Archive for the 'fashion' Category

Full Steam Ahead!

Published at May 23, 2009 in Art, Artist's Buisness, Artist's Process, Photos, fashion and studioDK Feature. 2 Comments

I made a decision at the beginning of this year that I was going to put my energies to pursuing the process I love most. And shooting is what it is. My critique of photography is as great as my love for it. “What kind of photography am I going to do,” I’m often asked.

I choose to stay away from classifying it cause I just love to shoot. When I first started to take my interest seriously and build my book, it was half fashion and the other reportage. I would show it around to people and the funny thing was that the fashion people really loved my reportage and not my fashion. And the photo-journalists thought my fashion was good and my reportage work, not so good. This lead me to the conclution that they are all full of shit! This absurdity pushed me to taking a break from trying to produce more fashion shoots, which for me fashion just seems for me the most natuaral and only conceavable route to pursue, I just do not have the acedemic nature that I find in most photo-journalist.

During my break I made an effort to improve my illustration skills which I have achieved a moderate success in making a career out of it. My conclusion is that the only way to succeed in a creative field that boarders art is to have deep passion for it. Your love for it is the only well you can draw upon to keep you motivated in doing it through the failures and rejections. And you better love it’s process because it will shape how you live. My love for the process of photography is so powerful that it’s greater than my interest in it’s results. For me the results will always have room for improvement but not a reason to stop. My success are a treat and more importantly the process mobilizes me to change how I live by engaging the world around me.

So after a two year break from producing and shooting a fashion shoot the results are a click on the picture above. And although I took a break, doesn’t mean that I stopped shooting. I always shoot and will continue to.

Scetch Blog #2

Published at January 30, 2008 in Art, fashion and sketch. 1 Comment

girl reading on bed

I am not a photographer!

Published at December 15, 2007 in Art, Artist's Buisness, Film, Words and fashion. 0 Comments

I am not a photographer!

My recent pursuit and attempt to enter the world of professional photography has come to an end. This does not mean that I will put down the camera. It only means that I refuse to continue to endeavor to find a niche in an industry that is over saturated and far too competitive. But even further, I do not have much respect for the medium as an art form. I’ve always thought that photography is for those that can’t draw or don’t want to spend the time to learn.

The only kind of photography that I truly believe is great is journalistic photography. This is because the one thing that photographs do best is capture a moment of a real time and event. The photographers that I’ve had the greatest respect for are the war photographers. And of the war photographers, my favorite is Larry Burrows. When Larry took a picture in the middle of a firefight, he did it with a fully manual, manual focus, range finder Leica.

These days taking a good picture is at it’s easiest. This maybe why there are about 60,000 professional photographers in NYC. My attempt to make it a profession is derivative in my endeavor to become a director. I’ve tried many different things in this pursuit and you can see the results in the galleries of studioDK.org. However, I have never been offered the opportunity. But, many photographers have.

From what I’ve been told, is that I’m a good editor, I’m a good motion graphics artist, I’m a good storyboard artist and even shooter, but no one wants to make the jump and suggest that I’d be a good director. I’ve also been told that I’m a good photographer. The funny thing is, is that with my photography, the fashion people say my reportage is good and the journalists say my fashion is good. This is very frustrating cause, I seem to get all this positive feedback which I believe is genuine, However, no one ever wants to fully acknowledge my skills. It is out of my control.

With all my skills, I have to focus on what is in my control. And because of this I’ve decided that I’ve achieved creating a portfolio of photography that shows that not only do I have an eye for the highest caliber of aesthetic, but also I can carry a story. However, for me to continue to shoot a commercial style of work, I feel I need some financial maneuverability that the industry does not want to give me. And I just don’t have the energy to pursue it, by trying to convince someone who is blind to see all the skills I bring to the table. Given the opportunity I could easily work at the level of todays top photographers. Given the opportunity I’m sure others could as well.

Working as a photographer has more to do with politics than skill. In fact I believe it now takes no skill to shoot a nice picture. Just an aesthetic for it. Point, shoot, look at the screen and if it’s not right, adjust and push the button again.

I am much greater than a photographer….

Adolescent Emancipation

Published at June 29, 2007 in Philosophy and fashion. 0 Comments

Spike

When I was 14, I bought a spike bracelet in a shop on 8th street. This spike bracelet was special. It was different. It’s quality was better than that of the typical spike bracelet. The leather was better and the spikes more distinct. These pyramid spikes peaked higher and where sharper. And through my life, I never saw anyone with the same style spike bracelet. They always had the typical one that was shallow and dulled. You can find those today usually on belts.

I’ve always held on to this bracelet. Although for many years I didn’t where it and actually pact it away in a box stored at my mothers house, I rediscovered it and held on to it in a more accessible place. I would were it and not. And the main reason for not was that I was afraid of losing it. It’s an important object for me. Mainly cause it symbolizes my adolescent emancipation. A time I decided that I would re-invent myself and display a message to the establishment that I was not an easy target that would follow the herds. I have spikes now, so don’t tread on me or you’ll get hurt. More importantly my decent is unique cause these spikes are special. This is not just an adolescent phase.

I’m still the same person I was then. Different, but the core is the same. My values are the same although my approach may be different but I still have the bracelet. In my 30’s I wore this spike bracelet more as a group of friends where buying jewelry from a designer that made pieces with a style and flare of rock N’roll rebel. For me they were just discovering them selves and celebrating their emancipation from the establishment. However, their ability to afford this jewelry was the result of their submission to it. I wore my spike bracelet with pride that it’s value was minute monetarily but much greater in it’s virtue. And because of this weight I was always afraid that I would lose it or lose a spike from it. As I said it’s unique. And can not be replaced.

This last month when I could finally afford it, I had a replica made from it with sterling silvers spikes and a buckle. Dave Pressley (917.771.9557) did a great job. He is a very talented jewelry designer. Although he felt that he made a copy, he did not. His buckle design worked perfect and has added an aristocratic quality to it that creates an irony that enhances the piece.

This new piece has already become very special to me. As I explained to a friend the story of how I had it re-invented because of my sentimental value of the older one. She said, “ this one is now to symbolize your arrival” And she is right!

Garage Punk

Published at June 4, 2007 in Celebrity, Music, New York and fashion. 0 Comments

Photographed rock’n'roll shows always look the same to me, so this is how I do it!

Punkrock blog icon
click here for photomontage

Rock’n'Roll will never die and these guys helped keep it alive. Once again Michael H and his buddy’s and band Andy Hilfiger and Scott Lipps, New York Dolls Guitarist Steve Conte and bassist Sami Yaffa playing the classics of garage punk and helped me get out of my work funk.

Rock’N'Roll Couture

Published at May 1, 2007 in Celebrity, Culture, Music and fashion. 1 Comment

Michael H DeHoghton_Apr07
click hear for photomontage

Last night I attended my friend Michael H’s launch party for his new premium denim brand DeHoghton. He asked me to take pictures. His usual motley crew was there. With the likes of Tommy and Andy Hilfiger who are his good friends/brothers from his childhood growing up in Elmira New York. Michael is all about rock’n'roll and his clothes wicked cool.

Vanina Sorrenti with child April 07

As I walked home, I ran into Vanina with her new born of 5 months. We spoke for some time. We talked about what we were recently up to. She asked,” Are you an Aquarius?” I replyed,”Why do you ask?” She said,”…well you always have a whole bunch of stuff your doing… you just don’t do one thing. Most Aquarius’s I know are Art Directors cause they alway have their hands in many projects.”

I think she might have an a good insight as to what kind of employment I should seek. Hmmmmm.

This is her baby peacefully asleep.
vanina’s baby

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