thewildyears

Switching to Tumblr

2010-12-13T12:55:00.000-08:00

I am changing to a blog on Tumblr. Pls feel free to follow me there!

New Kodak 400 Color Film

2010-12-12T17:33:00.000-08:00

I have loved Kodak film since I began shooting. The colors, grain, ability to push and pull in processing, the sensitivity to slight changes in light....the list goes on and on.
I was lucky enough to test the new Kodak 400 Color film before it came out a few months ago and it is quite an amazing thing. The grain is incredibly fine, so much so that the image really feels digital in terms of clarity, detail and crispness while still allowing for the joy real film provides. It's the first film I've found to integrate the best of both worlds.
Whenever I want to shoot gorgeous fine grain images, this is the film I use.

Selling Prints for the Holidays!

2010-11-27T12:29:00.000-08:00

I recently discovered a stack of portfolio pages from past books that are truly gorgeous prints and I am selling them for special holiday gifts this season. Each is hand printed by me on Innova Duo or Hahnemühle Watercolor paper and each print has two images: one on each side.
The pages are 11 by 17 inches and span the last two years of shooting. You will receive a random selection, the images could be of anything from flowers to a celebrity to a portrait to a still life. They will all be signed by me.
Each page will sell for $45, which includes shipping and there is a limited supply. If you like to purchase one or have any questions, pls email me at chloe@chloeaftel.com.

Nice

2010-11-15T16:41:00.000-08:00

Clam Magazine did a little piece on me (hopefully I don't sound like a douche)!

Pretty Little Thieves

2010-10-21T17:12:00.000-07:00

I found Nancy Mungcal's work a while back and finally got my first piece from her! How awesome is this?

Anna Godbersen

2010-10-21T16:19:00.000-07:00

I've know author Anna Godbersen since high school and watched her incredible rise as an writer of young adult books. When she asked me to shoot her author photo for her new series, I was honored (and excited, as she is a really beautiful lady)! This was an outtake, but one of my favorites, from the day.

Arta

2010-10-21T15:51:00.000-07:00

I am having a show! A selection of my nature shots be on display at the G2 Gallery in Los Angeles and I will be at the closing party on December 5th: long live Arta!

Spectra PZ Polaroid Giveaway Winners: Gerald Chors, Toby Hancock & Chinako Miyamoto (#7)

2010-10-16T04:54:00.000-07:00

I am excited to announce this week's winner: Gerald Chors, Toby Hancock & Chinako Miyamoto. They all submitted such beautiful and different pieces, it made it impossible to choose.

These giveaways have been such a pleasure, thank you to everyone who submitted and hopefully there will be more chances to see your work, and more free film, in the future.

The Final Polaroid Giveaway! (#7)

2010-09-30T07:40:00.000-07:00

Alas, I have reached my final giveaway of Impossible Film, and the final item is 2 packs of the gorgeous Spectra PZ film. Pls send one of your Polaroid images that uses the film to the image's best advantage to studio@chloeaftel.com by 10/8/10. I can't wait to see what image wins our last competition!

PX-70 Color Polaroid Giveaway Winners: Catherine Buca, Pete Carr & Barbara Ruiz (#6)

2010-09-27T17:47:00.000-07:00

We have three winners for the giveaway this week! Catherine Buca, Pete Carr & Barbara Ruiz each get a pack of the amazing new Impossible Project PX-70 Color Film. This is such a treat to work with; I cannot wait to see what they shoot!

Thank you for all the submissions and congrats to the winners.

Polaroid Giveaway! (#6)

2010-09-17T11:50:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe it, but I get to give away another pack of the amazing Impossible Project PX-70 Color film. Each winner, there will be 3, gets 1 pack of this gorgeous film.

The rules are the same, email your best Polaroid photo, one that really uses the medium to create the image, to studio@chloeaftel.com by 9/24/10.

Good luck!

Spectra Softtone Giveaway Winner: Steve Maniscalco (#5)

2010-09-17T11:40:00.000-07:00

This week, one day before the contest closed, I got this in my inbox, from Steve Maniscalco. I knew this was the it, it met every guideline of the giveaway perfectly.

He will get 2 packs of Impossible Project Spectra Softtone film!

Congrats Steve and thanks to everyone who submitted.

Simple is Better

2010-09-14T07:23:00.000-07:00

Lovely Bloodflow from BATHS on Vimeo.

I shot Baths for XLR8R a while back and he mentioned a video Young Replicant was making for him. It sounded good, but the video is really amazing, these two guys are incredibly talented. Not only is the song actually great, but the video fits it perfectly while maintaining it's own visual world.
I'm excited to see what are three guys do next!

Polaroid Giveaway! (#5)

2010-09-10T08:18:00.000-07:00

I can't tell you how much I love this film; Impossible Project's Softtone Specra Film is nothing short of incredible, it can make any photo into a hazy, gorgeous world.

The rules are the same: pls email your favorite Polaroid shot to studio@chloeaftel.com. Pls submit only ONE shot and be sure to send it by 9/17/2010.

