Being Political (Or Not)

Regardless of where you sit politically, this is one of the greatest Presidential images of all time. Damn, I wish I took this photo.
©Evan Vucci/AP

With all the tension and fallout surrounding the recent US Presidential Election, I thought I would touch briefly on politics and where it comes into play as an artist. For myself and otherwise.

My belief is that your political views are your own and you have the right to have them whether we agree or disagree.

I know, a novel concept in the age of outrage simply because someone sits opposite of the political aisle. My political beliefs as well as my religious beliefs or beliefs about having children, or having a family, or parenting, or paying taxes, or vaccinations, or space travel, are all my own.

Same goes for you. You have the right, as an American, to believe whatever you chose. That’s the beauty of living in a country that gives you those freedoms. Where we have gone wrong as a country is trying to force others to share the same beliefs we have. Or else!

US Vice President, and Presidential hopeful, Kamala Harris.
She didn’t win. But it’s not the end of the world. Calm down folks.

As many actors in Hollywood have meltdowns over the result of the election and continue steering Hollywood into the abyss of irrelevancy, I think about how much time we’ve all wasted bickering over politics. Shunning our friends, family, lovers, etc. Over their own personal views.

How frail as a people have we become?

I also think how we’ve embraced oversharing our personal views as a society. One only has to look at TikTok to see some young Gen-Z girl sitting in her car about to deliver a diatribe(put her foot in her mouth more like) on whatever social/political issue she’s somehow, all of a sudden, an expert on. These people don’t want discussion, no. They want to dictate the conversation. For they are the enlightened. The virtuous even!

Think like them or you are a: {insert liberal word used to both insult but also to avoid debate}.

As an artist, politics and social issues generally don’t factor into my work. Shocking I know. Not only that, but I will never allow myself to be pressured by whatever social movements are the hot trend of the moment. Especially if I don’t agree with them. In other words, I will not work on projects, causes, or with people I don’t particularly care for. It’s a business, not a charity. And an empowering part of being an artist is deciding what you want your art to be about. If I choose to cover a social/political issue, I do so at my own discretion.

If I want my work to simply be about beautiful women in swimsuits(or even without clothing), that’s my prerogative. If you, on the other hand, wish to photograph, say people in poor rural communities, that’s your prerogative. For example, I don’t shoot weddings. Absolutely hate them for work. No one can pressure me into shooting one. And even if they threw a ton of money at me, I can’t be bought. I’ll keep an open mind of course, but I use my own judgement if I’m willing to accept a project or even work with someone. If you’re independent, you too, have this power. It’s different if you work for a company where the pressure comes from the top and you have little choice in the matter. With that in mind, I’d rather be independent any day.

PlayStation 5 videogame, Stellar Blade.
The amount of butthurt this game caused for simply having the audacity to make a sexy main character was crazy. While a small minority feigned outrage online, the game has sold massively raking over 1 million sales in 24 hours of its release. The critics or so called “taste makers” of the industry proved to be irrelevant, yet again. The consumers won.

In the age of DEI, ESG, diversity mandates, social/political pressure from companies, artists have the right to create the art they want to create. External pressure be damned. But so many have caved to this, hence the bland landscape we have in terms of modern entertainment media, particularly in the west. Films used to be unique and interesting, tv shows used to have gripping writing, and literature used to challenge you. But when those in positions of green-lighting this stuff started prioritizing social/political stances over entertaining the public, the art suffered severely as a result. Joker 2 anyone?

In closing, I’ll add a bit of optimisim if you’re someone facing these challenges and find it all frustrating. The world is much bigger than New York or Los Angeles(and the US). There are other markets where you can find people with similar views or at least where your art/ideas will be embraced. Where you can flourish even. If they put up a wall, you go around. And if they don’t like what you do, fuck ‘em.

Till next time.

How Much Time Do You Spend On Your Art?

“If you do the work, you get rewarded. There are no shortcuts in life.”
-Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan by Walter Ioss, Jr.
© Walter Ioss, Jr.

If you too are on the creative journey, be it music, animation, sculpting, photography, painting, dance, acting, etc., I ask you:

How much time do you spend on your art?

