Acute Resolute

New York has always had a magnetic attraction for me, but on this trip she lost some of her sex appeal. I'll visit her again in a heartbeat, but let me explain.

I once passed up an opportunity to go work for Richard Avedon. It's a long story, but I chose to go backpack in Europe for six months instead. I came back from that wonderful & LONG trip- broke and lonely. It was perfect timing to meet and fall in love with my wife. We moved to Denver soon after we were married. Here's my point. I have often wondered, "What my life would be like if I had jumped on the opportunity to join Avedon's team?" 

I just got back from a 9 day trip to NY.  This trip and other visits have been confirmation for me that New York is truly one of the greatest cities on earth, but I'm happy for the divine providence that put me in my current place.  I'm loosing my regrets.

I hope I'm not stepping on your toes if you live in NY. I'm just forming a personal resolution that I love where I am now (In Denver) more than ever, (and that pretty woman with the ruby red lips off in the distance isn't my type now that I've seen her up close. Perhaps if we had met in another life...)

Here are some random images from my last two days:

Here are some random observations:

-I believe that printed portfolios are becoming a thing of the past. (Do you agree?? Please comment if you do or don't.)

-Don't clip your fingernail on the Subway. It's disgusting.

-If your watch alarm goes off in the Subway, turn it off immediately.

-The sun is much warmer in Denver, even at the same temp.

-Don't go to show your book the week magazines are closing.

-The rowboats in Central Park are an excellent date.

Thanks again to Jonathan and Lynn for letting us stay at your place!

Physiognomy

phys⋅i⋅og⋅no⋅my [fiz-ee-og-nuh-mee, -on-uh-mee] The art of determining character or personal characteristics from the form or features of the body, esp. of the face.

Between my scheduled appointments, I had some time shoot some NYC street photography. I sat with my coffee on Broadway this morning and tried to think of what to shoot.
Everywhere I looked, tourists were shooting the same sites and scenes as me. I wanted something unique. I don't get inspired to shoot architecture much and I don't have a reputation of a pure photojournalist, but I do get hyped up by people. So I decided to use a small white background to capture a few NY faces. Maybe it was the coffee, but I felt energized when I had a goal. So here are some people who graciously shared their faces for my anthroposcopy.

Balance

Things have been so steady and strong for me this year that I decided to drop all my photo related priorities this weekend and focus on my greatest relationship ever, my family. It's been a great weekend, and an exhausting one too.

I've grown in appreciation for anyone who has two or more young kids in NYC. Getting around the town with a double stroller is quite a chore. We have literally walked for 12 hours at a time both days. Its great exercise, but it's left me beat.

My friend Mark made a comment about Manhattan and I concur. He said that while you are in The City, you feed on the energy that's all around you. But when you get back to your apartment and all the stimulus gets unplugged, it's easy to get wiped out. So true.

So, I don't have much imagery to show for the weekend, and it's fine with me. There's no greater reward than the closeness I've felt with my family. It's a balance worth pursuing.

Groundwork

Yesterday, I spent most of the day doing the not-so-glamourous part of what I do when I visit NYC... making lots of phone calls and connections confirming and laying the groundwork for my meetings, most which are taking place on Monday.

 I did have the pleasure of meeting on old friend from Boulder.  Lauren Jones is a clothing designer who modeled for me many times in Denver and is now attending Parsons.  

I didn't shoot much today, but on my way home I ran into a beautiful Jamaican folk artist named Monique Fagan Smith.  The colors of her fabrics and the contrasting color of the cool blue sky light mixed with the warm reflection of light off a building stopped me in my tracks. I loved the mix of cool and warm light, each on one side of the face.

NYC, Day 1

I spent the day today in Central Park with Christie, Ian, and Olivia. The leaves aren't peaking colors yet, but it was still a nice crisp fall day.

We went to the Central Park Zoo and hung out with a polar bear.

We saw a few nice leaves.

I met up with Kristen, an ol' school friend from high school year book staff... it's been 16 years!

We hooked up with my friend Mark Swanson.

We ended the day with a trip to Crumbs and took home some monster cupcakes.  Attention Parents: No child should consume this much sugar!  Olivia only had 1/4 cupcake and we are still trying to calm her down.

Halloween is just around the corner and skulls and goblins abound.

Memorial Statue 

This is the view out our condo window at dusk.
I'd like to thank my friend and very talented photographer/producer Jonathan Ragle & his lovely wife Lynn for letting us stay at their place while they are out of town.  I'm humbled by their generous hospitality.