For the Love of Brooklyn - Archive

Turning 88

May 31st, 2012 | Posted by Jill in portraits - (0 Comments)

Today my grandmother celebrates her eighty-eighth birthday. She is one of my greatest sources of inspiration, a model of lifelong creativity and love. She is a master quilter, a talented gardener, and has tried countless times to impart her sewing / knitting / crocheting skills to my stubbornly dumb hands. She makes the best homemade biscuits I’ve ever tasted and can kick my tail at Scrabble. She still laughs until she cries.

It’s hard to put to words how thankful I am to have her in my life. I’ve learned so much from her patience, her passion, her faith. My heart is full.

Happy birthday, Grandma. I love you.

family

New York Times features Chris Arnade

February 21st, 2012 | Posted by Jill in portraits - (2 Comments)

Yesterday I was thrilled to see that the New York Times ran an article about Chris Arnade, whose work I’ve been following for the last several years. Arnade is one of the most dynamic and talented street photographers in NYC, and the bonds he forms with his subjects are so powerful and evident in his images.

While the NYT article focuses on his portraits of prostitutes in Hunts Point up in the Bronx (which is link bait, if you ask me), he’s actually been doing a much larger series on addiction within that community. You can see the broader selection from this series here. Marie Viljoen from 66 Square Feet has also written a moving account of a recent trip she took with Arnade up to the Bronx that’s well worth the read.

For more of his work, please see his excellent series on The Pigeon Keepers of Bushwick, Barbershop Brooklyn, and lots more over on Flickr. So gratifying to see Arnade get recognition for the consistently thought-provoking and moving work he does.

bronx, chris arnade, hunts point

flickr faves: for fleeting, everyday moments

July 13th, 2011 | Posted by Jill in featured photographers | portraits - (0 Comments)

After whining about my creative rut last night, I decided I needed to feel a little less sorry for myself and go forth and be inspired. So I fired up the good ol’ Flickr pool and started digging. It’s been too long.

Boy was it a kick in the pants. Seeing all the good work folks are doing around Brooklyn was unbelievably inspirational. From images of late night taco trucks, to Mermaid Parade revelers, to portraits of those living fleeting, everyday moments, I was really overwhelmed by many of the works I’m seeing these days.

Check out a few of my recent favorites below and be sure to pause a beat and let the mood of each wash over you!

Untitled, by Barry Yanowitz:

“Tacos!” by Jonathan Percy:

Untitled, by Christine Renee Miller (via David Pexton):

“Helvis at the Mermaid,” by Leanne Staples:

“DAY 707: BAGS OF CANS,” by Bill Sweeney:

“2011 Coney Island Mermaid Parade,” by Sean Hopkins:

Untitled, by Claire Voelkel:

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chris arnade and his barbershop brooklyn

April 26th, 2011 | Posted by Jill in featured artists | portraits - (5 Comments)

I’ve been a fan of Chris Arnade’s work for quite some time now, and his NYC portrait series are great testaments to the diverse cultural institutions you find all over the city in spades.

Recently, he’s been adding more fantastic photographs to his barbershop series, which features shops all over the city from Sunset Park to Greenpoint. I reached out to him this week to find out more about his inspiration for shooting this series and his thoughts. Chris elaborates:

“I spend lots of time in the more Latino neighborhoods where the barbershops and hairdressers are a big part of the culture. It’s often where people go to hang out, gossip, catch up on news. Besides being a hub of activity, I find many places are amazingly designed, with a lot of work put into the decoration.

Rarer, but my favorite, are the older places that often are time capsules. I also love people who put a lot of work into looking good, exhibiting their own fashion sense. Mirrors, I love mirrors. It’s rare that I get turned down shooting them; the owners are rightfully proud of both the stores, the design, and the job that they do.”

Check out some of his great barbershop portraits from around Brooklyn below, and click here to see more! Be sure to click on the photos to read more about the shops in Chris’ own words!