Archive for September, 2007
APA National Photo Competition
The APA (Advertising Photgraphers of America) have regular photo competitions and the current one is their 25th annual event. You can find it at: APA @ 25 NATIONAL PHOTO COMPETITION, SILVER TO PIXEL
Nostalgia for a Retro Future
I lived in San Francisco’s Mission district for 10 years. I finally “escaped” a few years back and have had the opportunity to get to go a number of other neighbors hoods in the city. I say ‘escaped’ because those 10 years were spent near 16th and Mission (Hoff street to be exact) where I got to know a very special part of the Missions heritage. Aside from the latin culture which originally drew me to the neighborhood, I had to learn about the legacy of heroin at that particular address. I never partook in the drug personally but I watched it’s effects daily on the world around me.
I also watched the Mission nightlife transform during my time there. My proximity to 16th and Valencia meant that I watched this artist backwater enclave change from a unknown destination to the one of the most known destinations in the city.
I would like to introduce Polly in these shots. I knew right away that I wanted to explore the Mission I knew with her. Ironically chose a number of locations I’ve spent very little time in. Glen Park (not the Mission at all), the Saint Francis Diner and the Suger Lump Cafe on 24th street.
Yours,
Gregory
Seeing the bay in a new way
A few weeks back my friend Manuel Domecq agreed to take us out sailing on the bay. As part of my new project to stage photos of people in their environments I invited Vadim to play the role of the boats skipper. This was my first chance to get to know Vadim since he responded to my Craiglist ad looking for models. He was great! Vadim even went as far as to shave his beard in the most “sea captain” appropriate way.
It was a great day—the first time I ever sailed the bay—An experience that I won’t soon forget. I think this was pretty much a normal weekend for Manuel (who owns the boat), but for the rest of us it was amazing. There were some comments about missing out on the experience because of spending too much time looking through the lens… but to that I say… it was to desire to make these pictures that inspired the event.
Taking the photo is only the result of a long series of deliberate actions. But enough analysis… enjoy!
Yours,
Gregory