Does it keep you up at night? Are you constantly sticking your nose in a book or reading an article or watching a video on the subject? Desperately looking for new nuggets of golden wisdom that will make your skills that much better. Are you investing in yourself? Your education? The production of your art? Are you practicing? Even when you don’t have a project in mind, are you experimenting with new techniques? Or refining your approach?

Actually tally up the time each week and note how many hours goes towards your art. Also, tally up the hours that goes towards other things, not including your day job if you have one. I love the feature on the iPhone that shows your app usage and how much time you’ve spent on certain apps. Unless those apps are aiding your improvement, that time should be much lower than the amount of time spent on your art.

Simply put, the amount of time you spend will show how much passion you have for the art you create. Even if you’re a seasoned pro, you still have to establish a process of improvement. A period where you work diligently and determinedly on refining your craft. Top athletes do this all the time.

All-time great Quarterback Tom Brady studying game film. Remote in hand, replaying clips over and over looking for weaknesses and areas he can improve.

In basketball, they work on their three point or free throw shooting. Spending hours in the gym, taking the same shot over and over and over, making slight adjustments to their approach until it clicks. In football, quarterbacks study film religiously, not only looking for holes in their opponent’s game, but their own method of playing. Maybe they can release the ball faster or be more aware of their teammates positions downfield. The greats continue to refine and sharpen their blade even after they’ve won championships and received accolades for their abilities. Think Michael Jordan or Tom Brady. Athletes who are obsessed with the game and pushing their skills to the absolute limits. Great artists are the same.

Put the time in. Let it become a part of your daily rituals. Take notes. Make adjustments. Refine, refine, refine. And in time, you will get better. If you’re unable to do this on your own, find a teacher or mentor. That act alone puts you ahead of 95% of people who are likely too stubborn or arrogant to seek help from others. Art often comes with a lot of ego. Maybe you need someone else who can hold you accountable for your inaction or lack of effort. Most tend to give themselves a pass when quitting when the work becomes difficult or frustrating. Think people not doing all their reps at the gym when working out alone versus when working with a trainer who pushes them.

An iconic photo of a young, highly touted Rookie Kobe Bryant, getting next to Jordan mid-game and asking for his advice. For such a young star player with all the hype and praise heaped on him, to humble himself and ask his senior for tips, is one of the many reasons he too, would be one of the greatest players of all time. You’re never too good to learn from the masters.

© Vincent Laforet /AFP via Getty Images

In closing, I say again, put the time in. Drop and avoid the distractions. And make no excuses. When you do your time calculation and if other less helpful endeavors are taking up most of your time, work hard to change that. Try to get your “hours spent” numbers much higher in the column for your art versus, say, social media usage. Set goals and observe your improvement week after week, month after month.

Your art will be all the better for it.

Rental Studios in NYC Closing

One of the many spaces at The Alchemical. The light and price point was perfect. Sad to see it go.

Back in August, one of my favorite studio spaces in NYC, the Alchemical, shuttered its doors for the second time. Second time.

For a brief description, the Alchemical was an affordable studio rental space in Manhattan with beautiful natural light and friendly staff. In 2021-22 they closed their original location since the building was sold. It was unfortunate since the only other studio that offered similar amenities and price point was in Brooklyn. Since I live in Manhattan, making the commute to Brooklyn with gear was the less desirable option. So I was pleasantly surprised when they announced the opening of a new location just a few blocks away from their original location.

From a portrait session with the wonderful Katya, taken at the Alchemical Studios in 2023.
I really loved the light the studio had.

In 2023, I started shooting there again whenever I needed bigger space for certain projects. To my dismay, in August of this year they were forced to close again. I got an email about the impending closure as well as an auction they were holding to sell off much of the studio’s furniture and miscellaneous items. I’m not their bookkeeper and can’t speak to the intricate financial details of the studio, but whenever I booked I always noticed I was practically the only booking for the day. Compared to previous years where the spaces they have were booked up consistently.

Perhaps there just wasn’t any demand? Maybe people didn’t know about their new location? Probably a combination of the two.

