Dancers Among Us Gets a Celebrity Endorsement

2012-02-02T13:47:00.000-05:00

In December, I wrote an open letter to a Tony-winning Broadway legend, imploring her to participate in my book. It was titled, "Bebe Neuwirth, I Want YOU for Dancers Among Us!" It was a long shot, but you never know until you ask, right? Stranger things have happened. After a few days with no response, I let go of my fantasy. The Internet is just an empty echo chamber, I thought.

Six weeks later, an email shook my world.

"I just saw your blog request. I looked at the slideshow of your book's shots, and I'm completely charmed, moved, delighted and willing!"

Signed simply, "Bebe".

At this point, my life became totally surreal. Later that same day, I met Bebe at Prodigy Coffee, her husband's awesome new coffee shop in the west village. They were raving to me about ME. I was dumbstruck.

The Dancers Among Us collaboration happened immediately. After two hours of kicking around ideas, we settled on an idea I never would have anticipated. The location would be Equine Advocates, an amazing horse sanctuary Bebe works with in Chatham, NY.

I was leaving for a West Coast trip, and scheduled the shoot for the day I returned. I flew in late Friday night and arrived home at 2am. By 5am it had begun to snow, and by 7am it was a snowstorm. At 9am I was on the road to Chatham. As a testament to Bebe's commitment, she didn't cancel, despite the doom and gloom forecast.

After a treacherous trip, we both arrived around the same time. The 140 acre facility was breathtaking. Co-founders Susan and Karen Wagner generously opened their home to us, which was much appreciated given the twenty-degree temperature.

We went down to the stables. The stalls, as well as the rescued horses, turned out to be quite photogenic.

Bebe agreed to a photograph mucking out a horse's stall, which shows her terrific sense of humor (no surprise there). She's had two hip replacements, and the temperature was too frigid for her body to stay warm. I didn't want her to try anything extreme- the conditions were an injury waiting to happen. I gave her a pitchfork and asked her to do some Fosse moves while raking the hay. She played around as I hoped for a horse to arrive.

Finally a horse, lured by the soothing voice of Bebe's husband, Chris, came into view. The horse turned for a moment to look at Bebe, and she hit a couple of very fun, very Fosse poses while looking right back at him.

We rushed inside to warm up. Bebe's hands were frozen, but I was thrilled. I had gotten exactly what I wanted- a unique, whimsical image featuring Bebe in an unexpected environment, showcasing the dance style that made her a Broadway star. And whenever I'm completely satisfied, there's only one thing to say.

"Can we do another photo?"

Amazingly, Bebe agreed. I walked around the property, scouting a new location. I came upon this gem.

I ran back to the house and gathered the troops. Within twenty minutes had shot one of my very favorite images of the entire series- a photograph so beautiful it blows my mind. I absolutely cannot wait to share it with you...

In the spring of 2013, when the Dancers Among Us book is released! It's worth the wait.

Thank you Bebe.

Collapsing Under the Strain, Dancers Among Us Stalls at the Airport

2012-02-01T13:45:00.001-05:00

I met with Workman Publishing for the first time in early June, 2011. They invited me in to discuss a possible Dancers Among Us calendar. A book deal wasn't mentioned when setting up the meeting.

I brought it up anyway.

They were intrigued, but they had reservations about the use of New York City exclusively as a backdrop. I had been shooting Dancers Among Us for two years, and I never considered moving outside the Big Apple. Of course, I dug in my heels and stood by that creative decision.

"Well, I have plans to travel around America this summer, shooting from coast to coast."

I didn't mention my plans were about five-seconds old.

"Oh, that's interesting." Editor-in-chief Susan Bolotin's interest seemed piqued. "Where?"

"Oh, you know... Like, uh... San Francisco, Chicago, Philly... uh, Colorado..." My voice trailed off. Is there even dance in Colorado, I wondered.

"Well, email us some photos from the road. I'm curious to see if the concept works outside of NYC."

And thus began the madness. In the past seven months, I've shot in hundreds of new locations, making sixteen separate trips around the country. I kept an active schedule in NYC as well, shooting almost four-hundred actor headshots and comp cards in that time, as well as the Women's US Olympic Rowing 2012 Calendar, the 2012 Paul Taylor Moving! campaign, and my first book cover.

Saturday it all caught up with me. I was on my way to Newark Airport for an early flight to Nashville, TN. Seven dancers from Nashville Ballet we waiting for me, along with several other talented local dancers.

I had already changed my flight from the night before. My family had been scheduled to join me in Nashville, and we were all going to fly out Friday night. But they were all suffering from the same flu-like symptoms I'd been working through for the past week. I would go alone.

As I pulled into the airport, the absurdity of what I was about to do became glaringly obvious. Aching, feverish and exhausted, I was abandoning any hope of rest and recovery, fueled by a blind urgency to fulfill the promise I made to Workman (and myself)- "Travel America from coast to coast."

America is too big, I finally realized. I can't get everywhere. Painful as it was to acknowledge that reality, it was also a relief. I turned the car around and went home to care for myself and my family.

