Love those holiday lawn scenes. Been waiting for the perfect sunset to shoot this one. Wonder if there's a kwansa lawn or a hannukah lawn somewhere.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Last Look at Christmas
Love those holiday lawn scenes. Been waiting for the perfect sunset to shoot this one. Wonder if there's a kwansa lawn or a hannukah lawn somewhere.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
I Was Bruce Davidson’s Apprentice
In the early 90s I worked with Bruce Davidson, famed for his street-style photo documentaries of the New York City subway, life on E. 100th Street, Central Park and others. This is an excerpt from a journal I kept recording our time together.
New York City, March 18, 1991. Palms sweating, I got off the elevator and stood before Bruce Davidson's door smelling the overwhelming odor of cat urine. Here I found myself before Bruce Davidson’s door; my hero’s door. After sending a desperate letter pleading for him to ‘engage me in some capacity,’ he called to say he was interested in meeting me. "Oh God, I am so lucky to even have the chance to talk to him for a half hour – and he's going to look at my pictures."
As soon as Bruce’s wife opened the door, all of the nervousness left me. Their home is just that—homey, safe and welcoming. The first thing I saw was an oversized photo from the Subway series; on another wall, a 4-foot by 3-foot blow-up of the Verrazano Bridge amidst the fog, a ship passing underneath.
Then Bruce popped his head in—balding; glasses propped on top of his head, the glasses string hanging in front of his head instead of in back; short, and so nice. He wanted to see my work right away. His eyes soaked up my images; he looked through my book several times without comment. Then he carefully suggested ways for me to improve upon the images and the way in which they’d been printed. Should have burned the back of the pig more. Should have focused farther into the car with the three Puerto Rican teens which would have gained me more depth of field. He said I could have used fill flash here to solve the depth of field problem altogether—f11 or f16 with 1/8 to 1/4 fill. First thing he said was he’d take me in the dark room and he’d show me how to print one of my shots better than I had already done. (Unbelievable!)
We talked and talked. He gave me a tour of his apartment and his photos. The couple from E. 100th St., the Hispanic woman sitting on the edge of a pink spread turning around to the camera, the dwarf in a restaurant onlookers jeering and snickering, scenes from Wales, the shot of E. 100th St. itself, the buildings like a wall with a triangle of street in the cover corner, people hanging out the windows.
Overwhelming to see those images that have been dancing in my brain for these past years. If B.D. only knew the number of times I’d taken his books out of the library. The time I’d spent studiously trying to understand what makes his pictures so perfect, so alive and so meaningful. I think him the greatest American photographer. And, here I am in his studio looking at his pictures. He talking ot me as though he’d known me for years—as though he’d been waiting for me.
He had obviously decided to take me on before I came. I took off my jacket and started to work for Bruce Davidson.
First order of business was to organize his 450 contact sheets (in numberical order) from his recently completed four-month assignment to shoot the people of Chicago for National Geographic. What a learning experience to see how B.D. stalks a shoot. How encouraging to see that every frame isn’t perfect, isn’t what he wanted. Sometimes he misses the focus, too.
The final images are so strong. The opening picture is of a black street musician singing up into his microphone, the streets of Chicago passing by him. A Polish woman cutting her husband’s hair with a sister standing by laughing. Flags. Mexican flag waving over a parade held by a Mexican mounted on horseback. Real people doing real things. How does he do it?
B.D. tells me his next assignment from National Geo is Central Park. He’ll take me with him (I’m dying!). A woman in his bilding was formerly involved with the Parks Commission and knows some of its deepest secrets—a man who cultivates honey from honey bees. This would be a great opportunity to work a photojournalistic assignment with ‘The Master’ that I couldn’t share if the location were farther away.
Bruce made us lunch from leftovers of a dinner party they had last night. His wife is apparently a good Mexican chef. Over lunch he quizzed me on what kinds of lenses I have. I told him 50mm, 70-210, 300/doubler and the 28mm I shoot with most. He recommends I buy a 35mm. B.D. shoots with a Canon EOS system; replacing his trusty Leica. I don’t know why, especially since he claims the Canon is so complicated he hasn’t figured it out yet. Think Canon gave him the camera for the promo of him using it.
Later in the afternoon, a potential investor showed up to look at B.D.’s work. He has no idea who B.D. is—his son and B.D.’s daughter were in some high school production of Cabaret and I secretly believe all he wants is copies of the pics B.D. shot of the show. Once the guy came, he wouldn’t go away! He kept asking, ‘what else?’
New York City, March 18, 1991. Palms sweating, I got off the elevator and stood before Bruce Davidson's door smelling the overwhelming odor of cat urine. Here I found myself before Bruce Davidson’s door; my hero’s door. After sending a desperate letter pleading for him to ‘engage me in some capacity,’ he called to say he was interested in meeting me. "Oh God, I am so lucky to even have the chance to talk to him for a half hour – and he's going to look at my pictures."
As soon as Bruce’s wife opened the door, all of the nervousness left me. Their home is just that—homey, safe and welcoming. The first thing I saw was an oversized photo from the Subway series; on another wall, a 4-foot by 3-foot blow-up of the Verrazano Bridge amidst the fog, a ship passing underneath.
