Model Citizen - Max

It's that time of week again. Another Model Citizen has gone up on the OUT.COM website. Please go check it out, make comments or send your friends. It's a project with them I want to continue, so go and support it. Also, Max is incredibly dreamy. A dreamboat even. I've gotten in trouble before for calling someone a dreamboat... isn't that kind of ridiculous?

MODEL CITIZEN MAX

Oh and Max is with Basic Models.

say nothing.

today was a really good day.

take a chance.

I always say it, but I love on this blog that I can show all different versions of photographs from various shoots. On my website, in my portfolio book, and even in shows - it's usually just the one image from a shoot that I end up showing. I really need to shoot Josh again.... while I don't shoot people numerous times unless they are someone I am very close with, sometimes someone hits a nerve with me. Where I feel unfinished and a need to cultivate and accumulate more images of someone. I know it's weird to phrase it that way, but as I've stated that's how photography is for me. A cultivation of a relationship. I love the color palette in this image... not that it's much different than the usual colors I'm drawn to, it seems to work especially well here.



Dan Dan Dan. Dan Felton how I wish you lived in New York. He is a model who has gained a lot of momentum and visibility, who I shot before anyone knew who he was. There has been a few like him in the last few years. Just like celebrities and musicians, I like when I get to someone before they really become something grander. It makes the time spent a little bit more special I think. Also, dan is probably one of the nicest guys I've ever met... which I know I've said before. Really though, he is just an awesome guy and is very funny. I love the shot on the right by the way.



Finally we have Graydon. Oh how I have been such a shitty friend to him, but not on purpose at all. Life has been so busy and our schedules just have not meshed. I love this kid to death though. He has an aura to him that just makes me smile. In my more recent work I've really been playing with how I use natural light. When I use actual lighting I mostly use soft-boxes because of how they mimic that of natural light. I think that Graydon's pose here and how his hands are placed just work so perfectly. I'm one of those people that really concentrates on the small details of body stance and things of that nature. I don't like when my images look completely posed or unnatural. It's just not my thing.

p.s. I think V is going to be pretty incredible. While I'm not a fan of how they are only doing 4 episodes and then re-visiting the show in the spring. I think its a poor move on ABC's part as things of that nature never really go well, and the show usually gets cancelled. At least the majority of the time.

p.p.s. I'm doing a guest lecture on Thursday at Parsons and I'm a little nervous about it. It's been awhile since I've talked about my work in that setting. It will be good prep though since I'm doing another lecture at SUNY New Paltz next week. I'm really hoping by either next semester or next year I will be teaching a class or two. I think my perspective on photography, sexuality, and the role of photography is new and interesting. At least that's what I tell myself.

SLEEPYTIME

- IMPORTANT - So, this is a little incentive for me to get feedback on things I post, questions and critique. I want this blog to be more of a collective effort in order to facilitate more interesting and thought provoking posts - The first person to make 25 comments, on 25 different posts will get a free print from me of my choosing.

sheer exhaustion.

I don't know what it has been with the last few weeks, but I am completely exhausted. Emotionally and physically. i've been having a hard time getting my spirits up and my body to follow. I think that's also why I've been slightly less diligent with blog-land. ANYWAYS. So I haven't posted a picture of Chet (James) in a very long time. I also haven't seen him in quite some time. As sad as it is, I only know this through facebook, but he is moving out of new york this coming weekend. I had some damn good times with this kid. Drinks, coffee, hangouts, partying, photo shoots. Everything. I remember on this day we snuck into some lot that was under construction in my neighborhood. The area was littered with needles, used condoms and other assorted grossness. He is one of those people who just doesn't give a damn and we made the best of it anyway. James, if you are reading this I miss your face. A whole lot.