The winner will get 2 packs of Impossible Project Softtone Spectra Film, I personally buy it all the time.

I can't wait to see all your wonderful images!

PX 70 Color FF Giveaway Winners: Jeffrey Nachtigall, Melanie Rodriguez &Tanja Tiziana (#4)

2010-09-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to announce the winners for this week: Jeffrey Nachtigall, Melanie Rodriguez & Tanja Tiziana (in alphabetical order above)!

Each one will receive a single pack of the amazing new Impossible Project PX 70 Film. I love this film, it's a real joy to discover all it can do.

Congrats to our winners and thanks to everyone who submitted. More film to come....

Spectra PZ Giveaway Winners: Dan Meade, Leah Reich & Sheila Wagner (#3)

2010-08-30T17:16:00.000-07:00

I never thought we'd have a 3-way tie, but the incredible submissions for this week's Impossible Project Spectra PZ film giveaway have proven otherwise.

The winners are: Dan Meade, Leah Reich & Sheila Wagner, whose images are in order above. Dan's colors from expired time-zero film, Leah's gorgeous double-exposure in camera and Sheila's ethereal use of light made it impossible to choose.

Congrats to them and thanks to everyone who submitted.

Polaroid Giveaway! (#4)

2010-08-30T08:08:00.000-07:00

This week I am lucky enough to be giving ONE pack of the incredible new Impossible Project Color Film to THREE lucky photographers! Pls email ONE image taken on any kind of Polaroid film to studio@chloeaftel.com. Contest ends 9/3/10.

Polaroid Giveaway! (#3)

2010-08-13T08:51:00.000-07:00

This week I am so lucky, I get to giveaway the new and amazing Spectra Black & White Polaroid. I have used this film and it is unpredictable and gorgeous!

Pls send your entry to studio@chloeaftel.com. The winner will receive 2 packs of this film and a print from my site of his/her choosing.

Pls send images taken on ANY kind of Polaroid film wherein the Polaroid film itself plays a role in the effect/impact of the image.

Artistic TZ Giveaway Winner: Jon Duenas (#2)

2010-08-13T08:43:00.000-07:00

I received many, many amazing images for this giveaway and it was hard to choose the one that best used Polaroid to enhance it's visuals.

I am happy to announce Jon Duenas as this weeks winner, whose image is above. He is also on Flickr.

What a beautiful image! Congrats Jon!

The Children

2010-08-05T15:48:00.000-07:00

Shooting kids is the best; they don't care about what you want them to do at all. I was specing a bunch of shoots involving kids and food, and this little girl in the photo above, whom I've shot before and totally adore, was dressed as a rabbit. She came up to me as I was telling her what to do and said "Chloe, I know how to pose," hurtled herself up the hill and on to this rock, then gave me this. Totally amazing.

Polaroid Giveaway! (#2)

2010-07-30T07:25:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite films, this week I'll be giving away two packs of Impossible Project Artistic TZ Polaroid film! The rules are the same: Pls send ONE image shot on ANY type of Polaroid film that showcases the qualities of the film. Pls send your submission to studio@chloeaftel.com. All entries are due by August 6th, 2010.

I can't wait to see the new images!

Fade-To-Black Giveaway Winner: Melanie Rodriguez (#1)

2010-07-30T07:16:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to announce the first winner of the Impossible Polaroid Giveaway: Melanie Rodriguez. She submitted the above image, which showed a wonderful use of Polaroid, from the hazy pink hue to the vignetting. Two packs of amazing Fade-To-Black film are on the way to her in Paris!

Karen Elson Shoot

2010-07-22T19:14:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to shoot a portrait of Karen Elson for the latest issue of Flaunt. Suffice to say, it was one of my favorite shoots ever.

The Greatest #4: Non-Photo - Julian Callos

2010-07-16T18:26:00.000-07:00

I fell in love with the work of Julian Callos the moment I saw it: emotional, unpredictable and unrelentingly imaginative. I immediately emailed him to ask if I could commission an original piece. He just sent me the final image; I am over the moon:

The Greatest #5: Non-Photo - Hiroshige

2010-07-16T16:52:00.000-07:00

I went to the Norton Simon Museum in LA a few weeks ago and saw this increcible show of Hiroshige's work. His slow fades from light to dark colors are wonderfully well done and exciting. The show is still up!

Polaroid Giveaway!

2010-07-15T19:55:00.000-07:00

I am excited to announce a giveaway with The Impossible Project.

This contest will happen every other week for 20 weeks (10 giveaways); one week to collect images and the following week for me to decide on a winner. The film will change giveaway to giveaway, but this one is for two boxes of Fade-to-Black film and a 5x7 print of your choosing from my site.

I really love this film, the greens and yellows are gorgeous and take the image in an unexpected direction. The film will keep processing until it is black, so be sure to have a scanner on hand.

The point of this is to showcase new talent and encourage experimentation with this amazing film.

