An Evening At David Alan Harvey's Loft

Each year around this time Magnum photographer David Alan Harvey hosts two workshops at his loft in New York. Brooklyn, that is.  A grueling, sleepless week of shooting and editing, and re-shooting and re-editing, always capped off with a slideshow and party. Many of these have reached legendary status... or so I've heard.

It's been suggested that maybe this year would be the last for these Big Apple workshops and soirees. As I'd never before had the "Kibbutz" experience, I thought I'd make the trip before it was too late. Glad I did.

From the Kibbutz you can just see the new WTC.

Neighboring roof top.

Roof top debris.

Hmmm. I guess you just never know!

OMG! WTF! ;^}

Zun Lee, a workshop student, and DAH.

Harvey discussing afternoon light.

Frostfrog gets decorated.

Creating his "comic strip."

How many photographers does it take...

Zun.

Sarah Lengfield, Kurt's daughter.

In the cell phone glow.

Revelers after the show.

Ruckus and a friend.

Late night. Leaving.

Burn Magazine

Very proud to say my Potomac Gorge essay was recently published at Burn Magazine. Go have a look.

FotoWeek DC 2009

Big photography festival all week folks. All over town. Go check it out!

At a gallery called the Fight Club in NW, near the Convention Center, I attended a gallery showing of David Alan Harvey's work from his Spanish diaspora series. He also featured work by three other photographers... Chris Bickford, Michael Loyd Young and A.J. Wilhelm. Impressive work all.

I asked David to pose with this iconic image. It is one of the first photographs of his I can remember seeing and thinking, Man, that's a great shot. I'd like to do that! I started to think about who the artist was. What was he thinking? How did he achieve this or that? What were some of the other things he did? I was fifteen at the time, I think, and from then on I made a point of going through the National Geographic contents page looking for photographers' names, irregardless of the story.

And today? Well, here's a link-->(click here) to a web page I created of the other evening. Enjoy.

Thanks David. Good time.

Drunk and Crazy and Laughing and Wired and High and Shooting Like Mad!

Photo by David Alan Harvey.

Who says photographers can't party? One last time, thanks to all at the Look3 Festival for an amazing time in Charlottesville. Catch you next year.

Thanks David for letting me use your pic!

Look3. 2008. Charlottesville, VA.

"Three days of peace, love and photography." That's Look3. The Festival of the Photograph in Charlottesville, VA. That's where we were this past weekend. A beautiful town... great restaurants, good wine; warm, wonderful people and amazing (and some not-so-amazing) photography. Ran into some good friends and some random blogging acquaintances and shared stories and ideas and even talked the occasional technical crap. Rachel was very patient!

But enough about all that. Let's hear about the weekend! Alright.

The first day was pretty much getting acquainted with the surroundings. Where are all the galleries? (everywhere!) Where do we sign in? What are some good places to eat? Hey is that William Albert Allard? (yes it is!) Anyway, each night there was a big presentation of work and interview at the Paramount Theatre. First night was Mary Ellen Mark. Second night was Joel-Peter Witkin. Third, James Nachtwey. Liked the first. Loved the third...tolerated the second. I might blog on all that at a later date, but for now, let's get to the good stuff!

OK then, through various past circumstances and meetings and occasional blogging, I've had the great pleasure and privilege to meet and be mentored by David Alan Harvey. The man is, as they say, a force of nature. His energy knows no bounds! He will invite you to his home, tell you to send him your latest work for critique, run and/or take part in several workshops and all the while keep pace with the craziness that comes with being a photographer for Magnum and National Geographic.

Well, Charlottesville is a small place, especially the old town area, and sure enough we run into Dave and are invited to the house he's staying at for an after-show party and well...yeah! Some things will have to remain private, but suffice it to say a killer time was had by all! Here are a few photos from that night and the weekend in general.

David Alan Harvey, shooting like mad!

David and Cristina

Sean Gallagher (left), some random dude (right).

William Albert Allard.

Alex Chadwick of NPR interviews Mary Ellen Mark.

David introducing The EPF Essays.

Rachel's Jack on the rocks!

Rachel with tea bag.

Rachel listening to my pal Panos Skoulidas.

Panos.