Why do we look at photographs?

Looking up at Franklin Street in Tribeca

A photograph is a moment of our time in life, a brief slice of happening. It’s the capturing of a memory, holding far more detail than we can ever comprehend…the way the light looked, the way it felt to be there. Sometimes, if the photograph is good enough, you can smell the air, feel it along your skin.

You can look at a good photograph and feel it come alive, the image dancing into a mirage of your memories – are they real? are they fact? – blurring the lines between what is my remembering and what is yours, what is a dream and what is your own reality.

I’ve been here before…or have I? I look at this photograph and I hear my heels click on the cobblestone walkway. I am sure I was here. In heels? Perhaps not…that’s something I’ve only dreamt about.

Chanel: Light and Time

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Light is the universe’s constant. Time is ours. As photographers we study light versus time, making calculations and judgement calls for each photograph we create, manipulating light to play alongside the constant of time. From a macrocosmic view of the universe time is just an idea, but for us it’s a reality that never stops. We use photography to take a slice of that time, doing the best we know how to manipulate something out of our grasp.

A portrait of a photographer, Time by Chanel.

The Lucky Ones

The first time I met John Jannuzzi was right before he took his current editorial job at Lucky Magazine; we shared a cab to the showrooms of Oscar de la Renta during NYFW and for the entirety of the drive he had me giggling with his snarky, sharp, cynical humor. It was love. John is one of those guys I wouldn’t mind running into no matter what mood I’m in, because I know he’ll be in a mood too and at least we can have a laugh about it.

Just follow his Twitter to see what I mean…

The editor on style:

“All I can tell you about fashion and style is this:

buy and wear what makes you happy.”

Above: Jacket by John Varvatos [similar], sweater by Acne

Above and below: knit cap by Jack Spade [similar], sweater by Acne, glasses by Warby Parker

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Behind the Scenes

Shoot days are whirlwinds. Kevin thought it would be fun to shoot a time-lapse of Ann Street over a couple of days to show the flow of people, props, and equipment in and out of the studio. It’s kind of fun to observe: if you watch carefully you see my Inaugural Ball gown from Oscar de la Renta arrive, our BBC interview take place and a little dance party with our friend, stylist, and creative partner Kelly.

Also, how beautiful is our makeup artist Porsche Cooper? She shows up even at 5am call times in lashes and a lip, and in-between shots we talk about diamonds, yachts and champagne. She is, in one word, FABULOUS. She also gave everyone makeovers and cheekbones in our lunch break.

Hasselblad H4D-31 medium format digital camera with 80mm f/2.8 HC lens.

The camera captures 31 megapixel images on a medium format sensor which holds larger pixels, increasing the color resolution in gradated areas. Plus it makes the greatest shutter sound. The only downside I found shooting with it is the ISO noise; the image really fell apart over 400 ISO. I shot the story at 100 ISO because I wanted completely noise-free images.

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Calm Before the Storm

While New York was preparing for what was supposed to be a hurricane hitting this past August the city fell wonderfully quiet and empty. I took a long walk through Central Park to capture the calm before the storm that never was…

All images taken with the Hasselblad500C & Kodak Tri-x film