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The Insiders
The Insiders are portraits of strangers I passed by while walking around New York City. The vulnerability and freedom of being an individual in a sea of other individuals gives New Yorkers a more intimate understanding of fellow man than those living elsewhere. New Yorkers may seek out those who are like them, or they may prefer a counterpart. Or, they may like to stay as they are—alone among many in the vast and loaded city. In a population as diverse as New York, friends and foes don't necessarily wear the expected uniforms, therefore all individuals hold a potential for connection. It is insider information.
The Vacation Years
The innocent, carefree years of Emma and her uncle
Shoot the Arrow
"I always had hopes of being a big star. But as you get older, you aim a little lower. Everybody wants to make an impression, some mark upon the world. Then you think, you've made a mark on the world if you just get through it and a few people remember your name. Then you've left a mark. You don't have to bend the world. I think it's better to just enjoy it. Pay your dues and just enjoy it. If you shoot an arrow and it goes real high, hooray for you."
—Dorian Corey, from the documentary film Paris Is Burning
Perseverance, courage, and individuality are the most profound and transformative aspects of human nature. For over four years I photographed The World Famous *BOB* during 24-hour intervals, and these magical, timeless, demanding qualities would consistently appear. The photographs are as much about her specific circumstances as they are an allegory for the modern pursuit of happiness. This very large series has been made into a book proposal. Please click here to see the book.
Us
How friends and family reveal their relationship to the world is fascinating. The connections between them can influence their look, their style, their behavior, and their personality. When I encounter these people on the street, it's their similarities that catch my eye, but in time these obvious similarities point to the intriguing differences that exist between them.
Man With Woman
An unusual self-portrait series in which I have a secondary role and never physically appear, Man With Woman simultaneously shows scenes from the life of a man who loves a woman and from the life of the woman he loves.
The Black Betty Portraits
When Black Betty lost its lease after ten years, plans to capture the elusively unique intimacy and camaraderie it had spawned began almost immediately. A small, dark, neighborhood club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Black Betty was the heart of the local music scene. One idea owners Bud Schmeling and Sandy Glover had was to commission me to make portraits of some of the many people who were particularly connected to Black Betty. This is a selection of those photographs, which were taken inside the club a couple of weeks before it closed in June 2009.
Previous Work
Asia
American South
Foreign Street
Backstage
Obama's Election Night, East Village, 5 a.m.
