Day one

I am a bit in a daze right now. Having left a job I lived at for nearly four years, zoomed up to New York at break-neck speed ( I have the Georgia Speeding ticket to prove that) I feel like I am still going back to work next week and this is all a odd vacation with excessive packing. We drive my MINI up from the Magic City up 95 where we stopped at South of the Border and the Williamsburg, VA and made great time buzzing along until DC traffic brought us to a halt and delayed us several hours. Now, I am settled in the Upper West living out of a suitcase for a few days until move in on the 1st.

Despite my current state of disorientation from relocating the first day was great. We all filed in at about 10 am with awkward silences, questioning glances and timid introductions (why didn't I film that I have no idea). Later in the day you could already feel the walls melting as introductions were made and work was shared. It was great to see some of their work and how diverse it all is. I wish we could have stayed a bit longer so we could have seen everyone's book but time ran out for quick fire crit. I am looking forward to see what people shoot and even what I shoot. I couldn't help to think that all around the country there were probably other incoming MFA students doing almost the same thing–I wonder if they felt the same?

Miami to Brooklyn

No, I am not talking about the electro song but it will be part of the sound track as I move.

So, as some of you already know... I have finally thrown in the towel and I am leaving Miami and Crispin Porter + Bogusky where I have worked as a Photographer for the past year and a half and before that a Digital Artist for 3 years and I am going back to School to pursue a MFA in Photography from School of Visual Arts. It is very hard leaving a place with so many great people and great memories attached to it but I have been itching to do this for some time now and I can't wait to get started.

I have to thank SVA Graduate Photography AlumsAmy Stein and Matthew Baum for their advise and insight.

Stay classy Miami I will miss you but I will be back regularly. Now back to packing...

Common Themes: Falling in Contempory Photography (UPDATE)


fall5 © elijah gowin. 2006 All rights reserved.


La chute © Denis Darzacq. 2006 All rights reserved.


Porch © kerry skarbakka. 2002 All rights reserved.

Its always interesting to me to see how different photographers approach the same themes. Notice how the environment, coloring and location set the mood as well a composition. If you're up in new york you have a chance to go see Elija Gowin's project at Robert Mann Gallery on 210 Eleventh Avenue between 24th & 25th Streets.

Thanks, "Anonymous" for pointing out two other Falling/Jumping works. One is by Yves Klein, a French Artist who worked in the 50s and early 60s. In 1960 he documented a performance of him jumping off a ledge and the resulting phtoograph as documentation entitled Saut dans le vide (Leap into the Void).


Saut dans le vide (Leap into the Void). © yves klein. 1960 All rights reserved.

The other Artist mentioned is Bas Jan Ader who is another performance biased artist whose work is now largely preserved at photography.


Broken Fall (Organic) © Bas Jan Ader. 1971/94 All rights reserved.

I also just remembered that Young British Artist group member Sam Taylor-Wood has a whole series of falling and suspensions that are also strikingly along the same lines as the works above.

Self Portrait Suspended I © Sam Taylor-Wood. 2004 All rights reserved.


Self Portrait Suspended VII © Sam Taylor-Wood. 2004 All rights reserved.


Bram Stoker's Chair II © Sam Taylor-Wood. 2005 All rights reserved.


Falling VI © Sam Taylor-Wood. 2003 All rights reserved.