As well, I'm sure I'll work out a few kinks, but for now the rules are as follows: pls send me (studio@chloeaftel.com) any images that showcase how you work with Polaroid film (it can be 600, peel-apart, time-zero, etc). By this I mean images that employ double exposure in camera with Spectra, use the color palette of Artistic TZ to create a mood, positives stripped off the white plastic, etc. Basically anything in which the film actually plays a role in the image.

Deadline for entries is July 30th, 2010. A winner will announced on August 6th, 2010.

The Greatest #16: Horacio Salinas

2010-07-12T07:51:00.000-07:00

I was thrilled to discover the work of Horacio Salinas; playful, totally unexpected and always a bit luxurious. I can only hope to see more.

Specing

2010-07-12T07:44:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy month. I felt I should spec work I don't clearly have and so I have been cramming those shoots in with regular work. It's quite fun as I shoot it all, but also come up with the concepts to sell each product. The next one is groups, lots of people reacting to one another. Wish me luck.

The Greatest #15: Ellen Rogers

2010-07-11T10:39:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon Ellen Roger's work the other day and was floored. She mixes her own chemicals and does her own printing, but more importantly, her work employs old-time photo processes but it is fresh, exciting, unpredictable and modern. She is nothing short of truly remarkable.

Video #2

2010-06-26T15:22:00.000-07:00

Without a doubt, one of the greatest music videos of all time. The Chris Cunningham/Aphex Twin collaborations are so good it pains me:

Wired Story Up!

2010-06-25T14:18:00.000-07:00

May was an awesome month, I shot for Wired and Dazed & Confused. The piece for Wired is up now, we were allowed to shoot scientist Healy Hamilton IN the Rainforest Bio Dome in the Cal Academy of Sciences. There were butterflies darting around, an incredible variety of fishes swimming below us and one very friendly turtle; it was wonderful.

Video #1

2010-06-23T08:50:00.000-07:00

I am doing more motion work and have been watching a lot of music videos and films. One of my all time favorites is the following:

New Tab on Blog

2010-06-21T15:18:00.000-07:00

I have added a new page to my blog, it's a somewhat regular account of pages from my journal; planning for shoots, random Polaroids and the like. I hope you enjoy!

BonjourPola

2010-06-21T08:08:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to have an image of mine posted on a lovely site, BonjourPola. They feature a different image every day, taken by pros and amateurs, which are endless sources to draw from.

The Greatest #14: Saul Leiter

2010-06-10T14:22:00.000-07:00

Saul Leiter does incredible color work, evolving from more muted to very lucid tones, all the while, keeping the story in mind. His placement of people, use of movement and ability to capture such evocative scenes in what he sees everyday is unlike anyone else.

The Greatest #3: Non-Photo - Jean Giraud

2010-06-09T09:30:00.001-07:00

I bought a Jimmy Hendrix album, Voodoo Soup, and liked the cover art, which I found was by Jean Giraud. This guy is amazing, he also is tremendously versatile; it's worth trolling around the web to see a smattering of his work.

Small Magazine

2010-06-05T08:02:00.000-07:00

I love shooting kids, but it seems a real rarity to find a magazine wherein a kids wear fashion spread is treated with equal amounts of levity and seriousness, so when I saw Small Magazine, I emailed them right away saying I'd like to shoot for them. And I was lucky enough to hear back! The result was one of the spreads I am most proud of. They allowed me total creative freedom, I shot all kinds of Impossible Project Polaroid, from Artistic TZ to 600 to Fade to Black and more. It was such a joy!

The Greatest #13: Dorothy Hong

2010-06-01T08:10:00.000-07:00

I have been on fire finding new photogs I love. I just discovered Dorothy Hong's work, and she is wonderful. While being very hip, her work moves beyond just shooting cool looking people: her use of natural light is inspiring and she seems to create an interesting dynamic with her subjects - they seem totally unintimidated by her camera.

The Greatest #12: Eddie Adams

2010-06-01T07:40:00.001-07:00

I have admired Eddie Adams work since high school. Everything else to say about him sounds douche-y, so I'd just check out his work.

Ban.do

2010-05-30T20:32:00.000-07:00

When I was shooting for Ban.do, I was lucky enough to get to do two shoots on 4x5 Polaroid, which is such a gorgeous format. And now, some of the images are ready to go live. I don't think this film will be made again, so there's much to enjoy with the packs I have left!

Having Fun

2010-05-28T14:27:00.000-07:00

It's really easy to get overtaken with work work, but yesterday this gorgeous 12-year-old girl I'd wanted to shoot with was in town to meet with her agency and had some free time. It was such a joy to work with her, to just have fun and experiment.
I love Chadwick Tyler's work and decided to try my hand.
Having the Fade-to-Black Polaroid helps.

The Greatest #11: Julia Soler

2010-05-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon Julia Solar's work the other day and fell in love. She shoots both clean and impressionistically; her style is tremendously varied yet evocative and effective. It's exciting and actually inspiring to spend time examining all the chances she takes visually.
She has this lovely other project.