What this highlights for me, is a continued decline in demand for rental studios. A part of me laments this and a part of me is indifferent. For some context, I remember when rental studios used to be ridiculously priced. The demand was high back in say, 2010, so a photo studio would want to charge you $1000 for a 4-hour rental! Over the past decade, less and less people are signing up to be photographers, more people are renting out alternative spaces via apps such as Airbnb or Peerspace. Or people are just foregoing studios altogether and shooting on location. Who needs to pay exorbitant fees for a white box studio space with restrictive booking policies? It’s cost prohibitive for most individuals. Brands/companies don’t care because they have a much bigger budget than individuals usually.

Because of these changes, many rental studios have closed their doors in NYC. Especially the bigger ones. It costs a lot of money to keep staff and pay the lease on these places. And when artists don’t have the budgets to pay $1,000 for full-day rentals on a consistent basis or even brands are looking at more affordable options, it will be hard to keep the lights on.

But creatives do need spaces to create, so a loss of a studio like the Alchemical will do more harm than good. I wish they would have been able to thrive on their second go around, but the photo business is changing rapidly. Coming out of the Covid era, a lot of businesses are playing catchup or returning and finding the market dramatically different to the pre-Covid era. As in all business, you either make some adjustments or you will get left behind.

They mention on their website that they’re looking for a new location, so there’s hope. Maybe they’ll return better than ever! Third time’s a charm eh?!

Adieu for now Alchemical. You’ll be missed.

Are you ever ready?

You can either bleat or you can make a decision. What will you do?
- King Alfred, The Last Kingdom

During my yearly rewatch of my favorite show, The Last Kingdom, I came across an amazing, pivotal scene in the third season. The ailing King Alfred leads his men into battle with his son, Prince Edward the heir, by his side. Prince Edward has promised to bring reinforcements to Uthred, a man the king doesn’t like nor wishes to aid. But Prince Edward has given his word, although it wasn’t his place to do so.

As they arrive on the battlefield, King Alfred refuses to engage and enter the battle. Using the opportunity as a chance to teach his son a lesson about bravery, seizing the moment, and making the hard decisions of a king. While his group holds their position, Uthred and his men are being attacked on all sides, losing people as the seconds pass. Instead of issuing the command to charge and enter the battle, King Alfred wisely lets Prince Edward squirm in his seat fearing the battle could be lost if he does not act. The tension and anxiety is palpable. Should he charge into battle against his father’s wishes? Is it the right decision? Will he be embarrassed in front of the King? What if they lose? Is he worthy of taking the mantle from such a great man? Is he ready? It’s an amazing scene full of emotion and a coming of age moment for the young prince.

Which made me think of the topic for today’s blog post.

Are you ever ready?

Opportunities often come when we least expect them or when we don’t feel the most prepared for them.

You get a great job offer or client opportunity and it feels way beyond your ability at that current stage in your development. A part of you says, “I don’t think my skills are quite up to the task as of yet.” That voice is both rooted in logic (your skills probably aren’t quite there) and fear (you fear a less than stellar outcome, embarassing yourself and disappointing clients in the process). But as history has shown us, many people seize those rare opportunities and the skill is developed in the midst of the fire. They rise to the occasion despite their perceived limitations and fears.

Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston by Neil Leifer
© Neil Leifer. All rights reserved.

I’m a huge fan of boxing and I’ve seen countless scenarios where contenders, young and old, get thrown into the fire with an opportunity to face the champion. Pundits and boxing vets alike are all chiming in saying the fighter isn’t ready for such an opportunity. Everyone braces for the worst, that the underdog fighter will get clobbered. But, despite the gap in experience/accomplishment, the fighter rises to the occasion pushing the champ like never before and in many scenarios, winning. Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston comes to mind. Or Rocky Balboa vs. Apollo Creed in the fictional Rocky film.

The stress and expectation of projects outside of your skill level forces you to focus like never before. To sweat the details. To refine areas you’d normally skim over. It’s like being “in the zone” and tapping into another level of your brain. You have to be “on”. Some will wilt at the pressure. Pressure bursts pipes as they say. Yet, in my opinion, if you really want it, you’ll steel your resolve and push through.

Are you ever ready? Sometimes.

There are times where your skills will be at such a level you’re like “Bring it on!”, whatever the challenge. You’re at the peak of your power. Battle tested. And there will be times when you’re not feeling your best or quite there yet and an opportunity falls in your lap.

