The Fashion Of Photographers At Men's Fashion Week In NYC

First off, how the did I miss this event? I would have loved to have seen it and photographed it. After a twenty year hiatus, it's back - Men's Fashion Week. Fashion has always been an interest of mine. My sister was a designer for many years. You could even say that she has somewhat of a healthy obsession with fashion. Naturally, I was exposed to her obsession and over time, I too, began to love the world of fashion.

Bill Cunningham did a great little vlog post for The New York Times on the trending fashion. Check it out. But, what about the fashion of photographers? As one might expect, a mass of photographers descended on the city to capture the latest, the greatest, the hottest of the hot in men's fashion.

One photographer, Aymann Ismail popped over to Manhattan's Hudson Square to capture photographers in their very own, unique style and holding their closest companion, their cameras. It should come as no surprise that photographers were will to pose.

Want to see more of the fashion at Men's Fashion Week? Pop on over to Vogue. And to see more of Aymann's work at MFW, and can surf on over here.

Dream Big and Don't Look Back

Dare To Dream Big

When I look at my life, I see some pretty amazing things. Overall, I'm pretty darn happy with my life. Sure there are plenty of missed opportunities. Things I want to do and haven't done. Things I haven't pushed myself to achieve. Places I've wanted to explore. I've got none to blame but myself for my lack in those areas.

As in years past, I start off the beginning of the year telling myself I'm going to make a change. "This year will be different. This year I will finally achieve those things I didn't previously". But I always fall short. I know I'm not the only one. So, in the spirit of change, I set before me those very same goals. However, there will be one difference. I'm putting myself out there, willing to fall short, fall on my face. Even expecting it to happen, because I know now that only from our failures will we make great discoveries.

http://www.gofundme.com/l40h90

Take a peek at one of the big plans we have for this year. I'd love for you all to be a part of it.

CHECK OUT THIS KILLER SPEED RETOUCH BY MARINA DEAN-FRANCIS

Retouching is an art and I always enjoy watching time-lapse retouching videos. We get the ability to see something come together in just a matter of moments. Better yet, there's always something to learn from them too.

Check out the time-lapse retouching video below by photographer and retoucher Marina Dean-Francis. You can check out more of Marina's retouching work here and her photography here.

PHOTOGRAPHY PURISTS BEWARE!

It seems every field has its purists and the photography world is not without them. It's funny how we tend to argue the tech more than the art itself, it seems. Film is better than digital and vice versa. I'm a gear-head and love the tech, but I love it for the tech and what new kinds of tools it allows you use to create. I couldn't care less which one is better and which one makes me a "real photographer" or a real artist. The fact that I create and challenge myself to express makes me an artist. The mere tools don't make it so. Let me explain.

©Austin James Photo

In this digital world we care constantly bombarded with new ways to capture images, better ways to capture images, better resolution, insane lowlight capabilities and so on and so on ad infinitum. It's so easy to get caught up in that and make that the focus. I do it all the time. But more and more I'm discovering people that have pushed beyond those restricting ways of thinking and really creating some incredible work with what they have at hand. They have no care as to whether or not they are shooting with a $3,000 Nikon or Canon or the iPhone they just upgraded to for $99. What's important are the stories they are telling. And that's the name of the game. The story. Whatever medium you decide to use to create, just tell a friggin' compelling story.

Ian Ruhter's work

Ian Ruhter creates amazingly haunting work on gigantic plates of metal that run him somewhere around $500 a pop. You can see his work here www.ianruhter.com. He happens to be one of my favorite artists. Then on the other hand I stumbled up Lu Gen's work while reading an article on FStoppers this morning. The link to brief article is here [Fstoppers]. I was captivated and inspired when looking at his work. You can see it here VSCO Grid. And it's costing him nothing to create. Just the cost of the phone and whatever apps he uses.

Lu Gen's work taken with an iPhone

It's not the tools or the cost of those tools that makes the artist. Don't rely on some object to define or validate you as an artist. Let your work make it so. Screw the tech, but love it at the same time. I strive to achieve this level of artistry shown by both artists mentioned here. 

BE INSPIRED!

As artists, we struggle with inspiration. I know I do every day. What to write? What to shoot? What to edit? Where to START?


I look at the work of others and ponder where they get their inspiration. I long for that moment when the bells ring and that clear image materializes in my mind. Sometimes the bells go off. It just doesn't happen as often as I'd like. It leads me to wonder, do some of these artist that I look up to struggle as much as I do with this problem? I'm beginning to think that they do.

Joel Grimes

Joel Grimes is a photographer with immense talent, but he claims that he his hard work out-weighs talent every day. He says that he's had to work harder than many people he knows with more talent. Looking at his work and career, I think he's molded his talent into something incredible. His work is inspiring to me.

Benjamin Von Wong

Benjamin Von Wong shouts "BE INSPIRED". He's a conceptual and commercial photographer and artist. His work is epic, dramatic, and cinematic. I can't help but feel motivated when looking at his work. I want to grab my camera and run out the door.


The problem is, most of the time I don't know what to shoot. I have this feeling that these great artists just pull ideas out of nothing. That they are just endowed with some magic ability to create incredible things. That they shit creative ideas. Most of the time, I don't. And this is a struggle for me. I think this notion limits me and I think this notion affects others in the same way too.

Enter Joel Grimes and his words of wisdom. Hard work and work hard. I'm beginning to think that the inspiration just doesn't come to you. You have to work hard to create it and that comes from seeing others work. Creating works based off their work and eventually we'll find our own voice.

The shot below is a frame I snapped awhile back. I feel it speaks to my developing thoughts on inspiration. We sit in a dark room hunting for what we can't see. Step out into the light to see what's there waiting to be discovered.

©Austin James Photo www.austinjamesphoto.com

And that's just my two cents.