10 Days To Go

2010-05-14T15:10:00.000-07:00

Waiting is really hard.
This is Djuna, on our flight back from Nashville, our cover story shot there comes out June 1st, as do a few other shoots I am quite fond of.
It's so close....

Forthcoming Holiday Card

2010-05-13T11:47:00.000-07:00

Finally, this year I got my holiday card done early. A long-time goal. I was lucky enough to work with one of my favorite models, Helena, who is always an incredible pleasure.
This was shot with Impossible Project's Fade-To-Black film, which is such a gorgeous, unexpected film. The card itself was shot with 4x5 film, which I'll post once the season arrives.

The Greatest #10: Brian McCarty

2010-04-29T13:31:00.000-07:00

Brian McCarty is a breath of fresh air; he is the best toy shooter I've ever seen. His photos are funny, original, inventive and, most importantly, they feel alive. What an incredible talent.

Glasser

2010-04-29T10:17:00.000-07:00

I heard Glasser's first few tracks almost two years ago and fell in love. She has amazing stage costumes and collaborating with her is a true pleasure. She is really invested in doing something artistic and has no problem taking chances. Her EP is coming out (for which I was lucky enough to shoot the cover) and I greatly look forward to her new work.

Friends

2010-04-26T09:31:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite models is Ann, who has no professional experience. She is a scientist at a UC Berkeley Lab and I have known her since I was 13. Recently, we went for a boat ride that never got out of the docks, so we went for a walk down by the bay and did some off-the-cuff shooting. I strongly believe one should shoot his/her friends, it always yields the most exciting, emotive results without trying to.

A Walk in the Park

2010-04-10T11:09:00.000-07:00

A friend asked me to do a beauty test when I was in NYC and I was lucky enough to work with Mariana from Click, who is totally lovely in every way. She was the face biting a finger in the Tom Ford sunglasses ads (and the crotch for his fragrance).
And what a find in our hair and make-up artist, Jacqueline Cookson, who is incredible. She does a great job making models look their best but not over done. And she is a hoot!

The New Polaroid

2010-04-09T19:52:00.000-07:00

When I was in New York, I stopped by the new Impossible Project offices, which are fantastically illuminated with huge windows and house a lovely gallery space!
They had some of the new Polaroid Instant 600 film which I bought for an upcoming shoot and it is awesome. So beautiful and textured, with reds and browns and it erodes over time, giving the images a very unexpected quality.
I love it.

Travels

2010-04-09T18:57:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to go straight from New York to a double-header shoot in Nashville, TN.
The city rules, we had such a great time, ate the best biscuits and shot wonderful subjects.
It was some of the best 48 hours I've had.
This is Djuna and Rory standing in for various shots done with expired Polaroid films.

MOPLA Madness

2010-04-01T05:27:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to be asked to contribute to a MOPLA show this year. The show I'm in is called "Dear Diary" wherein I shot my daily activities for a week. And I realized how boring my life is!
However, it was an worthwhile challenge to try to find a way to show normal objects and simple experiences in an engaging way with no preparation or forethought. The other photographers in the show are wonderful, I am excited to be in their company.

Big Peepin'

2010-03-31T21:11:00.000-07:00

I couldn't believe this site when my friend sent it over. I love dioramas and have never seen something that is usually relegated to being a novelty item take on meaning and artistry.

I Shot HP!

2010-03-21T19:00:00.001-07:00

It's up! I was thrilled when I got the bid to do a shoot for HP's new line of laptops and now the images are live. We did 4 shots in one day collaborating with a fantastic creative from Goodby, Silverstein & Partners. I am beyond grateful I got to do this shoot, because I was able to apply my aesthetic to shooting digitally. The images are clean and crisp, but still, to my eye, evocative of a story. I was excited to show my shooting style works in a more commercial approach. The Polaroid above is from our pre-light day, that's one of my incredible assistants Colleen Durkin. She assisted my first assistant, the most amazing guy I've ever had the pleasure of working with: Keith Leman.
It was a great shoot.

New Directions

2010-03-12T18:10:00.000-08:00

This week I was lucky enough to find a day wherein my favorite stylist and make-up and hair artist could get together and do a shoot for fun.
It was blue and pink hair, studded bras and all 4x5 film.
It seems to be rare that one gets to be wholly creative with a team who is all on the same page. It was a very good day.

The Children

2010-03-04T16:22:00.000-08:00

An editor I work with a lot teaches a class at 826LA and asked me to talk to the kids about photography. It was a blast, they were mostly 8-12 years old and they were the funniest people I've met in a long time. This photo was taken during an interview session with two of the journalists there. If you like working with kids at all, I would strongly suggest sending your info over.

My Favorite Stylist

2010-03-01T09:41:00.000-08:00

Almost a year ago, I was lucky enough to have a stylist I was working with tell me about her friend who was moving to Los Angeles: Djuna Bel.

