Last week I had the pleasure of shooting for the Wall Street Journal for four consecutive days. It was great to get to know the Greater New York photo staff and see how their ship runs. Thank you guys!

Below is a tightly edited series of images from various assignments. One of the bigger assignments was a series on the Flatiron District in Manhattan, which has experienced a large influx of office workers into the neighborhood that has created a nightlife, bar scene. One of my favorite locations was the PIT, a comedy improv theater where a lot of young folks working in the city. professionals and amateur alike, spend their off-time acting in improv groups. Other assignments included an artist who has been documenting fading ads in the city for 20 years, an architect who has been collecting information on neon signs all around the borough, a look into pawnshops in midtown, and many more. 

I look forward to posting more in the future!

Glorio To and Michelle Wong, who are tourists visiting from Hong Kong, jump into the air as a friend takes their picture in front of the Flat Iron building.

Kirsten Hively, an architect, eats a hotdog under a neon sign that she has documented as part of her Project Neon at the Papaya on 86th Street and 3rd Avenue.

Pedestrians take a look at the art installation located in the store front underneath the Flat Iron building as they take an evening stroll.

A woman stops by the store front underneath the Flat Iron building.

The residence of building at 107W. 25th st., is listed for $1.07 million for for a two-bedroom apartment.

James Rocco, a DJ, gets the music going for a preview party at Lilium, which is set to open to the public on December 12th.

Ralph Kaoch eats dinner at the San Rocco restaurant.

Gary Gross’s pawnbroker shop has been open and owned by his family since 1901 in the very same spot on 34th St and 8th Avenue in New York City.

Anthony Lopez, a sales associate, takes out an item on display from the glass case during the holiday season at Gem Pawnbrokers.

Gary Gross grazes his hands over the jewelry display. His shop used to sell a variety of items, but since the late 70s has moved to only dealing with jewelry.

Gary Gross’s pawnbroker shop has been open and owned by his family since 1901 in the very same spot on 34th St and 8th Avenue in New York City. In the reflection you can see him and his father together.

Frank Jump, a Brooklyn artist, climbs a building on 17th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenue to show a fading ad that he documented in his book called Carriages Coupes Hansoms, on December 3, 2011. Jump spent 20 years documenting fading ads in New York City.

William Thorne, the house manager, sits in front of the door leading into the performance hall at the PIT. Many office workers take part in improvisational performance groups that come to the theater each week on their off time. 

So finally Eddie Adams came. I went, I shot, I learned, I saw, I met, and most of all I was inspired. It really was liberating to go upstate and breath the fresh air and think about why I got into photography and visual storytelling. It made me think about some of the reasons why I want to follow the path I want to follow. I realized that I like spending time with people, which is why I like to photograph and film. It’s a way to escape and to enter someone else’s existence. Moreover it reminded me how hard it is to photograph. Yes, after a while it’s supposed to work like a muscle, but still… There’s so much to think about. The light, the moment, the composition, how far away or how close from people you choose to be. All elements that are supposed to come natural, but when you think about them they are so trivial. I have been filming and shooting video for the last eight months, and my photo muscle has felt a little sore. It’s nice to be back to catching moments, so to speak…

Photography is overwhelming I realized. The photo industry is even more overwhelming. You just have to be ready to fight for what you believe in and trust that you are moving in the right direction. And as Melanie Buford, my team leader and Todd Heisler from the other group said - You have to work with conviction and purpose. You must now why you are documenting someone’s life. You owe them and have to do their story justice. You must respect the privilege that it is to be allowed into their lives.

I realized I don’t look back at my contact sheets enough. I realized I don’t do a lot of things I should. I work hard I know that. Most of all I realized there is not enough time in each day to do what I want to do. 

Nevertheless, the people who made the workshop possible made it pleasant and comfy to be there. We got pushed hard with very little sleep those four days. The portfolio reviews were the chance of a lifetime. Melanie Buford, my team leader, is an inspiration. My team producer and editor were both extremely helpful and professional. It really was the opportunity of a lifetime to be there. 

Attached are the series of images that played in our team’s slideshow. Our theme was Heartland.

This is Barber T. T has his own barber shop in Ellenville, NY and is originally from Monticello, which is located about 30 minutes west. Everybody hangs out at his barber shop. He cuts everyone’s hair. There’s more to T. He has big visions to become  a big music artist. His younger brother raps and he does the mixing and and sound engineering with another one of their friends. He is also a family man. He loves his brothers, sisters, and all relatives. We visited them in Monticello at one point. Also, I got to hang out with him and one of his girlfriends. He is quite the ladies man.

Soon I will post some outtakes.

Also, I just want to say how inspiring my teammates were. Team Yellow rocked it. They all do such great work. Everyone at the workshop does good work and it was amazing to meet so many talented folks.

It has been a while since my last post. Upon returning from Puerto Rico on Thursday I caught wind of all the protests and demonstrations happening near and around Wall Street. While I missed the previous week’s craziness, I decided to go down and see what was happening for myself. I made my way to Zuccotti Park where the movement has set up its headquarters. All of a sudden a number of police officers, most in blue shirts, not the higher up “white shirts”, surrounded a girl who was asked to stop riding her bike on the sidewalk and chained herself to it to make a statement. Unfortunately I could not get her name, but she ended up being taken away.

It seemed as though the police were trying to be more careful and respectful, most likely due to the bad press they have been receiving for all the overreactions, pepper spray, and beatings in the previous week.

Here are some images. I wanted to not only focus on the situation at hand, but the mood and the media frenzy surrounding the situation. A lot of the images and video you see coming out lately is not just “mainstream media”, but also citizens and also folks from the movement. What else can you expect in New York. Sometimes it makes my head spin to see so many cameras. But at least the events are being documented.

As of recent I have started to continue my immigration project. Rather than Washington, DC or Milwaukee, WI I have begun to focus my attention on the immigrant youth, day laborers, and other folks, of New York, particularly in Queens and Brooklyn. 

This image was taken last week when I was spending time with a fellow by the name of Ismael, a day laborer and undocumented immigrant from Guatemala. Ismael lives in Brooklyn and comes to this corner most days to try and get work. Hard times are causing many to experience a lack of work. 

The second image was taken when a van drove by, but quickly sped off after not choosing any of the guys.

More images to follow in the coming months. It is a lengthy process. To see images of my immigrant youth project, DREAM, go to this link.

Willis Plate plays his guitar during one of his regular jam sessions near the shelter he used to live in by 2nd and D Street, near capitol hill in Washington D.C, in the fall of 2009. 

LINK

So for the longest time I did not know what to do with this project. I really didn’t. I began to follow Willis around in the fall of 2009 and kept on photographing him throughout the winter and the following spring, and then even the summer. Basically I always felt like this was a lost story that was simply meant for my old archives, some memories, and perhaps a blog post. Well after taking a look and revisiting the subject, I realized with the help of an editor, Mike Davis, that not every story necessarily merits a linear sort of picture story. Not every story is a “photo essay”. So the new category on my site, “Boxed In” (derived from its original name and intention), is more of a mood piece. A piece showing the moments I spent with Willis during his transition from a homeless shelter (he spent 10 years being homeless in Washington) to section 8 housing (subsidized housing). 

I still keep up with Willis, but not in person because I am now living in New York. I will never forget the countless hours I spent with him. He gave me more than pictures. He gave me the opportunity to delve into his life and share his moments. It’s no award winning photo essay having to do with the hardships of homelessness, but rather a personal exploration into the life of another. 

Thank you Willis. I will always remember our times together.