I have been thinking a lot about the systems we live in like capitalism, democracy, even smaller systems like your apartment building or place of work. As I spend time thinking about these things this list of questions has developed:
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Ending my relationship with impulse purchases
in Writing, Conservation
I've spent the past year or so trying to reduce the amount of stuff coming into my life especially things that I don't really want or things that turn to waste quickly. I both wanted to save money, but also I am really sick of having to clean out my closet and house and just want less stuff period.
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How learning to say "No" changed my life
I've been on about a one year quest that began with me wanting to change my career, but it turns out this process has changed my whole life. A year ago I officially started Closed Mondays and thought, I want to take this seriously and make it my full-time gig. I was looking to get out of commercial photography and make things by hand all day every day.
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From the sketchbook 06
in Sketchbook
Feeling bold these days.
Carry A Nation
I was so charmed by this story of Carrie A. Nation. In the late 1800's and early 1900's men were acting like drunk assholes and women had no rights. So she took it upon herself to support prohibition and then went one step further and walked into illegal bars and starting smashing things with her hatchet. Hear a much better version of her story on Criminal episode 73.
An Open Letter to My Sister, Miss Angela Davis
I took some time this morning to re-read James Baldwin's letter to Angela Davis as it applies now as much as ever to the treatment of the asylum seekers knocking at our borders.
One might have hoped that, by this hour, the very sight of chains on black flesh, or the very sight of chains, would be so intolerable a sight for the American people, and so unbearable a memory, that they would themselves spontaneously rise up and strike off the manacles. But, no, they appear to glory in their chains; now, more than ever, they appear to measure their safety in chains and corpses.
Take a moment to read the entire thing on the New York Review of Books, and then put your money where your mouth is with Act Blue.
Photo by Paul Nicklen
The number one most important thing
I woke up in the middle of the night last night in a panic. For the first time in a long time my anxiety wasn't about my financial situation, but about the state of the world. I kept seeing this image of a starving polar bear. It's hard to get a grasp on global climate change, it's such a massive idea, and we don't always get images that allow us to relate to it, but the bear is sticking in a lot of people's minds.
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DIY Rope Necklace
in Made by Hand
Head on over to Design*Sponge to see my instructions for how to make this rope necklace!
Custom Denim for Wrangler
in Made by Hand
The PR company representing Wrangler reached out to me a few weeks ago to do a custom denim activation at one of their NYFW events. I couldn't have been more thrilled to be considered for this. The team at Bollare (the PR company) was great and I spent an awesome (although physically exhausting) two days at their office customizing jackets and jeans. Above are some of the finished pieces.
Summer Photography Course
This summer, I will be teaching a photography intensive course in Brooklyn. Details below.
In this course you will learn from start to finish a professional photography process which you can repeat over and over again to get professional level photos on your own. We will start with taking photos on manual which gives you control over your images to importing, organizing, backing up, color-correcting, retouching and exporting. The course spans several weeks and gives you the chance to practice between classes. You will walk out with an advanced set of skills, it’s up to you to continue your practice to gain more experience. The class includes time in a classroom setting and time practicing taking photographs together.
June 29
Classroom: Camera setup, manual settings and importing
Practical: Spend time outside shooting on manual
Goal: Comfort with manual settings and importing photos.
July 13
Practical: Photographing people
Classroom: Lightroom basics
Goal: Master talking to real people and using Lightroom for color-correction.
July 27
Practical: Shooting still life
Classroom: Going from Lightroom to Photoshop for retouching.
Goal: Proficient in arranging a still life and retouching blemishes, trash, etc.
Add-on Class August 3
Classroom: Advanced Photoshop techniques
Goal: Proficient in more advanced retouching techniques such as combining multiple photos, masking, cloning.
Details
Dates: June 29, July 13, July 27, 2017 6:30 - 9 pm
Cost: $1250
Add-on Advanced Class: August 3, $300
Requirements: Must bring your own DSLR, memory card and lens Rental information available Must bring your own laptop with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop installed (you can get a trial version)
Payment is due in full to reserve your space, class is limited to 6 participants.
Check out the Workshops tab in the shop to reserve and for more dates.