Djuna and I did one editorial together and I knew I didn't want to work with anyone else. She understands how to put clothes together in totally unexpected and exciting ways, compounded with that, she has a fantastic eye photographically. She is continually inspiring to work with.

And, as a former model, shooting behind-the-scenes with her is always a pleasure.

A Great Photo Editor

2010-02-24T15:28:00.000-08:00

Latina has long been one of my favorite magazines to shoot for, the former photo editor, Jenny Sargent, is one of the best I've ever been lucky enough to work with.

She allowed me to shoot as I wanted to, often times running Polaroid images. She has a marvelous eye; she would some how always manage to pick my top choices.

The cover she photo-edited of Justice Sotomayor was striking, daring and exciting, as was her black and white choice of Shakira for the cover a few months earlier.

When I was in NYC last November, we did a beauty shoot together and, as usual, she was inspiring to work with. Where ever she chooses to work next will be very lucky indeed.

Print for Sale on 52 Editions

2010-02-10T13:04:00.000-08:00

I was thrilled when Arnaud Gregori emailed me about putting an image of mine on his site: 52 Editions. One of my favorite landscapes just went up for sale today and it looks great. Some of the other prints up there are truly amazing and very reasonably priced!

The Greatest #9: Olivia Bolles

2010-02-09T19:01:00.000-08:00

Olivia Bolles is 15 and her work is nothing short of incredible. It is personal, beautiful, imbued with a huge array of emotions and very honest. I can't wait to see how her career flourishes and her style evolves.

The Greatest #8: Frank Ockenfels

2010-02-04T08:44:00.000-08:00

I first saw Frank Ockenfels' work at the lab I use in Los Angeles, The Icon, and I was blown away.
He can shoot everything from straight-forward commercial work to very artsy portraits with vintage cameras, and he does it all wondrously.

Dream Shoot

2010-01-19T14:59:00.000-08:00

I heard Florence and The Machine's first single in July and I was floored. I pitched her to a few magazines, a few thought she'd be a good fit and I shot her on my October trip to NYC. The images will be out in February.

It's very rare I stumbled across an artist who generates this kind of excitement for me; her album, Lungs, is fantastic, her voice is radiantly alive, she is totally uninhibited in her performances. I am so grateful to have been able to shoot her.

I am (finally) on Flickr

2010-01-19T07:41:00.000-08:00

If you'd like to see behind the scenes or not-for-print images I've taken day to day, you can!

An Old Polaroid Promotional Film

2010-01-08T09:05:00.000-08:00

I was reading a lovely blog the other day and it had this old promo for the Land Camera, made by the Eames Studio in the 1970s. It is a lovely 10 minute film that gets into how the SX-70 works from cogs to emulsion. It presents the camera as a device for all races and ages, but moreover, even as a mass consumer product, they view it as something more than just a way to take instant photos.

Capturing Time

2010-01-07T13:02:00.000-08:00

A friend sent me a link to Vivian Maier's work, which is incredible. Apparently the man who created the website for her work bought her negatives at an auction, having no idea what the images were nor of Ms. Maier's work. She was a nanny or something of the sort who shot thousands of rolls throughout her daily life and in doing so, created a huge body of exciting, unusual work, that memorializes a period of time long since gone with her own incredible eye.
It's bewildering to think she was never published, that she never showed her work publicly, but at least now her time has come.

Who is Chen Zhun?

2010-01-01T17:25:00.000-08:00

My significant other, who loves technolongy and video games, found a photographer on one of his daily blogs and sent it to me.
I have no idea who Chen Zhun is, as I couldn't find a website for his work, but the recent work he did for FHM China is awesome. I love how playful and oddly sexy and totally bizarre the images are. It goes beyond fanboy fantasy and actually blends titillation, violence and action into single frames that tell a story, however unexpected.
Wish I could see more.

New Cards for Sale on Etsy

2010-01-01T12:52:00.000-08:00

I just got my new cards back from the printer and they are for sale on Etsy.

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-31T16:02:00.001-08:00

My First Conde Nast Assignment

2009-12-21T20:31:00.000-08:00

The day before I was supposed to leave for New York in October, I got an email from Wired, asking if I would shoot a portrait in Boston for them. I had been yearning to shoot for them for literally a year and a half and this was my chance! I rearranged my plans without a hesitation, took a red eye and found myself in Boston at 6am Saturday morning.

My story went live today. They picked my favorite image to run; it is an incredible feeling to see your work in a magazine you ardently admire.

The Greatest #2: Non-Photo - Andrea Shear

2009-12-01T17:41:00.000-08:00

I found Andrea Shear's work many months ago and was lucky enough to buy an original piece from her. Her work is wonderful in its' gradations of color and spontaneity; it feels alive, instead of overly studied.

Impossible made Possible

2009-11-25T18:14:00.000-08:00

When I heard of the Impossible Project a while back, I didn't think anything of it. I thought it was a vanity project that would never have legs and that Polaroid was gone forever.

