This is what develops (other than a new friendship) when you meet a stranger and his 35mm Leica in Union Square to take part in his photo project...portraits of strangers photographed during a conversation.


(c) 2008 glideonfade.com

I found it only appropriate that afterwards I turned the camera on him.


Meet Dave

Pretty much have the job with Luciana. Training will commence part-time this week...I will be taking over as full-time Studio Manager in three weeks.

Thanks for the badass reference Jake Armour!

Now let's just see how capable I am of leaving the flexibility and unpredictability of freelance and once again living the dreadful full-time lifestyle.

All Points West

All Points West 3 day "green" music and arts festival at Liberty State Park August 8, 9 10. Tickets go on sale February 29th at noon!

Just interviewed for a position with Luciana Pampalone.

Went fantastic. The position is for a studio manager/office assistant, will include light retouching and assisting as well. It is paid, full-time, and has the potential to open so many doors. Luciana and her current assistant are so wonderful and would be such a pleasure to work with. Great vibes all around. Hopes are high that they feel the same way about me.

Funny story...while looking through her books, I noticed a shot she had done for Zink. Which led to me mentioning Richard Gary, one of my favorite product photographers, how much I love the work he has done for Zink and how cool it would be to work with him. Well...it turns out they are buds...go figure! She even called him up so I could meet him over the phone. CRAZY.

Yet another reason to believe that whatever you want for yourself is there for the taking...at least in New York City.


"Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Summation of the past few days:

Gray Scott: Graphic, and simple set. Beautiful lighting as always. Totally rad seeing him in action, as was expected...although I found that he is a very pompous man, which was not so expected.

Raya: French Fashion Photographer. Elaborate, moody set. Great chemistry, everyone involved was fantastic...despite the slight language barriers. Very cultured set...a few Parisian, one German, one Argentinian, and one Israeli.

Antibes, small French restaurant owned by a young 25 yr old man from Tel Aviv, catered a fantastic spread complete with bagels, muffins, cheeses and fresh fruits for breakfast; and salmon, chicken penne, potatoe puree, and green beans for lunch. Some of the best food I have ever had on a photo shoot. Quite the change from the greasy pizza on the Gary Scott shoot.

Taking my chances on a non-paid job led to working with a brilliant set designer, seeing one of my fav photographers at work, a few new assistant friends, and set construction experience to add to my already resume.

Set for Raya...

Climbing to the top...quite literally.

Due to Presidents Day, the elevator operator for the building we are currently working in was missing in action.

I conquered (barely) this nine story flight of stairs four times yesterday...one of those times with a drill in one hand and five coffees in the other.

So, this week I have been responding to craigslist like a mad woman. Too bad the majority of the photography related listings are "internships" aka non-paid. But sometimes, it actually pays off...

Tomorrow morning, and over the next couple of days, I will be working with prop and set stylist Brian LeBrecque. Well, it turns out the set we will be styling just so happens to be for an editorial which one of my favorite fashion photographers of all time, Gray Scott, will be shooting.

I have admired Gray's brilliant fashion editorial work for a while now, and am psyched to be able to see a shoot of his come together first hand. Not to mention have the opportunity to meet Gray in person. Do I hear some serious networking taking place? I think so!

One of Gray's many brilliantly whimsical images...


"Be an opener of doors for such as come after thee." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The other day I decided to go into Manhatten to seek out some new audio gear for my bedroom. For the first time I had quite the uneasy feeling about being on the subway. I took the V home and at 53rd and Lexington the train came to a very irregular stop. Apparently we hit a jumper.

It didn't appear to be too serious though. He was alive on the stretcher and he didn't look like this...

For your viewing pleasure...

A few select pics over the course of Fashion Week...



Jackie Rogers...

James Coviello...

BCBG...


Betsy Johnson...

Miss Sixty...

Zac Posen...

Project Runway...



ps: Christian totally rocked and is so gonna win.



View my flickr for way more!

Fashion Week is over, and I need a nap!

Aight mpls kiddies...for those who have been asking, here is your fashion week update:

Welcome to the tents!

Lobby...

Totally awesome experience. Went into it on cloud 9 and stayed put for about 4 days until exhaustion set in. For name dropping purposes, the crew consisted of myself, Jennifer the main photographer aka boss lady, Kristie, Argenis, Scott (all shooters), Laura and Craig who were stuck photo editing at the apt the whole time, and Maddie the other intern (cute little blondie from the netherlands)...

Since I am updating days after Fashion Week ended, I will have to spare details because frankly I don't recall them, but will gladly give you the larger scope of the way things went.

Most days went very quickly from fast paced to slow paced and back to fast paced again within a matter of hours. We survived on a diet of leftover mini Pop burgers and Bawls. Most of my time was spent in the back of the tents either standing guard over the gear, chillin with securtiy, keeping Scott company as he covered the celebs in and out of the W lounge...

or hangin with my new super awesome LA buddy, Vijat...

There was always plenty to keep my eyes occupied back there, including a very plump makeup artist who was awarded the name "fat hair and make-up" by Madeleine. Seriously this lady has to weigh a few bills and seemed to do nothing but scavenge for leftover food from backstage. It was kinda gross. Maddie just linked me to this video of her. Probably the first time I have seen her without food in her mouth.

I admit, the first day I was there I became a bit starstruck, but that quickly faded to me wanting to vomit whenever another celeb walked by and the flashes poured out of the cameras. I realized very quickly how much they are just like you and me...only they have money and cameras tailing their behinds. Some faces at the tents...Chloe Sevigny, Sigourney Weaver, Laura Bush, Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks, Brittany Murphy, Ellen Pompeo, Ashley Olson, Posh, Eva Longoria, Zac Posen, Michael Kors, Cojo, and Betsey Johnson...to name a few.

Myself and Jennifer went offsite for a day across the street to the Bryant Park Hotel where we photographed Chloe Sevigny for a Samsonite Luggage campaign. It provided a nice break in the week. An aerial view of Bryant Park from the hotel room...

From time to time, I had to plant myself at the end of the runway to save a spot in a pit with what seemed like 21376 other photographers...

It wasn't nearly as bad as Jennifer made it sound. Yes, other photogs can be total bitches in order to keep a spot, which means at times I had to be bitch myself...but I had no problem with that. I was told early on to make friends with this video dude named Richard aka Totally Cool) who looks like a totally cracked out Aerosmith. And I'm glad I did because he is a rad guy and he totally helped me out in a few situations.

I really didn't mind holding spots, mainly because when my job was done I was able to hang and watch the shows from the sidelines. A few I was able to see...

Jackie Rogers
BCBG Maxazria
Baby Phat
Rock and Republic
James Coviello
Miss Sixty (checked out backstage for this as well)
Betsey Johnson
Zac Posen
Carmen Marc Valvo
Project Runway

And what I didn't see in person I was able to go home and watch on Full Frontal Fashion, channel 25.

The week ended with dinner and drinks with the crew at a cute little Thai place. Followed by days of feeling mentally drained and physically exhausted in every way.

I went into the whole thing not being sure what to expect. It was a bit different than what I had envisioned, but I still had a blast, and I am so glad I did it. I came out of it now knowing exactly what it is like behind the scenes and behind the cameras, something I have always been curious about, and something not a helluva lot of people can say. And of course, I came out of it with some fab new friends, new insights, and 10 lbs lighter...so all-in-all, a highly rated experience. And hopefully when September comes around, I will be invited to take part in it all over again :)

"What we seek we shall find; what we flee from flees from us. " - Ralph Waldo Emerson