The rest of my weekend looked something like this-

Kara Lozanovski, Chicago

Now that I'm rested and have a new perspective, I realize that I can indeed do it all...

I just may need ten sequels.

A Surprise Snowstorm in Seattle for Dancers Among Us

2012-01-24T14:16:00.006-05:00

As the deadline approaches to deliver all my Dancers Among Us photos to Workman Publishing, my time in each city has become absurdly brief. Last week I had just one full day of shooting in Seattle and Aspen, and only a few hours in Greeley and Denver.

The lack of time was all the more daunting given the quality and quantity of my volunteers.

In Seattle, I had ten dancers from the prestigious Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB). We shot seven photos in thirteen frantic hours. It was a wildly successful day- one of the most productive cities.

I saved one location- and one PNB dancer- for the next day. Georgetown is a gritty industrial town on the outskirts of Seattle, and Ezra Thomson is a gritty kind of guy. It seemed like the perfect match.

I woke up to a light dusting of snow. I knew it was coming because everyone had been talking about it. Snow in Seattle is a very rare occurrence- a half-inch and the city shuts down. This mild smattering was certain not to stick.

And then the Heavens opened up.

I was in a full-scale snowstorm as I drove to Georgetown. By the time I arrived, we had very little time to shoot- I was due at the airport in an hour. As always, I was relying on serendipity to guide me. We drove through the downpour looking for a location. I thought I was looking for factories or graffiti or abandoned train tracks, but then we stumbled upon a junkyard under the freeway- it was love at first sight.

We had fifteen minutes to shoot. I asked Ezra to light a cigarette and to physicalize heavy desperation. The snow would be crushing him, a man lost and alone, caught in nature’s wrath.

It was almost impossible to shoot. My camera was soaked and fogging up. I couldn’t see anything. I set the auto-focus on Ezra and shouted directions. The focus kept locking on the snow rather than Ezra. He was slipping in the snow, literally beaten up by the storm. I grabbed a beer can from the street and gave it to him. I kept shooting until my fingers were frozen.

Three-hundred-and-thirty images I hadn’t reviewed.

I had no idea how the shots looked. I raced to the airport, disappointed by the outcome. I felt it had been too rushed, and that I hadn’t given him enough direction. The location and snow had been a gift, and I hadn’t capitalized on it. I was devastated.

On the airplane I turned on my computer, and I was blown away. Ezra had been magnificent. I hadn’t seen the beauty of his movement.

My favorite image came after I gave Ezra the beer and changed the composition to incorporate the freeway. He struck a beautiful, heartbreaking pose that said everything I had hoped to convey.

Thank you yet again, Serendipity, for always showing up in the perfect moments for Dancers Among Us. Next time though, you don't have to bring the full force of Mother Nature along with you.

Mega-Star Alex Wong Trashes Dancers Among Us

2012-01-11T13:52:00.001-05:00

I was in Miami in November shooting Dancers Among Us when I saw this tweet-

"@jordanmatter: Love your photography and would love to shoot with you one day!" from a @AlexdWong

I continued shooting. Ten minutes later I received this email from Samantha Siegel, my social media consultant-

"I see that Alex Wong has reached out to you about shooting for Dancers Among Us-- do EVERYTHING in your power to make that happen!"

Then I started seeing passionate tweets from complete strangers commenting on the possible collaboration, urging it to happen.

I turned to the dancer I was photographing. "Who is Alex Wong?"

She looked at me like I had just said, "Who's this Obama guy I keep hearing about?"

"Alex is incredible. He was going to win So You Think You Can Dance until he tore his Achilles tendon before the final round. It was devastating. He's a huge star."

I really need to watch more television.

Once I started researching Alex, I got very excited. He's a tremendously athletic and beautiful dancer, with stunning lines and jumps to the sky. His background with ABT and Miami City Ballet gives him an artistry along with commercial dance.

I also learned that he had torn his other Achilles, and was in recovery. So what could he actually do? Guess I'd find out.

For some reason, the image of a streetlight at night kept popping into my head whenever I thought about shooting Alex. I couldn't shake it. We planned to meet one evening around Christmas in the West Village. I walked around looking for the right streetlight when I stumbled upon Minetta Lane, and here's what I discovered-

It had been raining, which added a nice reflection on the street and misty quality to the atmosphere. Alex started warming up. "I'm at about 50% recovery. I can jump, but I'll take it easy." And he proceeded to do a practice jump-

I need to do another shoot him again and see what 100% looks like.

I asked Alex to put on a shirt, grab a trash bag and throw it into the pile at the height of his jump. I'll call the photo, "Trash Night"-

CRASH!! The bag was filled with bottles. Maybe I should call it, "Recycling Night" instead. We grabbed another bag.

I loved the pose, of course, but I wasn't crazy about the composition. I needed to incorporate the alley more. He looked a little closed in.

We tried a few more throws.

CRASH!!! CRASH!!! CRASH!!!!