Well, I am now eating humble pie. Gladly.

From what I understand, Polaroid will be back, but slightly altered I imagine. Exploring it will be a total joy.

When I was in NYC, I was lucky enough to meet with Dave and Annie of PolaPremium which is my #1 place to buy Polaroid (and not just 600, they have all these other amazing stocks, like 125i Silk). They are actually the US arm of the Impossible Project as well as wonderful photographers in their own right. She has a beautiful collage she did with this new Fade to Black Polaroid, which is inspiring.

They are also wonderful people to simply chat with.

I don't think I can effectively communicate how impressed (and selfishly thrilled) I am that just a few people did the hard work of figuring out how to resurrect Polaroid and allow the rest of us to enjoy it again.

The Greatest #7: Kate Bellm

2009-11-20T20:19:00.000-08:00

Last week, I found a few images by Kate Bellm and immediately went to her site. What struck me right away (and left the strongest impression) was her use of flash without the hideous, over-done black shadows that tend to ruin the style for me.

Her work somehow feels cleaner and more thought-out while retaining the immediacy and sexiness the flash creates. As well, her poses are unexpected and exciting, I look forward to seeing her style evolve.

Why Tony De Lucci is amazing

2009-11-18T08:54:00.000-08:00

Here is Tony lighting a closet. I worked with him over a three day shoot and he was absolutely indispensable and, oftentimes, a miracle worker.

Plus he is a joy to have on set. Funny, easy-going, smart and has the ability to really, truly get things done.

He is on flickr as well. If you can get him, he is worth every penny.

The Wonder that is Helena

2009-11-13T09:02:00.000-08:00

I was looking through Model Mayhem, trying to find someone gorgeous who would not have issues posing nude and, after 30 pages, I found Helena. She agreed to work with me and once I started shooting her, I realized how lucky I was. There are very few models I want to shoot again and again, but she is one of them. She has a beautiful face that lends itself to an unexpected androgyny and she is a pleasure to work with.

I have shot with her twice now in about as many months and fully intend to do more.

She is exceptional.

More Nudity

2009-10-22T15:38:00.002-07:00

I am lucky enough to have another photo spread going up on Nerve today! I really love shooting for them, they give the photographer such freedom and don't shy away from more arty imagery. I would encourage anyone who enjoys nude-shooting to contact them, it's been a consistently great experience.

Going to Detroit

2009-10-10T21:22:00.001-07:00

A friend sent me James Griffioen's work months ago and I was in love.

His images of a dilapidated Detroit (and other cities) are the best I've seen; his innate sense of how to shoot the city, moving away from the spectacularly tragic to focus on the everyday, infusing it with a feeling of loss, intimacy, and history all without being sentimental.

When It Works

2009-10-07T10:17:00.000-07:00

My latest shoot with Ban.do, along with Dunlin, was the greatest commercial job I've had thus far. They were incredibly kind, gracious, easy-going and thoughtful. Moreover, they just let me do my thing, giving helpful feedback as we went along.

While I am truly excited by the images (and our having come up with 50+ different poses), the memory of a wonderful shoot, wherein everything worked effortlessly, is incredibly gratifying.

Comm Arts Fresh

2009-10-07T08:23:00.000-07:00

It's such a thrill to be on Communication Arts - Fresh this week!

Oh Weddings

2009-10-03T23:23:00.000-07:00

It seems that I have hit the age wherein everyone is getting married. It is difficult to get photos during a wedding that are not overwhelmed by the event, but I was at a wedding last weekend and during the toasts I saw this. I know the mood is utterly contrary to a nuptial celebration, but I was very pleased with it.

I've Started an Etsy Store

2009-10-03T08:30:00.000-07:00

After a recent show of my work, it was suggested that I open a store on Etsy where people could buy small prints of mine. So I did.

It's mostly landscapes and still lifes with a few disembodied legs and hands. The prints are 5x7 inches on BFK Rives watercolor paper, which is my favorite: textured, heavy and atmosphere-enhancing.

To keep it exciting, I am going to continually add a new favorite image each month!

The Greatest #7: Elinor Carucci

2009-09-30T15:26:00.001-07:00

I was in the Bay Area last week doing my first nude shoot when a friend asked if I wanted to see Elinor Carucci speak at SF CameraWork about the re-release of her book, Closer. I'd never heard of her before, but I was blown away by her work and thought it might be helpful reference for my editorial. Her personal work covers a wide range: from her husband to her parents to nudes of herself, moving from adolescence to marriage (and not shying away from domestic problems) to parenthood.
I love the work in Closer above all else, it feels unexpected, unguarded and immediate, as well Carucci is gorgeous, intense and beguiling; as a subject she brings much to the image.
Her commercial/editorial work is wonderful as well, it bears her style, sometimes leading to striking results (Dame Edna's mouth).
She is truly remarkable, in every way: an animated, witty and gracious public speaker, a memorable photographer and a seemingly genuine, normal person unaffected by her success.

