the four seasons, nyc

I am of the mind that the best place in Manhattan to meet for a drink is the Four Seasons. A friend espouses the beauty of going at 4pm when  it is "like a church", but I have to admit, I love it at 6h30pm. All the blue suits and pinstripes is endlessly fascinating to me.

moma opening

through the back door at the MOMA opening tonight. Kind of in love with the pale pink crates from the catering company.

american craftsmen/barbara shaum

Looking forward to photographing the workshop of legendary sandal maker Barbara Shaum while I am here in NY this week. Here is a shot from when I scouted her workshop back in May.

portrait waiting to happen/

Another location that I have driven by numerous times and someday I'm going to shoot a portrait here. It is SO good!

daily life/unwinding

Usually when I need to unwind I head out to Louis' near the ruins of Sutro Baths at Ocean Beach and just stare out the window. You can see why..

heading to nyc...

Got lots of pre book launch stuff to set up...I'll keep you all posted.

daily life/california hills

So much of my life is spent on the road. But I never tire of the golden California hills. I see them and I know I'm home.

This one is on Lucas Valley Road, heading back from a shoot in Inverness, CA.

daily life/ritual coffee

This is where I usually work on my blogs with my morning cup of coffee. We San Franciscans are a bit particular about our coffee. I am no exception.

j.b. blunk residency/oliver hess

Two of Oliver Hess's  charcoal pieces hang in the bedroom. He makes impressions of pieces of wood (many with exquisite worm trails in the wood) and charcoal. I love to motion you sense from the outer edges of the impressions. Beautiful.

j.b. blunk residency/oliver hess

Oliver Hess in his hood at the J.B. Blunk Residency.

j.b. blunk residency/jenna didier

More from the Blunk Residency. Underneath the glove is one of Jenna's stone pieces. I find beauty in how tidy she keeps her tools.

j.b. blunk residency/jenna didier

I happened upon Jenna while she was working on one of here cut stone pieces and the plumes of stone dust was just beautiful...

j.b. blunk residency/jenna didier

Portrait of Jenna Didier at JB Blunk Residency.

handcrafted modern/outakes/john kapel

The release of my first book, Handcrafted Modern, is fast approaching (Oct. 5)! At the moment I am thinking a lot about craftmen's workspaces and workshops, and this is a shot of one of the best I have been in. John Kapel's workshop in the basement of his home is so well organized that even the way these wood pieces hang on the wall inspires me.

the beauty of decay/

What is it about cobwebs? A few times I have shot in places that I was just covered in cobwebs at the end of the day. But the presence of the cobwebs makes it more special somehow. The knowledge that no one has touched a thing for so long makes each shot seem more important. A necessary document. This is another from HV Poor's Crow House.

the beauty of decay/

During some location scouting in Western Pennsylvania, I found a historic building that used to be a schoolhouse. It had since been taken over by a tech company, but the upper floors were not in use and still had remnants of it's past life. This is my favorite shot. This is where the blackboard used to hang. I love this pattern of colors on the wall.

upstate new york/

Sometimes images just strike a cord with me. This is one of my favorites right now. Something about that one vine reaching for the light inspires me.

j.b. blunk residency/jenna didier

I spent last weekend at the jb blunk residency. The artists just finishing up their residency are Jenna Didier and Oliver Hess of Materials and Applications (M&A). One of the many things Jenna has been creating during her residency are these cut stone sculptures. I LOVE them....

She was working on this one when I was leaving and took a picture just to document the progress.

the beauty of decay/

another from Henry Varnum Poor.

inverness/

Been away shooting in Inverness for the past few days. A view in the front yard of where I was staying.