No, I didn’t take a photo of someone’s lips with a macro lens. Rather, I took this picture of this section of a larger-than-life poster found on 14th St. (it’s an ad for a neighboring clothing store). The shadow and seam give it away.

This photo made the cut, but it wasn’t a favorite. Now that it’s been a few weeks and I’m more removed from the actual shoot itself, it has new life. Because of the film I used, the background almost looks fake, or very flat, drawing attention to her hair and face. The model took [...]

In some photography classes it is taught that lens flare is a bad thing and should be avoided at all costs (it’s the effect that happens when the lens reflects light in such a way that spots appear in the photo). People spend tons of money on big shields for their lenses. I like [...]

She belongs to a girlfriend of mine whom I visited, among others, while I was down south this past weekend. The cheeks on little Rory are one of a kind.

I didn’t really pay attention to this photo when I took it last December, but now, after aging a few months, it looks different for some reason. I like the connection, or lack thereof between Paul’s sister and the painting from Poland on his parent’s wall in New Jersey. (Paul, his sister and folks [...]

All I can say is this girl needs a tan.

Everyone has seen/done the whole window reflection thing so it often seems like a tired study. Yet, I will still take the occasional photo and this one I took yesterday, might be somewhat successful. It’s not deep in meaning or anything, but the buildings, sky and ultimately the guy in the restaurant (I think [...]

I’m taking another portrait class starting tonight, but to get me in the mood…. This photo was taken in the lobby of the International Center of Photography during a lighting workshop I took earlier this year. I used a technique called dragging the shutter, which means flash was used but I kept the shutter [...]

The Kipster, Kipparooni, Tip Tip, Kippy Kip, Tippy, Fluffy, Fuzzy, Sunshine Girl. Many names, one amazing cat.

While in California, I asked a friend if I could take home some lemons from their neighbor’s tree. Ask and you shall receive. I was at long last able to satisfy my craving for a lemon meringue pie (I’m ashamed I didn’t make the crust, but it was all good).

I finally got my black and whites developed of the Coney Island shoot. This is one of those pictures I keep coming back to.

Here is someone who follows my blog very closely.

As some of you may know, a gin martini (certainly not vodka) and popcorn is my dinner of choice when dining alone. I would have made my own popcorn (oil popped with garlic powder, salt, butter and paprika) but my copper pan needs re-tinning. So I had to settle for microwave. It’s complicated. BTW, [...]

I feel like everytime I leave Coney Island on the subway, it will never be the same again. Maybe because it’s true. The ferris wheel, shown here in the background, along with every other ride, game and show (with the exception of the Cyclone, which I hear will be spared) will likely all be [...]

The blue slide we found at a children’s playground at Coney Island makes a stunning backdrop for Tomo. Someone asked if I had Photoshopped that color in. If possible, I rarely use Photoshop on my photos before posting. I prefer to keep them in their purest form because it shows exactly what I framed [...]

This is dress number two for Tomo during Friday’s test shoot. I just like how hazy and kind of barren and dirty everything is and then you have this beauty who is oblivious to the world around her.

I had another test shoot today, this time at Coney Island. My model, having had to put up with a lot of nut jobs on the boardwalk, cold winds and blowing sand, was a willing participant. We worked quickly, racing from one site to the next. All and all, a fun ride.

The guy on the left wants to be the sausage king of the world (to read more about this guy and his sausages, check out www.smalera.com soon for a short review). Lucky for the photographer and the restaurant reviewer, we were allowed to sample an absurd amount of sausages and mustards at this growing [...]

The previous pics of Jessica, the musician, have been a little more obscure. This one gives you a more direct view. I took this photo towards the end of the shoot, taking advantage of my old film camera (which I still believe takes superior pics over digital).

I must say the apartment was strangely quiet this morning. What happened to the rattling cough and moans of fatigue? Could this be the day that we put away all the cough syrups? It just may be, and what a wonderful day it would be.

This is one of the first photos I took of Jessica at Fort Tryon Park last Saturday. While we did a lot of the standard poses, this one shows a more personal and delicate side.

Jessica, Will, Gizmo (their dog) and I made a great team at Jessica’s photo shoot yesterday. We ran around chasing the right light and ended the day at this beautiful set of archways at Fort Tryon Park. We lacked a stylist, hair and makeup team, but I think sometimes the less people involved the [...]

Later today I’ll be heading up to 190th Street to photograph an up and coming musician. The Cloisters and Fort Tryon Park, located on a soaring, wooded site in upper Manhattan, will be a beautiful setting for this shoot.

I think it was the color palette of the scene in front of me that initially inspired this photo. Lots of the people depicted in this large French painting are looking at the viewer as we’re looking back at them. The security guard was also looking at us viewers as I got in trouble [...]

During our whirlwind tour of L.A., Paul and I stopped at the La Brea Tar Pit museum. The actual tar pits were not as impressive as this scene depicting a sabertoothed cat (tiger is incorrect) attacking a sloth. Of course it involved a kitty so I had to take a picture.

Pann’s, a diner in L.A., is known for it’s architecture, chicken wings and waffles. First, you rip off a lucious bite of crispy, juicy chicken, then dip it in the melted butter and syrup. Alternate bites with the waffle and a side of grits. Top it all off with coffee and freshly squeezed o.j.

Ah, nothing like the Santa Ana winds. I’m feeling quite happy back in my home state of Calif.