The Greatest #6: Corey Seeholzer

2009-09-13T18:11:00.000-07:00

I was reading J. Wesley Brown's blog a while back and saw his post on Corey Seeholzer. I emailed Corey and then had coffee with him. He is lovely.
His work, to me, is a perfect example of what retouching and digital photography should be. It bears the mark of being done by one photographer, while maintaining a genuine sense of intimacy and emotion with his subjects.

Being Nekid

2009-09-11T08:54:00.001-07:00

I recently discovered that I love shooting semi-nudes; I was admiring some of Bryan Sheffield's work a while back and felt very inspired. I did a semi-nude fashion lingerie spread (images forth-coming), a Nerve "date" followed and another shoot at the end of this month.

My first shoot for Nerve.com just went live. I was excited to be asked to shoot something for them; they have such incredible people on their site and find many new, impressive photographers whom I haven't heard of: it's an endless resource.

My friend, who is a beautiful burlesque dancer was kind enough to be my subject, while also getting me into an actual burlesque show I could shoot on the fly. The dancers are all delightful and enchantingly performative, making the whole shooting process quite easy.

The editor, Agatha Wasilewska, was a dream. She has a spectacular eye and does a great edit.

Photography Movies

2009-09-04T09:04:00.001-07:00

Someone brought up movies in which a character is a photographer (or somehow in that milieu) the other day, and I begin to think about two things:

1. Movies that are great inspiration visually (some have terrible plot lines and/or acting but are worth watching)
2. Movie that have photography in them

Since lists are such fun, here I go:

1.
The Man Who Fell to Earth
Badlands
Days of Heaven
The Portrait of a Lady
Twin Peaks (TV Series ONLY)
Clockwork Orange
City of Lost Children
Alien
Aliens
Blade Runner
Love & Death
Ladies & Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains
Sympathy for Lady Vengence
Eraserhead
Lisztomania
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1970's version)
Magnificent Obsession
Imitation of Life
Persona
The Rolling Stones' Rock n' Roll Circus
Julien Donkey-Boy
Gummo

2.
The Eyes of Laura Mars
The Sentinel (1970's version)
Fur
Blow-Up
Pecker
Rear Window

The Greatest #5: Katie Shapiro

2009-09-02T17:24:00.000-07:00

I am always envious of those photographers who can take something everyday, something no one (or atleast I) would never notice and bring it to life with their unqiue eye. I was in the best lab left standing in LA, The Icon, when I saw the card for a show of Katie Shapiro's new work. I went to her site and she has this very quiet, unobstrusive way about her images, but they are striking; I never thought I would find urban plant life compelling.

IPA Award!

2009-09-02T10:29:00.000-07:00

I recently found out both my submissions to the International Photography Awards won Honorable Mention!

New Promos

2009-08-31T19:04:00.000-07:00

I thoroughly enjoy promotional materials and had a new set done for an unbelievable price by the amazing people at Next Day Flyers. They are on thick, creamy card stock and look like actual, to size Polaroids. I love them!

I now pass these out indiscriminately and save the iphoto books for larger, cohesive bodies of work that showcase things not in my portfolio, namely images shot digitally.
If you'd like a set, pls feel free to email me with your address.

As well, I got new buckslips from Delphine Press, who makes the most gorgeous letterpress stationary. I have been waiting months for these, as they have a long waiting list, and it was worth it.

The Greatest #4: Hilary Walsh

2009-08-31T16:18:00.000-07:00

I was roaming around on the web today and I found the work of Hilary Walsh. While I'm not wild about everything in her portfolio, she is remarkable with color and has a restrained playfulness. Her work for Current Elliott (Fall '09) is quite nice; I'm always a fan of natural light and the world she made is replete is atmosphere and subtly dramatic.

My First Covers

2009-08-29T09:23:00.003-07:00

I have been looking forward to September for a long time, my covers for both Venus and Prestige magazines come out today!

The Fury

2009-08-27T14:24:00.001-07:00

A friend just sent me a link to some natural disaster photography which is somewhat unbelievable looking. The details in the real beasts (in comparison to those in movies) are impressive; the way sand and dirt haloes around them, the many forms the lightning takes as it branches down. It's rather exacting and harmonious, while also intimidating.
These images make one wonder how the photogs got the shot; the pros seem to have an understanding of how the things move and lash out that allows to shoot at the right moment. I particularly like the photos of the very textured, bulbous cloudy skies, wish I could find some in California.

The Greatest #1: Non-Photo - Deanna Staffo

2009-08-27T08:24:00.001-07:00

I have been pals with Deanna Staffo for years at this point, but I first fell in love with her work when I saw her award-winning self-promo of kids from 1980's cult films on Altpick.com.

I own two original pieces of hers and I am continually impressed by the caliber of her work, which has only become more remarkable over time. To me, her work walks that fine line of something delicate and beautiful, but there's a feeling of a dark, uncertain other world, of a landscape I've never seen before in which her style, characters and stories reside. As well, her work reminds me of that of Egon Schiele who is one my all time favorites.