Yet another person I have not seen since my photo session with him. I think this was in like 2007 or so. Colin had that sexy bod though that I couldn't resist and needed to photograph back when all I wanted to do was photograph scantily clad boys. Now, not so much. While I do enjoy it every once in awhile. My intentions and inspirations have definitely shifted since then. One thing that hasn't however, is my need to connect. Every subject for me is like a mini-therapy session or something of that nature. I latch on in any way I can to pull out some sort of emotional connection. Even if it's something as small as a slight grin or a hug at an end of a session, in some way, it makes me feel complete. I always feel slightly odd when I talk about stuff like this because it really is intensely personal. While not necessarily visually pronounced in my images, it is 100% part of my process. Like today for instance, I was on a job and something just clicked with that woman I was photographing. I wanted to know her life story in the half hour I had with her. In the end, we parted ways with a hug, and it just put a smile on my face. Makes what I do that much more worthwhile.

Rambling I know.

p.s. A Serious Man was probably one of my, I don't know top 10 movies of all time. Maybe that will change a few weeks from now after it settles in a bit more and I can really examine that statement. However, the movie is absolutely incredible and if you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and go to theater. It's incredible.

p.p.s. Shooting for a new client in the am tomorrow. This is one I've wanted to work for since I knew I wanted to do editorial work, so I'm looking forward to it. I'll let you all know how it goes.

night.

cutest boy ever.

Oh little greg how you are too cute. I ran into him on the train today and it made my day.

where did these come from.

So so so so. I photographed Owen Pallett last week, and he is one of my favorite people ever. I can't officially show any of the photographs yet, as they are being used for publicity and what not, but this is a complete out-take so I'm going to put it up here because I ended up really liking it. I have two RZ cameras. My original and my new one I purchased a few months back while the old one was in the shop. The old camera still gets stuck on the last frame every once and awhile and won't wind until I pull the shutter again. SO, knowing that now, sometimes I try and make it work, at least just for fun. Thus, we arrived at this image of Owen that I surprisingly enjoy despite it not looking like my work at all. Owen is awesome, and if you don't know about Final Fantasy and all the other things he does, you should learn about it. That's what the internet is for.



As I stated before, it's major organizing time as I'm getting things together to revamp my portfolio and start the transition to agency land and having someone else have images of mine on file as well. I'm kind of working from both sides and meeting at the middle (early work and new work and just working back and forward). I know it makes no sense but its just how I'm doing it. I really enjoy these out-takes from the Tiny Masters shoot. As much as I don't like being in the studio per-say I do really enjoy what I do in it sometimes. And speaking of studio......



Another piece from my Memento series. Phallus palace? It's actually another kaleidoscope but I'm not an idiot and I do know it looks like a dildo in some carnation or another. Which is fine by me. It's really wonderful seeing these objects as almost mini monuments to my past. They become as important as they should be instead of just in boxes in storage. It will be sad to see them all leave me eventually but it needs to happen. I'll have the photographs to hold on to. As with a lot of my life, that's kind of all I end up with besides memories. I'm fine with that.

Work wise, I have two new clients that I'm shooting for next week that I'm rather excited about. One which is a magazine I've wanted to work with for awhile so I'm glad it has finally come to fruition. Other than that, still playing catch up for some reason. Maybe I'm just a procrastinator when it comes to things I'm really not looking forward to doing anyway.

p.s. The new Tegan and Sara record is pretty sweet. I do have to say.

what a crazy time.

So life has been ridiculously hectic and at the same time, mostly a transition. While I haven't been shooting that much for work the last few weeks, I have been shooting for myself and re-working my portfolio, personal work and getting things together for Glasshouse. I'm really excited for this new step in my career, and working with someone else for my professional work has been something I've been looking forward to for the last year or so. Doing everything on your own can grow quite tiresome and the actual time spent shooting becomes less enjoyable. During this re-evaluation I've been going through old shoots, work and personal, seeing if there is anything I've missed along the way. I found this photo of James that I really love. He is moving to New York permanently this January I believe. James makes me smile. I wish when he was here this summer I saw him more, but we were both very busy with completely conflicting schedules. The light was so beautiful this day.



Then I found this gem of my lady friend Haddix. I have not seen her in quite some time. I think I shot this back in 2006 or so. I had some really great time with this girl. Time gets away from us sometimes I guess.

