Archives
Monday, August 31, 2009
Not Giving Up, NYC
I don’t usually shoot homeless people. I don’t find it romantic or appealing like a lot of street photographers, and if you asked homeless people they are probably not to happy about their situation either. That’s why I was surprised to be so drawn to taking a picture of this gentleman.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
So What Do We Think About This?
This month Glamour magazine ran this photograph which has created quite a stir here in the US.
It seems women desperately want more images that highlight the variety of beauty that the female form has to offer. If that is true, then this should become one of the biggest selling issues in Conde Nast history.
Actually it just might become the biggest seller. When we wanted to do a post about this Tracy went to three different shops to find the magazine but all three were sold out. We had to scan this from the NY Post.
When I am shooting on the street older women and larger size women often say “no” to my request to shoot them. Actually, much more than any other category of people I shoot. I think they have a real suspicion about how the image will be used. I also think there continues to be a growing disconnect between the fashion community and “average” women in general
However, do you think that this economic crisis has forced the fashion community to open it’s eyes a little bit to what the customers want?
Thursday, August 27, 2009
On the Street….Summer Pattern Mixing p2
Thursday, August 27, 2009
On the Street….West Village, NYC
Thursday, August 27, 2009
On the Street….Pattern Mixing to Beat the Heat, NYC
It’s hot as New York in August here in New York in August. Nobody feels like getting dressed up, or even dressed for that matter. The city is awash in tiny solid color Summer dresses or tees and jean shorts.
To me this shot isn’t about if this look is perfect, but about the inspiration of doing a lot with a little. Actually I look at this and think about color mixing. If you kept the shape of all these pieces but each was a different color, or even shades of the same color – with or without the patterns.
Looks like this remind me that in Summer, even though we are working with fewer layers, we can still have fun playing with pattern.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
On the Street….Watch It, NYC
It seems the watches on the guys in Europe (especially the Italians) are getting so big and gaudy that soon they will need two wrists to carry them.
I think that is why I don’t wear a watch. With smart phones, iPods, etc. always having a time function it is hard to justify wearing such a ginormous hunk of metal.
However, I have had a growing fascination with small vintage watches. They are sleek, chic and almost hidden. I stopped this gentleman coming out of Starbucks because I thought his watch looked so cool, retro and yet totally modern.
So this question is for the guys – but answered by the ladies. Ladies, are you really attracted to guys with giant watches? Doesn’t it feel like a bit of overcompensation? Or does it read like a symbol of success – like a shiny sporty car for your arm (and not much smaller)?
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
On the Street….New York Bike, NYC
Maybe it is all of the new bike lanes (thanks Mayor Bloomberg), but New Yorkers have fallen in love with their bikes again. What I am proud of is that like any real style capital New Yorkers are doing it their way – sporty, sexy, and built for speed.
Just look at the difference between these New York ladies I shot yesterday and the young ladies Garance shot recently in Amsterdam. I’m not saying one is better than the other, but it is great that something like this can be so reflective of a cultures taste and aesthetics.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
On the Street…. Starting the Transition
Friday, August 21, 2009
On the Street….Grey Suit, Milan
How do they do it?
Without fail, no matter the miserable weather outside, September fashion magazines make me start dreaming of flannels and cashmere.
I guess I am partly to blame. I took this photo of a Cucinelli suit in Milan recently, for the September issue of GQ, and have been thinking about it ever since. Shame on me.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
On the Street….Greene St., New York City
Monday, August 17, 2009
On the Street…Ninth Ave., NYC
Thursday, August 13, 2009
On the Street….Slim Sleeve, Florence
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
A Simple Portrait
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
The Sartorialist Via The Selby @ Lanvin Homme
My very plugged in assistant Tracy found this photograph of Lucas Ossendrijver’s (Lanvin menswear) design studio on The Selby. Instantly she recognized two of my images on his inspiration board.
I often hear that designers use my images for inspiration, but I never believe it until I see it, so this is pretty cool.
I’m often asked in interviews if my photos have a direct effect on trends. I always say that designers don’t really look at my site for direct copying, but instead for a spirit – and the photos that Lucas has chosen are a perfect example of this idea.
Monday, August 10, 2009
On the Street…. Summer Plaid, Florence
Monday, August 10, 2009
On the Street….The Man, Milan
Monday, August 10, 2009
On the Street…. Eva in Black & White, Milan
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Style Piccoli
So finally I get to share the shoot I did for Style Piccoli with my kids and their friends. Claudia (above) is such a ham and a natural model. I would just tell her the concept of the character and she somehow just got it. I used to shoot kids a lot more, but I’m such a big kid that I could never get them to sit still or stop jumping on me long enough to get the shot.
Friday, August 7, 2009
On the Street…. Vintage Shirt, Florence
What a great way to make a 50 year old vintage shirt look so new and modern. So often vintage just screams VINTAGE! I think it is a real skill to integrate vintage into a look and keep the viewer guessing if it is a modern piece or very old. I think that is a subtle, but huge part of the success of Prada.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
When we first met…. Lucy
Above is Lucy, I took this picture when I first met her at a cafe in Melbourne. I thought she looked so cool sitting there during her coffee break – so French somehow. I knew the picture wasn’t right for the blog, but when the Saba job came up she was one of the first people I suggested we shoot.
I’m really proud that with each of the people we shot we were able to maintain the true nature of the subject.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
On the Street…. Sheila Scotter, Melbourne
This lovely lady is Sheila Scotter, one of the first editors of Australian Vogue. I shot her when I was in Melbourne last time for a Saba ad campaign. I’ve become accustomed to posting photos pretty quickly after I shoot them, so sitting on this shot until its campaign release date has been murder. I didn’t get to spend much time with Ms. Scotter, but she is definitely a person I would love to see again when I go back to Melbourne for the book tour. I will say that in the brief time it took to shoot her she oozed intimidating old
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Italian Denim
As Americans we treat our denim shirts almost like jackets or overshirts. We wear them open over swimsuits or big and loose with shorts. Nothing wrong with that, and J. Crew is making a killing on that idea right now. However, the other way of working denim is the Italian way – super slim sexy denim shirts. They are almost always darted or seamed and worn with that Italian flair that reads formal and casual at the same time. I’m not saying which version is better, but just highlighting options.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Best Looks of Pitti
This is one that goes in my personal reference folder of looks to blatantly copy asap.
I finally had a few moments to get through the rest of my images from Pitti, so for the rest of the week I will post a host of great looks from my Florence trip. This might be a great Mid-Summer way to freshen up your Summer wardrobe.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
On the Street…. Anna Piaggi
Monday, August 3, 2009