I begged her to do my logo (above) and it was perfect upon the first draft.

Sufficeth to say, I think her work is singularly inspiring.

Blogs

2009-08-25T10:05:00.000-07:00

I was very late to the blogging table, but I have found those of others to be wonderful, endless, inspiring resources.

I was lucky enough to be featured on Alison Zavos' wonderful blog Feature Shoot this week, which I love reading, she features many amazing photographers I didn't know about.

A few others I check in on nearly every week:

Vain & Vapid
We Can Shoot Too
Heather Smith Jones
The Year in Pictures
Lisa Wiseman

Dunlin Site is Up!

2009-08-23T19:51:00.000-07:00

I shot a campaign for one of my all time favorite bag companies, Dunlin, and it just went live!

I love the way the concept was executed; the old photos of the city passing through what we shot give the images a richer atmosphere and darker sensibility.

I have been looking forward to posting this shoot for months, the images are a melange of Polaroid and Digital to look like Polaroid. I have been working on ways of making shooting digital more like shooting Polaroid and this shoot was my first substantive step in that direction. I'm looking forward to doing more.

A Show of My Polaroids!

2009-08-15T09:44:00.001-07:00

I am having a show of 35+ of my Polaroids at TBWA/Chiat/Day in Los Angeles. The opening is today, August 20th and I am very excited. All the polaroids are printed with their borders, writ much larger, about 16 by 16 inches on BFK Rives paper.
It is really nice to have a show of this work in such a well-designed location with very high ceilings. I haven't focused on my work as fine art in such a long time, it's been good to step back and look at it in another light.
As well, Polaroid seems to coming to the end of the line, and if ever anything new is made by another company, it won't be the same. Since my style will change as a result, I'm thrilled to get to commemorate a way of shooting I love.

The Greatest #4: Nadine Rovner

2009-08-01T21:38:00.000-07:00

I found Nadine Rovner's work online a several months ago. She does very moody, lush, sexy photos. They are rich in color and tone, but I was most struck by the variety of worlds she creates and captures (her 1970's film looks are wonderful as are her low-light night shots). I would love to see how she would shoot in an editorial context.

Why Colleen Durkin Makes Everything Better

2009-07-31T22:15:00.000-07:00

I recently found someone who is a wonderful photographer in her own right, but also an amazing assistant: Colleen Durkin. I've been lucky enough to have her help me on my last two cover shoots in Los Angeles. I love having her around, she is funny, helpful and on it. Spending hours with her is a joy. As well, she poses quite memorably when testing light.

Idea

2009-06-24T08:05:00.000-07:00

I just saw this today on PIG's website, what a fantastic use of double exposure. I hope it was done in camera. It gave me so many ideas, I can't wait to shoot!

The Greatest #3: Rosie Hardy

2009-06-06T21:09:00.000-07:00

My friend and fellow photographer, Lisa Wiseman, just sent me the work of Rosie Hardy.

Who is this girl and where did she come from? Her work is fantastic, although I do prefer what's on the link above to what's on her official site. Again, it is such a thrill to know people like her are taking photos.

I've read a bit about people feeling she copies other artists with out giving credit, but I think her work stands on it's own, it has a unique style, and all of us use images that inspire us without giving credit. For example, I have a shoot coming up and this photo gave me the idea to shoot at Pyramid Lake.

While I understand some people feel she is directly reinterpreting/copying the work of others, I feel so much of her work is her own, and very good at that, it isn't truly an issue.

The Latest PDN Magazine

2009-06-02T14:54:00.000-07:00

Who-hoo, PDN did a piece on promos under $3,000 and they featured my iBooks!

I've been making promos with iPhoto for 2 years now and it is such a great way to keep your promos current while not spending a lot of money. They are these tiny books, about 2.5 by 3.5 inches that you can order 3 at a time or more and cost about 59 cents to mail to any ad firm, magazine editor or the like.

The article really breaks down the costs per book and the ease of creating layouts within the program; I am a huge fan of them, it's one thing Apple has done incredibly well.

And Paul, in iPhoto's customer service, has the patience of a saint, if the books get damaged in transit or have any other issues, he has always gone out of his way to help. It was wonderful of PDn to include me in this feature, I am thrilled with how it turn out.

The Greatest #2: Amanda Friedman

2009-05-30T09:45:00.000-07:00

Amanda Friedman's night landscapes blow me away. They have her signature unexpected colors but it's a very different approach: mysterious, unpredictable, moody, sensual.

I don't know how she finds the places she does, or rather, how she reinvents these places one drives past everyday without looking twice, but it is a testament to her talent that she can truly turn the everyday into something remarkable.

American Photography 25

2009-05-26T20:31:00.000-07:00

announced their winners last week and one of mine was a 'chosen' image!

Very unexpected and lovely. You have to scroll down to find mine, it's a woman in a bathroom.