My dad taught me how to develop and print my own images when I was 12. So that was over 45 years ago. I never thought of it as a career but rather as a quiet way of expressing myself. In college I studied theatre but my darkroom, cameras and photo books were always with me. In 1976 I moved from Boston to NYC with a jazz musician and soon my hobby became my passion, life and career. I began shooting jazz musicians for a new label and one thing led to another, as they say. The jazz trumpeter Chet baker was my first official NYC portrait.

I must have shot no more than 36 images of her that day in about 20 minutes. They are one shot in my mind. They were very similar in tone and when I see them I see both of us at our beginning.

She was quiet, almost shy. We barely spoke but I can see that I did manage to ask her to make little changes through out the shoot and I supplied the lollipop and gum!

I always enjoy the challenge that each location presents.

Seriously, anything but BORED!

I learned about capturing the moment from listening to jazz musicians improvise. Each playing their own version but always coming back together.

Madonna, Tom Wolfe, Laura Linney, David Byrne and James Brown.

Billy Idol. He knocked all of my lights down and walked out of the studio.

Anything goes and no one really cares. There is a lot of freedom in this city.

I am very comfortable when I am working and it transcends to everyone around me. I love what I do and it shows. I also realize that people are usually somewhat anxious about being photographed and I never forget that.

Beatles.

Anywhere.

Digital, please!

Lady GAGA.

 

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