New Gallery: NYC Pride Parade 2015

Don't feel like reading the post? Go directly to the full album here!

I'm not really a parade person. The idea of having to stand there for potentially hours, waiting and waiting, smashed by dozens of other people in an attempt to see other people walk by you/wave at you from a float never appealed to me much (especially if it's in late November, sponsored by a popular department store, and features a ton of lip syncing).

But after the historic decision by The Supreme Court of the United States in Obergefell v. Hodges, I felt the NYC Pride Parade this year would probably feel even more joyous and charged with positive energy than ever. It was a celebration of identity and recognition of that identity's right to exist and be respected--a celebration of humanity. Just like the popular hashtag proclaims, #LoveWins. How could I not want to check it out? Also, Sir Ian McKellen was one of the Grand Marshals, so it was pretty cool to see him shaking spectators' hands, taking pictures, and giving hugs.

It was loud and colorful and fun and a privilege to be a part of this year, even if I was only a spectator.

Click here to see the full album of images from the NYC Pride Parade 2015!

An Engagement Party in an Urban Rooftop Garden

On a gorgeous spring evening in May, I had the pleasure of photographing an engagement party for a lovely couple--Nick & Kate. The event was held at Gallow Green, the rooftop bar of the McKittrick Hotel. Dressed with lush plants, twinkling lights, and distressed wood furniture pieces, the garden setting did a wonderful job of making you feel like you were in a secret part of Manhattan that had fought against the steel and concrete surrounding it--and won. A jazz band and vocalist performed throughout the festivities, giving the warm night a cool vibe.

In terms of the technical aspects of shooting the event, this was the type of learning experience you get when you just do it. The party started around 6:00pm, with sunset scheduled for 8:20pm. The rooftop was partially covered with the foliage draped around the supports and scattered around the area. Figuring out how to best light each frame was actually more difficult than I had anticipated. I had my usual Canon 7D Mk I, sticking with a 50mm lens and 430EX II Speedlite. I also rented a Canon 5D Mk III, using my 28-105mm lens and other 430EX II Speedlite with it. I mounted that flash to the 5D with a bracket to give myself a few more angle options. I ended up loving that little bracket and was pleasantly surprised by how useful it was throughout the night.

I had to decide when it was worth it to try and bounce the light off the tall canopy vs. aiming the flash more directly at the subjects. At a party, you can't just keep asking your subjects to hold still while you readjust and re-do a shot. They want to get back to the party! So I actually would take 2 shots--one with the 7D and one with the 5D, with the flashes set at different angles and the camera with different manual settings that I would adjust based on darkness of an area and my distance from them (also another difficulty in a relatively crowded and small space--getting a decent distance between myself and the subjects so that the focus was solid and the distortion of angles minimal). This created a ton of options for me to sift through while I was editing, and I noticed that if I didn't get it with one camera, I at least had the other as an option.

I came as prepared as I could, but I was very nervous. I was so fortunate that the woman who hired me, Kate's mother Nancy, was incredibly kind and relaxed about what they needed from me. The happy couple was also kind and gracious, which is many times not the case when feeling the pressure and stress of planning a wedding. I wanted to give them my best possible effort not just because they were clients but because these life events--engagement parties, rehearsals, weddings--are so special and (hopefully) once in a lifetime. Preserving them through photos isn't an exercise in vanity, it's a way to accentuate and enhance the memories you carry with you. The joy and happiness that the couple, their family, and friends shared with each other that day was clear. They joked, they laughed, they shared sentimental and genuine hugs. It was a privilege to be amidst these moments, documenting what I could.

Overall, I was pleased with how the photos turned out (a few of which they've generously allowed me to share through the blog) and that I was able to capture the spirit of the engagement party. I learned so much from having the chance to do it, and I'm honored to have helped a wonderful young couple celebrate their love on a gorgeous spring evening in NYC.

Happy Holidays!

Resolutions for 2015

Happy Holidays, lovely people! Christmas came and went in a flash, and 2015 is quickly approaching. It's really hard to believe that we're halfway finished with this decade. As a kid, 2015 seemed impossibly far away, but now that it's here, I hope we can all make the best of it.

For 2015, I resolve to be a better blogger for all of you. My updates are so sporadic that it annoys me! It helps that my other resolution is to take even more photographs and work hard at improving my skills. If you need a photographer for events or portraits, don't hesitate to tap me on the shoulder--I'm open to everything (as a photographer, you nerds) in 2015!

I'm also going to try and get back into the running groove. I had some good momentum going in the last half of 2014, but a minor knee thing (I don't even deserve to call it an injury) derailed me. I enjoyed it when I did it, so hopefully I can get back to it soon.

How about you? Any resolutions you're committing to for 2015?

Preview

Also, keep an eye out for new galleries and links to the last show I shot for 2014. Featuring Adult Mom, Manors, Free Cake for Every Creature, and Jawbreaker Reunion at Silent Barn! An excellent showcase brought to the people by The Le Sigh, a blog that features women in music and art. The galleries will be posted on New Years Eve, but here's a little taste:

So go forth, live your lives to the fullest, and ring in 2015 with the loudest cowbell you can find!

Sleaford Mods, The Rogers Sisters, and The Gotobeds @ The Wick

On the last Saturday of November 2014, Sleaford Mods made their US debut at The Wick in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. They, along with the opening acts--The Rogers Sisters and The Gotobeds--sounded on point and filled the relatively large Brooklyn space with energy and intensity. I really enjoyed shooting this show (despite the pretty dim lighting) and hope to catch these bands again soon.

Check out the photos in the Events & Shows gallery here, or check out the gallery at Impose Magazine here.

Dread Scott, The Raveonettes, and Coves in "Events & Shows"

I recently shot The Raveonettes and Coves at The Music Hall of Williamsburg for Impose Magazine. Photos from that set (and additional photos that I had wanted to include but couldn't due to submission restrictions) can now be found on the "Events & Shows" page.

Also newly added to "Events & Shows" are photos I took on my iPhone of artist Dread Scott's performance "On the Impossibility of Freedom in a Country Founded on Slavery and Genocide". It was, to say the least, a powerful and moving commentary on race, culture, history, and community without a single word being spoken. I urge you to click the above links to learn about Dread Scott and this piece. I've also uploaded a slow-motion video of a portion of the performance below.

**Dread Scott faces this fireman and the blast of water coming from the hose.**

Soon I'll be off on a little trip outside of NYC, and I will hopefully bring you some fresh photos from the lands beyond Brooklyn in the next couple of weeks.

New Sets of Photos in "Events"

Ahoy-hoy, lovely readers!

I've added photos to the Events page from a sold-out show I shot for Impose Magazine earlier in September. Killer lineup that night at Union Pool--BOYTOY, The Mystery Lights, and headliner Shannon and The Clams.

It was one of the first times I had to photograph a performance while simultaneously pushing back the mosh pit. You know you're getting older when your first thought is, "GAH, PROTECT THE DELICATE PHOTOGRAPHY INVESTMENT IN MY HANDS!" instead of "HELL YEAH PUNK ROCK!"

Here are a few highlights you can click on to get to the complete galleries:

The Mystery Lights making use of mysterious lighting

BOYTOY.  Lowlight and lots of movement = blur — BOYTOY. Lowlight and lots of movement = blur

Shannon and The Clams in all of their sparkly glory.

More photos from the recent Raveonettes/Coves show at Music Hall of Williamsburg are coming soon!