battery park, nyc

a grab shot I took while walking in Battery Park the other day.
This person and their dog were like a couple...so funny.

the yoors apartment/

Another image from the Yoors apartment. You need to look closely at this one. I love these clear lucite shelves - so great - especially when mixed with all the objet d'art and these old european chairs. The black and white images are by Jan Yoors. Really amazing stuff. Learn more about him here.

the yoors apartment/

I shot this last week at the Yoors apartment in nyc. I have just scratched the surface of the editing from this shoot but I had to share this one for the story behind it. Kore Yoors actually found this Wegner Papa Bear chair in a dumpster on the street. No, I'm not kidding...
As you can see the apartment is fantastic. Kore also found those Spanish fascist posters on the street as well and had them restored. His stories of the things he found and rescued from the streets of new york were killing me...

maria moyer/porcelain artist

portrait of the beautiful and talented Maria Moyer today. I am lucky to call her my friend, but she is also an amazing porcelain artist. So glad to include her in the American Craftsman project. My knowledge of porcelain is minimal, but from sitting and watching Maria work, it seems finicky. From knowing Maria, I think this is why she likes it so much. And what she can do with it....geez...
I spotted one of her exquisite porcelain roses at an apartment I was shooting yesterday (more on that soon). These lovely little roses are available at BDDW on Crosby street in NYC. She has a few other projects that are equally beautiful and interesting, but I am not going to breathe a word about them until I know I can. Stay tuned!

greenwich house pottery/

I was at Greenwich House pottery shooting some portraits of my amazing friend Maria Moyer (you'll see those tomorrow) but I couldn't stop myself from taking a few more shots of the general "atmosphere" of the place. I really love it there...

nyc/soho

walking to my get a coffee Sunday morning this was what greeted me. Some days NYC has the most beautiful light! It is just different than California light...

portraits/gabriele wilson

I am going to have a lot to show you all from my time here in NY. I shot all weekend and will be shooting the most incredible apartment this week! This shot is from yesterday. My friend Gabriele Wilson and I were walking back from photographing her portrait and she was asking me about the differences I saw between California and NY. What do you get in NY that you don't get in CA? I notice steam pluming from the street we are crossing and I pointed and said "you don't get that in CA...ever." So of course we had to take advantage. I really love this shot of her.
Btw, her work is amazing. She is a graphic designer who does masses of book covers/ book design among other lovely things...she is in the process of fantastic redesign of her website that will be up soon.

erica tanov/home studio

One more of my favorites from Erica Tanov's place in Berkeley, CA. A little detail from her home studio. There are a couple vintage costumes hanging on pegs that were inspiration for a past collection. It feels a bit like a treehouse, doesn't it? This is easily my favorite room in her house.

daily life/nyc

Only a few people close to me know about this recent phenomena in my life. It seems that for the last month (or two?) there has been a pronounced presence in my life of law enforcement. It has been weird to say the least. I am driving to get coffee and I need to pull over for one...no two...fire trucks. I get caught on the freeway when a high speed chase is happening. I get a speeding ticket, a parking ticket....you get the idea...but mind you this is EVERYDAY! I have to say, I figured since I am in NY all this month, it would die down. But today I was heading to a meeting and I saw this fantastic sign on 25th St. (or maybe 26th St?). I get one shot off and then the second one someone walks through...Who? I just started laughing. Really? I guess I haven't shaken this trend yet. Let's hope I don't get arrested...but thank you Mr. NYC traffic cop. I do believe you made the shot.

monochromie/nyc

Another of these monochomes I love so much. This one I shot in Soho yesterday. Thanks to Mr. Rosch for sending me this link to a little film on this very subject. Rather enjoyable and interesting.
I am glad to know I am not the only one enjoying these...

erica tanov/

As I mentioned yesterday, here is my favorite portrait from my shoot with Erica Tanov. Love this one...

erica tanov/berkeley, ca

I have spent the entire weekend in NY editing a couple new portfolios of work and I finally took a closer look at the shots I did at Erica Tanov's home last fall. There is a great portrait, but I think this one is my favorite. Her bedroom is everything you would expect it to be - comfy, bathed in sun, a view of the bay - but that wallpaper!!! As I recollect it is de Gournay. I remember when she put it on and it was silver. The silver leaf (I think it is silver leaf) has changed color over the years to this dusty mauve. Stunning...

nyc bound/

Heading to New York today and I have a lot of prep for work next week. So I'll be back on Monday with a new post. Happy weekend everyone!

jb blunk residency/oliver halsman rosenberg

A detail from Oliver Halsman Rosenberg's studio at the Blunk Residency. It is funny, I have been shooting the artists in residence for a year now and Oliver has really moved in to the space more than anyone else to date. I was shooting there for a couple hours before I noticed that there were all these little people looking at me from the shelves. I love how he has nestled his work in and among all of JB's ephemera and tools.

jb blunk residency/oliver halsman rosenberg

Yesterday I had the pleasure of heading back to the jb blunk residency - this time to shoot Oliver Halsman Rosenberg, who is the current artist in residence. Kind of a perfect day...sun when I needed it, a misty moodiness when I was finishing up and ladybugs hatching all over the house. This is one of my favorite portraits from the day.

daily life/roaming

ok...yeah. I have no idea what this means, but I appreciate the romance in it. And something about the script handwriting makes it even better against the industrial atmosphere. This is just one of the places I roam to on a regular basis (usually Sundays after coffee). So few places in San Francisco are unchanged, but there are little pockets, and I like to visit them on a regular basis.

monochromie/

Awhile ago I mentioned my obsession with this practice of painting over graffiti. I love these monochromatic compositions that end up on the sides of buildings. I slightly jokingly call them "urban Rothkos". Yes, that is elevating them quite a little bit, but their beauty is sometimes undeniable. Keep a look out for them.

ray kappe/

This is one of the other kids rooms at Ray Kappe's home. I think this one is my favorite because of the configuration of the beds. It is the perfect room for a sleepover.

ray kappe/kids room

One of the chapters that did not make it into Handcrafted Modern was on Ray Kappe's home in Pacific Palisades. I really love the images from his home, though. It seems unjust to not share them. This is from one of the kid's bedrooms. The way the windows are placed create truly beautiful light don't you think?

erica tanov/heirloom credenza

I ran across this image while I was working up a new portfolio for my trip to NY next week. I have known Erica Tanov for a number of years and last fall, I was lucky enough to shoot her new home. So I am going about my business shooting and there it was - her perfect credenza. I remember asking her about it when I shot at her catalog years ago. A family piece, passed down. I still love it! And her eclectic mix of glass and china just makes it look better.