I was away this weekend AGAIN. Upstate this time for another wedding, another wedding which I photographed. When it's friends I have a really hard time saying no even if it's something I'm not so excited to be doing. It's nice to be involved in someone's special day though, so I can't complain that much. I came back Sunday morning and was pretty much comatose for most of the day.

I will have some new exciting images to show tomorrow!

I do need my slumbers though at the moment, have an early start tomorrow.

Any new avid readers out there? I know people feel weird commenting on blogs sometimes, but I always like to know who people are.

Glasshouse Assignment.

It is with great pleasure to announce my signing with Glasshouse Assignment. Over the next few weeks my website is going to be reworked a bit, and I will be added to Glasshouse site. For now, please check the link below for more information at the Glasshouse blog.

STONE THROWER BLOG

I'm gonna stick it in your eye.

As a photographer, I probably should be more careful with my eyes. Yet, somehow I seem to scratch my cornea once a year. It just so happens I did it yesterday. I haven't worn glasses in quite some time because Trina ate them over a year ago when I first got her. Thus, the day was spent getting new frames and a prescription in order to be able to see this evening for my opening. It was very nice, with lots of faces I haven't seen in quite some time. So, thanks to everyone who came. And if I missed you, sorry I left early. And if you don't come, you missed out.

always playing catch up.

Well. First off, let me apologize again for my absence in blog land. I know I haven't been as diligent as I usually am about updating. Anyway, lets get to the meaty stuff, photos. I've had a recent falling out with Christopher and it makes me sad. I know I don't delve to deep into my personal life, but I am very open about it. I care about Christopher tremendously but our relationship needs some reworking and need some time away from hanging out with each other. Things just weren't working. However, I am not one to just forgot about people in my life just because of circumstances that may occur. I also really love this photograph of him.... I worked on old photographs of him because it made things a little easier for me.



So sometimes I do shoots where film is just not an option for the final product. While I try and steer away from that as much as possible, sometimes it's just the way the cookie crumbles. Yet, even in these cases I still take some film photographs for myself for consistency with the rest of my work. I took this one during the fashion shoot I did with The Tiny Masters of Today and really love it. The earrings are fantastic.



Another model citizen is up, well because a week has passed and a new one goes up every week. Not that it's a surprise. But I like to directly link to it on here. This week we get Danny from Q Models. There was something very innocent about him and sweet. Check out the video and full photo gallery at the link below.

MODEL CITIZEN DANNY



So during my time out on the farm sanctuary a few weeks ago, I also photographed Ginnifer's boyfriend. Joey Kern. Joey is an awesome awesome dude. I was totally enamored by him in Cabin Fever, one of my all time favorite movies. I wish I could do all my shoots in forests and fields and beaches. Nature is my perfect and favorite backdrop. Especially when there are trees because you can do so many wonderful things with just natural light. Anyway, I think there is something really timeless about this photo of him. I hope to maybe do some studio stuff with him and ginnifer the next time they are in new york.



Well, you all know I love the photographs I've taken of Josh so I wont even blab about it because it's pointless. But some quick points

- As I said a few posts ago I have an opening at Randall Scott tomorrow night from 6-9. You should totally come if you live in NYC or Brooklyn. There are some really great people involved from Richard Renaldi to Clayton Cotterell who is an alumni of SVA the year after me.

- My big news can't be officially released yet BUT I will say I am going to be announcing my move to being with an agency. I will make the formal announcement in a few days or so.

- Photographing Owen Pallett on Monday was awesome. He's one of my favorite people ever and I'm really excited for the release of his new album. His music is wonderful.

- I'm traveling again, close to home this time, but will be gone upstate for this weekend and then the following weekend I will be in San Francisco for Halloween.

- I just got The Guardian Guide in the mail, because they used one of my images of James Ransone. It was nice to see it printed as it hasn't been before.

- I can't stop playing Borderlands. It's the best game I've bought this year by far.

- The Stepfather was the worst movie I have seen this year or rather, in the last few years.