Spooky Theater

One day, around the time that 42nd street was being Disneyfied (cleaned up) I walked by this place on 42nd street that had been a strip joint. Maybe they were trying to fit in with the scare the kids theme with this display - but it didn't work. Even though I can read each word on the sign to the left, I have no idea what it says. I sort of think it's some voodoo curse. (Pentax 67)

Metropolitan Museum

This was with the hologon on the Contax G2. I rented the lens for a day. It comes with a built-in level which I decided to ignore.

Urinal, NJ

(Back by popular request of one reader)

Subway Car, Corner

Subway Car, Corner - Hexar, Tri-x.

Token Booth

From Leica Dot Something

JOHN:
I was looking for some advice. I plan to photograph my neighbor's dog (avail. light) and I think I need a 90mm for my M7. Normally, I would shoot it with my 50mm, but this dog is wild and I'm nervous to be around dogs anyway - so I think the 90mm would be a good choice. But I'm not sure which 90 to get? I don't think I can afford the cron, but I also heard that the Elmarit 90mm is good as well.

MARK:
The only thing is - why in the world would you want to use a Leica to photograph a dog?

MITCH:
I agree. The Leica is meant for street stuff not dog portraits.

MARK:
John was just asking for advice on which lens to get, not whether it was the right lens / camera for the situation. I assume he has a Leica and just wants to know which 90mm to get. Personally, I haven't used any 90mm with my lizard skin M6 but from what I've heard - the 90mm cron asp. is the best there is.

MITCH:
Mark, do you really have the lizard skin M6?

MARK:
I do have the liz skin M6. It's still in the box. I'm afraid to touch it. Don't want to get any marks on it. I also have the titanium body. Honestly, I don't use the cameras much. I just like having them around.

MITCH:
They are beautiful.

GOLGA:
I think you're both nuts.

MARK:
They are. The lizard skin Leica is fabulous to look at. I've been looking for a good display box for it. I think my neighbors would enjoy viewing it but I'm afraid someone might break in and steal the thing at night.

As far as the 90's go - you get what you pay for.

Listen John, if you are that nervous about shooting the neighbor's dog, then you should get an SLR with a telephoto. I've done a lot of dog shooting over the years and whenever I did a shoot with a wide angle lens - I always got bit! I'm not kidding. So I know what you mean.Now I use Canon 30D with a 300mm lens on a tripod when I am asked to shoot animals of any kind.

I used to work for National Geographic and we'd use a long lens to photograph EVERYTHING!

btw - what sort of dog is it?

JOHN:
Now don't laugh - but it's a toy poodle. It's ferocious. I mean, it's like the size of a shoe, but if they let it off the leash it runs after me yapping it's head off, and it once took off a piece of my pants. To tell you the truth, I'd just as soon actually shoot the mutt :)

MARK:
Maybe you should get a rifle instead.

JOHN:
LOL.

MARK:
I'm not kidding. When I was in the bush, we would actually shoot small game for sport.

JOHN:
Isn't there an episode of Seinfeld where these dogs are keeping Elaine awake...

[DELETED PORTION. OT. ADMIN]

JOHN:
Sorry :(

MARK:
My advice: Just get the most expensive 90 you can afford.

JOHN:
Thanks for the good info guys. I think I will use a... [deleted by admin. OOT]

MITCH:
Golga - if that's you're real name - why are we nuts because we appreciate beautiful objects. Dry up troll.

(to be continued)

59th Street Bridge

This was TMAX, and other than some dust retouching and an adjustment level - that was it. I have no clue as to why the sky/ water produced this gray dreamy tone. This was a fairly long exposure - at least 30 seconds.

Leg, Flea Market

What Do You Think?

Another common e-mail from beginning photographers:

"I live in (fill in the blank). It is just so boring here. I wish that I lived in New York like you so that I could capture all the excitement of the city."

My initial reaction to this is that if you can't find anything interesting to photograph where you are - you won't find it anywhere else. This goes along the lines of the end of the Wizard of Oz, everything was always there before you at home.

If you live in a small town - then photograph the people or places around you. Do it as best you can. Do it better than anyone ever did.

I guess I could be all wet about this - maybe there are places that are just so visually boring that no one could be inspired by them. But you've spent 16 years of your life in this place. You know it so well. Even if all you do is capture your complete alienation from the landscape - that would be something - wouldn't it?

What do you think?

Cupola, Burnside Avenue

I've been working on the Bronx Gallery again. Someone wrote to me asking why there were no shots of people in the gallery.

This was a conscious decision after a couple of years of fiddling with the images. This is a personal reminiscence. The shots may not have any universal value - just my attempt to document places that had meaning to me. I did a bunch of taped interviews with family and friends from those days - and if I ever do get around to doing a proper book - I would include snippets from these tapes.

Burnside Avenue - my grandparents lived here - no not in the Cupola - but a block away and we always wondered what it was when we were kids. My cousin snuck into the building once and tried to get up to the top but the door to the cupola was shut tight.

Room With A View etc.

As I am finally separating the "living room" work from the "street" work in the galleries, I can begin to post images that may make you uneasy for sale without driving too many people away.

This was a long time ago in Brooklyn (Manhattan on the other side). If I were to guess I'd say at least 10 years ago. It was in a garage that had been abandoned and put to another use.

This was shot with the Mamiya 6, which of all the medium format cameras I used was my favorite. I did carry it around with the 50mm lens for a pretty long time. The rollei TLR was / is a great camera but I usually used it with a tripod. The Mamiya 6 - very portable and quick to focus. Would I use one again? Not at this point, not without someone giving me a good MF film scanner.

Leica M8

Indian Dwelling, Arizona

I'll just turn this entry into a what d'ya know 'bout the Leica M8.