What will you do? Take it and seize the moment? Show the world what you’re made of? Or shirk away from the opportunity?

You’re probably not ready, but if you pass on the opportunity, you’ll never know if you are. Fate favors the bold.

My advice, take it. Damn being prepared. The moment may not come again.

Till next time.

On Being Happy and Living the Dream

After a full summer away from the blog, I will never dismiss the importance of breaks for one’s motivation, their inspiration, their sanity even. The time away was definitely needed.

Today I want to talk about being happy and living the dream.

Like many things in life it’s a very subjective topic, so I only state how it applies to me and perhaps you can gleam a sense of perspective in your own life.

A few months ago, I was in Versailles surrounded by groups of jostling tourists all trying to take photos on their phones and the sheer splendor of the location (I consider the Palace of Versailles the most beautiful man made location on the planet) when I had an epiphany.

I’m living my dream. And I’m happy.

When I first set out to become a photographer I envisioned a career of cool projects, working with esteemed brands, shooting models, going to beautiful locations, working on the beach, meeting interesting people, traveling the world, and building something for myself that I could be proud of. I remember sitting in my humid, Florida apartment thinking all of that may be way too much to ask. Like it would never happen.

As I overlooked the garden of Versailles, I let my mind ruminate over the thought. Here I was in France, enjoying my weekend, doing a bit of sightseeing after a week of shoots in Paris. Then it dawned on me, you’re already there you idiot! You’re already living your dream! You did it. Be proud! All the setbacks. The failures. The doubts. The sacrifices. You endured all of it, you worked hard, and now look where you are!

Like the Grinch’s heart growing several sizes larger in the Dr. Seuss classic, I felt overwhelmed at this realization. The truth of it all. I am living my dream. I make my own schedule. I have clients. I make good money. I’m not rich, but money isn’t the only measure of success(nor should it be). I travel. I’m making connections with people the world over. And even people outside of the United States are appreciating my work. Last month, a model came all the way from Japan to shoot with me. Me?! Of all people! That’s both incredibly awesome and humbling.

As an artist I do feel like there’s several more levels to go before I consider myself truly great. A master if you will. I may be 60 when it happens, but for now I’m very happy to be doing work that motivates and excites me. And work that people seem to really connect with.

Routinely taking stock of your life, checking your progress at different points, can really put into perspective how far you’ve come. We tend to think of our dreams as far off destinations. Some unknown place far into the future. But you might be in the midst of it while you’re on your way and not even realize it. As they say, enjoy the journey. These may be the most memorable moments of your life. Appreciate them.

I can admit, it hasn’t always been enjoyable. Frustrating would probably be the most apt description. But you have to take the good with the bad. The two are intricately linked. The rainy days make you appreciate the sunny ones. I know this part sounds a bit vague and waffly, but I’m speaking honestly. It’s been a see-saw of a ride. You’re up some times and down others. But stay on, it gets better.

Now for the happy part of this post. Happiness can certainly be derived from accomplishment. You win a gold medal, hell yeah you’re happy. Get a big raise? Hell yeah! But for me, it’s knowing that I’m working on something meaningful. Something deeply personal that truly matters to me. Emphasis on “to me”. Work that becomes a part of who I am and what motivates me to get up in the morning. Something that connects to my soul on a spiritual level. It doesn’t matter what others think. Their opinions. Their judgements. Their lack of understanding. It’s most important that it matters “to me”. Having that sense of purpose feels like the wind beneath your wings. It may not make me rich, but it sure as hell makes me happy. And that’s something. Priceless even.

I hope you too find your purpose. That thing, place, or even person that brings you joy. Not everyone in life finds that. Understanding the rarity of it is what gets me emotional. All the people out there, chasing their dreams. Wanting some semblance of happiness in their short lives. I wish everyone the best in this beautiful madness we call life. These thoughts remind me of the plastic bag scene from American Beauty.

I’m not crying, it’s just my allergies! Pfft.

Anyway, I’m currently in Paris and headed out the door to go explore the city.

Hope you follow your dream and enjoy the ride. Or at the least, go be happy! You owe it to yourself.

Au revoir.