portraits

a few months ago i began compiling my photo album for the last year. as i looked through my stacks of photographs, i noticed that most of my photos are of things. pretty, abstract things. interesting buildings, places, textures and patterns. these are great and - as i said - very pretty. yet they're somehow unsatisfying. although they provide the context and background for my life, they don't show the people who make it worthwhile.

i'm not a big fan of the "put your arm around each other and fake smile" snapshot, and so my photos of people tend to be limited to those who will let me snap incessant candid pictures of them. and while some of these turn out well, its a rare person who will cooperate, especially as i seem to take 20 unfortunate portraits for each decent one.

so lately i've been working on this. portraits are harder than they seem. its not just about composition and lighting and interesting angles. those i can work with. helping a person feel at ease in front of the camera - now that's a challenge.

this trip to new york gave me the opportunity (and excuse) to take more pictures of people. i think when you're only in town for a week they tend to humor you.

when i look back on this trip in 20 years i want to see the people i love, not some abstract landscape.

ok, maybe both.