Then Bruce popped his head in—balding; glasses propped on top of his head, the glasses string hanging in front of his head instead of in back; short, and so nice. He wanted to see my work right away. His eyes soaked up my images; he looked through my book several times without comment. Then he carefully suggested ways for me to improve upon the images and the way in which they’d been printed. Should have burned the back of the pig more. Should have focused farther into the car with the three Puerto Rican teens which would have gained me more depth of field. He said I could have used fill flash here to solve the depth of field problem altogether—f11 or f16 with 1/8 to 1/4 fill. First thing he said was he’d take me in the dark room and he’d show me how to print one of my shots better than I had already done. (Unbelievable!)
We talked and talked. He gave me a tour of his apartment and his photos. The couple from E. 100th St., the Hispanic woman sitting on the edge of a pink spread turning around to the camera, the dwarf in a restaurant onlookers jeering and snickering, scenes from Wales, the shot of E. 100th St. itself, the buildings like a wall with a triangle of street in the cover corner, people hanging out the windows.
Overwhelming to see those images that have been dancing in my brain for these past years. If B.D. only knew the number of times I’d taken his books out of the library. The time I’d spent studiously trying to understand what makes his pictures so perfect, so alive and so meaningful. I think him the greatest American photographer. And, here I am in his studio looking at his pictures. He talking ot me as though he’d known me for years—as though he’d been waiting for me.
He had obviously decided to take me on before I came. I took off my jacket and started to work for Bruce Davidson.
First order of business was to organize his 450 contact sheets (in numberical order) from his recently completed four-month assignment to shoot the people of Chicago for National Geographic. What a learning experience to see how B.D. stalks a shoot. How encouraging to see that every frame isn’t perfect, isn’t what he wanted. Sometimes he misses the focus, too.
The final images are so strong. The opening picture is of a black street musician singing up into his microphone, the streets of Chicago passing by him. A Polish woman cutting her husband’s hair with a sister standing by laughing. Flags. Mexican flag waving over a parade held by a Mexican mounted on horseback. Real people doing real things. How does he do it?
B.D. tells me his next assignment from National Geo is Central Park. He’ll take me with him (I’m dying!). A woman in his bilding was formerly involved with the Parks Commission and knows some of its deepest secrets—a man who cultivates honey from honey bees. This would be a great opportunity to work a photojournalistic assignment with ‘The Master’ that I couldn’t share if the location were farther away.
Bruce made us lunch from leftovers of a dinner party they had last night. His wife is apparently a good Mexican chef. Over lunch he quizzed me on what kinds of lenses I have. I told him 50mm, 70-210, 300/doubler and the 28mm I shoot with most. He recommends I buy a 35mm. B.D. shoots with a Canon EOS system; replacing his trusty Leica. I don’t know why, especially since he claims the Canon is so complicated he hasn’t figured it out yet. Think Canon gave him the camera for the promo of him using it.
Later in the afternoon, a potential investor showed up to look at B.D.’s work. He has no idea who B.D. is—his son and B.D.’s daughter were in some high school production of Cabaret and I secretly believe all he wants is copies of the pics B.D. shot of the show. Once the guy came, he wouldn’t go away! He kept asking, ‘what else?’
Monday, January 5, 2009
Insider's Look: Color Boxes
My Photo Stories
To Sarah’s complete delight, Santa left her the slim and sleek flip video camera she’d longed to receive for Christmas.
Or…
After sitting on the window seat in the Walkers’ living room, their interior decorator sketched a color palette for their newborn son’s room.
Or…
Andrew, diagnosed with autism at age two, feels better when things are organized.
Or…what are your story ideas?
Behind the Photo
Fall in the Hudson Valley bursts with crisp color. From this clearing on Sunset Hill in Clinton, you can just make out the Catskills in the distance.
Be the first to buy a Color Boxes print and get a 50% discount on the size of your choice. This is my January 2009 home page photo, part of my Truths, Lies and Legends collection.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
2008 Photo Contest Winner
As a way to highlight the work of other photographers, I started a photo contest on my website this year. Instead of being judged in the traditional way by one judge, the winner of my contest was selected by visitors to my site, blog and anyone else who heard about it. The work was of a very high caliber and extremely varied. Congratulations to all 20 photographers! It's not too early to start thinking about the 2009 contest. Keep checking my site for details.
The winning photograph was taken by Nadine Robbins! A Tribute to Norman Rockwell.
The second place winner was: Dave Clarke of Scotland with an outstanding black-and-white image.
The third place winner was: Tracy Sofka of Poughkeepsie! Gorgeous blue jewels.
The winning photograph was taken by Nadine Robbins! A Tribute to Norman Rockwell.
The second place winner was: Dave Clarke of Scotland with an outstanding black-and-white image.
The third place winner was: Tracy Sofka of Poughkeepsie! Gorgeous blue jewels.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Dutchess County Fair 2008
Thought I'd end the year with a bang. Finally got around to sifting through my photos from August's Dutchess County Fair. My faithful fair companion Harriet Bass, Ryley and I jam-packed our two fair days with old favorites like Rosaire's Racing Pigs and bull riding, and events that were new this year like gospel singers Sammy Terry and the Highlights, Hansen's trapeze act and the high diver who plunged 80-plus feet. Things are changing at the fairgrounds as the new manager settles in. Now's your chance to let him know what you liked and what you didn't like. Leave me a comment (click on comment window below this post) and I'll forward it to him.
I haven't gotten releases for all of these images, so if you recognize someone, let me know how to contact them.
Blog-o-Meter Reading December 27, 2008
Search results for Molly Ahearn:
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• Google: #1
• Yahoo: #1
• MSN: #1
Google Page Rank for my site: 2 (out of 10)
Number of page views to this blog: 4757
Number of page views to my site: 4372
Number of email subscribers: 21
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