"What the hell are you doin' down there?!?" came a mysterious and angry voice from a window.

"We're doing a photograph, sir. We're almost finished." I replied, trying to sound casual.

"Do you have a permit?"

"Of course." I lied.

"I hope so, because I'm callin' the police!"

This put a little cramp in my creative process. I liked the shots we had taken, but there was something missing. I didn't want to get arrested trying to figure it out, but I didn't want to leave either. Neither did Alex.

Then it hit us like a ton of bricks. Why had I asked him to put a shirt on?

"Can you take off your shirt and change your pants to add contrast? I'm going to switch to a wider lens so we see more of the environment. Plus I have to incorporate that streetlight, and get more blue reflection on the ground."

Three more jumps. CRASH!!! CRASH!!! CRASH!!!

I could just feel the guy in the window fuming (with good reason- it was after 10pm). We looked at the shot together and agreed that it couldn't get any better. We loved it- the pose, the colors, the streetlight, the reflections... THE BODY! We escaped before the police could add more blue light to the scene. A Dancers Among Us success.

I like this mega-star thing and I'm ready to do some more. Mr. Baryshnikov, are you available next week?

www.dancersamongus.com

Postscript: Do you think I'm crazy enough to let Alex Wong leave with just one photo? Of course not. We went to his apartment (location undisclosed), and created one of my very favorite shots of the entire series. But you'll have to wait until 2013 to see it. Workman Publishing has asked me to keep it under wraps until the book is released. Believe me, it alone is worth the purchase price!

The Photograph the World Never Saw... Until Now

2012-01-04T13:32:00.000-05:00

As I was taking this photograph of Parisa Khobdeh, I knew immediately it would be the cover shot for the Paul Taylor Dance Company's (PTDC) 2012 Moving! campaign.

In my blog, "When Life Gives You Lemons..", I documented the drama that led to creating this image. It was exhilarating, the culmination of a long history of collaborating with Parisa that started almost three years ago, on my first day of shooting Dancers Among Us.

"I've got this idea for dancers in everyday situations." I explained in our first phone conversation. I didn't have to say anything else.

"Fun. Meet me at Grumpy's, my favorite coffee bar. Let's do a coffee drinking photo."

She embraced the collaborative process so completely that I almost didn't have to collaborate.

"I'm going to a Yankee game. Meet me there. I'll do a jump in the crowd."

"I want to do a photo where I'm floating away holding balloons. I'll bring the balloons!"

It was fitting that Parisa ended up with the campaign's cover shot. The image would be displayed on a huge banner. Like a siren floating above Lincoln Center, Parisa would coax throngs of patrons into the David H. Koch Theater. PTDC would immediately sell-out their season, and I would be celebrated across the globe as the greatest living dance photographer...

"We're not using it. Can you shoot Parisa again?" Executive Director John Tomlinson asked me bluntly.

"Uhhhhh..."

"It doesn't match the 'Moving' theme. She's not going anywhere."

"Uhhhhh...."

"I want her jumping out of a bus, on her way to the show."

"Uhhhhh..."

"We need it for the cover of the brochure."

"The cover? Why didn't you say so? The bus is a great idea!"

Indeed, it was.

I can't argue with John- the shot works beautifully for the campaign. However, I still love the first photo, and I really wish I could put it on a cover as well.

Wait a minute...

2011- A Whirlwind for Jordan Matter Photography

2011-12-30T11:00:00.005-05:00

It's been a whirlwind year. My mother, Paula Feiten, and my good friend, Geoff Legg, died within three months of each other. My wife and I watched our children Salish and Hudson, grow bigger, wiser, and more beautiful. And my career exploded in ways I never imagined possible. As the exciting and tiring year draws to a close, I feel incredibly fortunate and alive. I thank you all for your support and encouragement.

Highlights from 2011:

Dancers Among Us Coming to a Bookstore Near You

I am collaborating with Workman Publishing for a national book release of Dancers Among Us, tentatively scheduled for Spring 2013. For a chance to be included in the book, see where I am traveling in the U.S. next and recommend dancers for the project by visiting my BRAND NEW WEBSITE: http://www.dancersamongus.com.

Alan Cumming, Patti LaBelle, and Angels

This year Gabrille's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research released the celebrity portraits I took of, among others, Patti LaBelle and Alan Cumming. The shoot was surreal. Take a look here.

25 Beautiful Women and 2 Frantic Photographers- Photographing an Olympic Calendar in One Day

Partner Jeremy Saladyga and I had one day to capture action and portrait shots of the US Women's Rowing Team for their 2012 Olympic calendar- truly an Olympic task in itself. Read more on the exciting day here, and to preview and purchase the calendar please visit: http://www.thetimefactory.com/products/us-womens-rowing-team

Paul Taylor Dance Company 2012 Moving! Campaign

What an amazing collaboration with such amazing dancers. Take a look at the finished product.

Dancers Among Us Inspires New iPhone App

Carbone Smolan Agency (CSA) announces Canon Idea Mine, soon to be released. