New Jersey has a massive industrial landscape. Most vivid examples are around the city of Newark. The northeast corridor train tracks run all along the state but just south of Newark Penn station the city of Elizabeth, Linden and Rahway are clustered around a major Seaport and oil refineries. The resulting landscape is a mixture of still used and long abandoned buildings and structures. This is an everyday set of views from a NJ transit train window.

My other work has kept me from writing here. Wedding Photography is a decent discipline to have paid Photojournalism assignments. Since I do it part time there is still learning of the industry and the time lines of getting more work.

In the recent issue of PDN magazine there are 30 coming about Photographers. There are I think 2 who are self thought. I like work of a Japanese photographer who happens o be the first one featured. Interestingly he got started when a friend who was working in Kosovo on a UN mission asked him to visit. The rest is history.


I can't afford at the moment to go to War zones or flying to third world countries on 3 month self assigned photo journalistic projects. But that does not mean I won't do it in the future. Photojournalism is one from of photography that time and time again inspires me.

I'll be going to Mexico in 2 weeks where I'm hoping to do some street photography.

Today few images from yesterday. A laid back day of the the ordinary. The church is from 18th century and judging by the front it has changed owners a few times. Sadly little attention is given to the headstones. I spotted a one from 1832 but I think some of the other ones are even older.

Happy New Year Everyone! I've been busy all day working on images from last weekend. Over 2000 images to go through and pick the best from. The weekend coming up will be busy as well. There is a lot in the queue at the moment which is good. Sometimes I feel a bit overwhelmed though.

Tonight is a portrait of a celebrity Hair Stylist from Boston. This shoot was from the first weekend of December. Tonight is the first chance I got to at least play with one image. The shoot itself was a bit of crazy. I had literally 10 minutes to set up 2 lights. One was a Octa 'deep throat' box from Elinchrome and the side light was from a Profoto head (giving the higlight). I'm just happy I was able to get it right so quickly. It was just one of those shoots where your subject is eager to leave before you even set up your lights.

I think they were strangers, those two sitting. The other man was lost in his music. It was the day after christmas and I was returning home on a Friday night because I didn't have a day off.

Its Christmas Day 2008 and over 2 months since I did my last entry.

I've been thinking how difficult digital images are to process. The initial file is a starting point but the final image is left as complete interpretation of the photographer attitude at the moment. Sitting at the table yesterday I took a photograph of my mom which came out in a very good warm light. Upon working on it on the computer screen I begun adjusting it to suit various tones and making the skin tone more real. The original image had a heavy yellow cast. All this has made me realize how difficult starting from a point where everything can be reinterpreted truly is. I am including the finished photograph, one caught at a moment probarly not flattering her. This of course is one image interpretation.

I'm starting off with re-posting an image from last night. Atop the Train Monitor is a sticker I found to be... well quite an effort to place.

And so that was yesterday. The second image is of commercialism. I hate trends.

From Cat Stevens:
"Miles from nowhere
Not a soul in sight
Oh yeah, but its alright

I have my freedom
I can make my own rules
Oh yeah, the ones that I choose

Lord my body has been a good friend
But I wont need it when I reach the end"

So today I walked through World Trade Center. And I wondered about what I saw. Empty Space. People walking along the site. And then a sticker at Newark Penn Station atop of the Train monitors... saying 9/11 was an inside job. I don't know but too fast has the issue disappeared bringing pain to workers at the site down to making the bad guys somewhere out there.

Colder weather and I like it. I read more when its colder. I cannot concentrate when humidity outside condenses to drops flowing down my back. I also feel lazy in the heat. I think most people do. I kept my room at somewhere around 65F to keep it bearable through most of the summer.

Well, wine is my beverage with cooler air till summer. Reading Mr. Parker's Wine Advocate and Bordeaux book. I like writers who stick to principles. Mr. Parker makes money on his work not his perks. I highly recommend his Wine Advocate guide, to whom I am a subscriber.

Tonight a photograph from last saturday. There was a park in the middle of NJ with Sheep barn. There is something so truthful about the look of this sheep. Animals speak volumes without words.

Fall is here. I feel very nostalgic lately. 

I am thinking of how is starting a life (post college) like in Eastern Europe (more specifically in Poland). I am thinking how much life might be more in my liking in Europe vs. what I have come to accept as normal in America. 

Autumn with the cooler air makes me go back into researching (and drinking) wine and reading more. 

Tonight a simple photograph of where I close my final thoughts for the day. 

This is from Urban drive through. I don't like graffiti. I tried liking it thinking its some sort of art but I find it very intrusive. Art in public place without permission is visual pollution. I want to rest my eyes in peace and if I look over I want to have a choice to look at symmetry of concrete. Simple texture of concrete is sometimes pleasing. I would not cram a photograph because its a bare white wall. Not in public at least.

So its September. Time is flying. I wish I could keep track of it. But I do want to say that life has been what I could have not have predicted better. I have been busy nonstop for the last few weeks.
Today I sat down and went through a few June images. Three months ago seem like yesterday and yet summer is over. But no nostalgia here. This has been among most productive summers I have ever had. Diving head first into commercial photography is something I only imagined and never thought I will. Its a start.

Tonight images are from a Chalkfest that occurred in Jersey City, New Jersey back in June. Its where intercity kids have a chance to bring awareness to their chances at better life. I like the cause so I photographed it.

Portraits. Taking them of someone you know is like asking yourself who you are. If you know who you are you can then interpret your relationship with someone. If you're lucky, which a lot of photography is about, is getting the image of that someone according to your relationship. That is the beauty and simplicity of a good portrait. To understand yourself is to take a relationship and visualize it. No one says it will be good first time around. It depends on the honesty one has with themselves. I love seeing how I feel. I learn from looking at myself.

Two portraits tonight are I think real. They are of feelings and interpretations of where they are today. Intellectuals. Lost in thought. No one who thinks about life is truly smiling. None of those pictures would be real. These two portraits represent among the most intelligent people I know who know life because they are not afraid to live it in a true to themselves way.

Apple iPhone has now bunch of applications and some of them for even posting blog entries remotly. But I probably pass on that.

The 600 mile service was due on the Vespa so I took it to the dealer and got it all done yesterday. While waiting I got a chance to test ride a few bikes. One of them was the MP3 scooter made by Piaggio. Then there was the walk over (netx door) the Ducati dealer to ride the Hypemotard with the upgrated exhaust. Wow! That was FUN!! That bike is whole bunch of 'I want it' while so many unpractical thoughts come to mind. Its just fun and Smooth!!

But aside from a fun Saturday, tonight a quick collection of somewhat of a typical commute. I avoided the Rush Hour by stopping for a drink at the Hyatt before heading back home. This was midweek.

The trip is via the PATH train that runs between World Trade Center and Newark, NJ. Exchange place is Jersey City, NJ. It is the last stop before the end of the line in NYC. The way back to Newark is across a Shipping yard, under the NJ Turnpike, through a service station for NJ Transit (at least some of the trains), few abandoned warehouses and finally arriving at Newark Penn Station.

It is a strange place in the middle of a strange city. Newark still has a rough reputation for crime. Few new buildings and restaurants have opened around the area. The Newark Penn Station is somewhat a gloomy place. It feels Train Station but I don't believe that its enough. The Station represents the mood of the city very well. The homeless roam the and smells dirty and its something that although does not need hallways and waiting rooms, live out of the bathroom and bring in a grunge feel to it all. Sadly, the trip from NYC to Newark via Path sets the mood quite accurately.

I'm set on a journey for true middle America. Some few weeks back I was visiting Dartmouth Campus in New Hampshire. I came across a book titled 'Blue Highways'. I was intrigued but did not buy it right there. I did save the title though. As it turns out I received the book as a gift from my friend Don. I was incredibly and pleasantly surprised Don read the book.
I have started the book and love it. Last weekend I was at Barns and Noble over a map at table in Clark, NJ looking at the map and settling for Memphis to be my starting point. These, I hope, to be weekend trips of a long term project.

Tonight, a photograph right out side of Columbia University's campus yesterday evening.

I have/ I am debating over starting a new blog. This one is about the true issues that concern me. It no longer so much about only photography. Its now about photography serving a purpose of telling a story. Let me think about it.

An image from a super humid NJ night.. as I was leaving the book store.

Jumping ahead with the order of photographs I am including one today that represents the place I'd like to walk though on daily basis. I love Palm trees but more so its the peacefulness of this street that I remember. This is a street in Beverly Hills in Los Angeles. Clean and beautiful.

It's June already. Last night (or earlier today rather) I have arrived at Newark International Airport looking for my bags. I flew back from San Diego. The trip started in San Francisco, then to Los Angeles, and ended in San Diego. It was my second time in California. I do belive it is an amazing place to visit.

Tonight I will be short with the post. I will fill in with photographs and words over the next few days the details of my trip.

To start the photograph tonight is the iconic symbol of San Francisco. I head the bells of the trolly while lying in my bed in the morning. I think San Francisco is among the most beautiful cities in our world.

I always had this thing about photographing NYC street needing a yellow cab. If you wait long enough you'll have one.
I don't consider NYC to be most scenic nor comfortable city. Its a concrete metropolis with some nice streets but a compromise when you compare it to Paris, Amsterdam, or even Berlin. There is very little that draws you to old tested tradition lasting far back. I am not saying NYC lacks history but the history it does posses is mainly of a staging port to which millions of emigrants laded first. Hard labor, scams, and exploitation made this city into a financial capital of the world. The sheer power of capitalism has made an undisputed champion of commerce and labor market.
Aside from the big and cold image of the powerful NYC there are more subtle elements. People actually live here. They come and make their dreams here. And underneath all the grim and grind of the NYC fast lives there are moments like the photograph today. This was shot on Saturday in my continuation of building a portfolio for the Wedding website.

A whole month later and 6 weeks with Canon 5D. I am getting used to digital workflow. I am now running all image editing off the MAC. Everything is a big change. Learning digital is learning gadgets. Photography theory remains the same. There is a lot to get used to and understand as far as using tools. I am having fun with both. Light tests with Pocket Wizards and Profoto Beauty Dish adds to eliminating any free time during the weekend. Now I am searching for models to further get some practice. So far a shoot is on for this Saturday afternoon in front of Flat Iron Building around 5:30pm. Will post results here.

Tonight are three photographs from my daily commute via Train to my day job.

I have been posting here infrequently but all has its reasons. I look forward to share more here on the blog.

It took a wine glass and some Bob Dylan to get into this trance. Going to California again in some 7 weeks. My last (first) visit to the state of California has left me loving it. I'm curious what will happen this time. Its cool not to know yourself.

Wine. San Francisco. Driving along Highway 1. Los Angeles. Photo Shoots. Seeing Don. San Diego. Priceless.

I wish I could bring along the Vespa and have Don ride it. I'm not sure he ever rode a scooter. There is something about the Vespa that makes you appreciate that it won't go 80mph+. I push the limits of any motorcycle to get myself scared but on vespa I am stuck enjoying the ride. I actually really like it.

Need to shop for some portable strobes for location shooting. The image tonight is from a photograph taken after work last Friday. I was waiting by the bar before scouting to see a location in Central Park for a engagement portrait I shot on Saturday.