you to everyone who posed for me. If your pictures aren't up here, it's only because I have a lot to learn and came up with a lot of blurry/overexposed pictures that could have looked great if I knew more about what I am doing. If you wanted to pose for me don't fret... I still have more human figure assignments!

In no particular order...

For the full resolution and a few more photos you can visit my flickr.

preview: assignment 9

2009-04-18T22:24:00.000-07:00

John

assignment 8 [PROJECT 3]

2009-04-11T15:00:00.000-07:00

Go outside and do what you just did in #7.

I tried to get a little more abstract.

first

second

assignment 7

2009-04-08T21:17:00.000-07:00

Get abstract. Look at two corners of your apartment in a different way. Reinterpret them in the photos. They do not have to look like anything.

I'm not sure how abstract these are, but they were a little different for me. The first one I took with my Canon, the second I took with my computer. I wanted to get more abstract with the lens I was using. I have no money for film, so I used my built-in iSight.

first

second

sketchbook

2009-04-07T21:57:00.000-07:00

This is my coloring contest submission for my friend's band...

assignment 6 [PROJECT 2]

2009-04-02T22:13:00.000-07:00

The original assignment was to draw something from a photo. I did the opposite. I decided to recreate my favorite painting.

Here's the original:

Galarina

Salvador Dalí

And my take:

Suzarina & Alexarina

Alex took my photo & I took his.

assignment 5

2009-03-30T14:35:00.000-07:00

Get out! Observe! Go to an art museum.

The Whitney: I went to see Artists Making Photographs. It's a small exhibit, but very interesting.

The Met: I visited their online collection database where they keep an archive of their photographs... then I went to find them on the walls. Here are some of my favorites.

Photos by:

William Henry Fox Talbot, Marie-Charles-Isidore Choiselat, Albert Sands Southworth, Louis-Rémy Robert , David Johnson, Nadar, Gustave Le Gray, Édouard Baldus, Roger Fenton, Eugène Cuvelier, Carleton E. Watkins, Alexander Gardner, Timothy O'Sullivan, Thomas Eakins, Edward Steichen, Paul Strand, Charles Sheeler, Andreas Gursky, El Lissitzky

To find out who did what, go here.

To see new photography from people you might not have heard of, go here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

sketchbook

2009-03-29T18:35:00.000-07:00

I think I might start adding photos in between assignments. Here's one.

assignment 4 [PROJECT 1]

2009-03-25T21:48:00.000-07:00

Still life. Take a picture of 3 objects together in an interesting composition.

assignment 3

2009-03-23T22:43:00.000-07:00

Take 10 photos of the same chair in 10 different positions. (I do not have a chair... this is the closest thing to a chair in my apartment. I also did some extra credit and took 20 photos.)

See them on my flickr page.

birthday

2009-03-20T13:43:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday. As a present, leave me some input about my blog! What you think would make it better, what you don't like, what you do like.. or show a friend!

assignment 2

2009-03-16T21:52:00.000-07:00

Define some basic art terms using photos (ie: line, highlight, negative space).

assignment 1

2009-03-12T17:39:00.000-07:00

Take 1 photo inside and 1 photo outside of your apartment. Don't think about it too much.

homework

2009-03-10T10:50:00.000-07:00

After eagerly unveiling my first post on Sunday, I realized I had no idea what to do next. I had some vague plans, but nothing with structure. I decided I would give myself homework. Using the syllabus from a drawing class I took in college, I've created a schedule of assignments that I'll complete over the next month and a half. They cover the basic principles of art, although I'm not sure how to translate some into the photo world. Below is my initial blog syllabus.

1. Take 1 photo inside and 1 photo outside of your apartment. Don't think about it too much.

2. Define some basic art terms using photos (ie: line, highlight, negative space).

3. Take 10 photos of the same chair in 10 different positions. (I need to buy a chair.)

4. [PROJECT 1] Still life. Take a picture of 3 objects together in an interesting composition.

5. Get out! Observe! Go to an art museum.

6. [PROJECT 2] Maybe someone can help me with this. We were supposed to draw pictures from photos... maybe I should take a photo to recreate a drawing? Maybe recreate a photo I see somewhere? Hm. There will be 2 photos for this. Maybe I'll experiment.

7. Get abstract. Look at two corners of your apartment in a different way. Reinterpret them in the photos. They do not have to look like anything.

8. [PROJECT 3] Go outside and do what you just did in #7.

9. Take 10 pictures of the human figure in 10 different positions.

10. Recreate 10 of the images from the handout (pictures of body parts and stuff... it will be clearer down the road).

11. [PROJECT 4] Take a picture of the human figure. (I'll have to make this special... maybe the person will be naked or something...)

12. [PROJECT 5] PHOTOGRAPH ANYTHING.

I promise this is as boring as the posts will get... I just wanted to establish some plans. Since this is a photo blog, I feel like I should post one...

Here's a picture of my notebook with my syllabus in it.

Thanks to Jason Tomme, my drawing teacher.

stand still

2009-03-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

I was working as a poorly paid house manager for an Off-Broadway theater company. To keep me on the staff, they hired me as the House Photographer. I'd never taken photos professionally before. I didn't really know what I was doing. I still don't. Somehow, photography jobs (all unpaid) keep falling into my lap. I want to make myself a better photographer. I will post photos as I work and experiment. Hopefully over time I'll be able to see some progress. Let me know what you think!

On the title...

Paul Schmidt, one of my favorite literary translators, took on the works of Arthur Rimbaud, one of my favorite poets. One line that has always sent my imagination wild was the way he translated a line from Une Saison en Enfer / A Season in Hell.

Rimbaud wrote...

"Ce fut d'abord une étude. J'écrivais des silences, des nuits, je notais l'inexprimable. Je fixais des vertiges."

Schmidt translated...

"I began it as an investigation. I turned silences and nights into words. What was unutterable, I wrote down. I made the whirling world stand still."

It still takes my breath away. It's also how I've always thought of good photography. I hope to someday make the whirling world stand still.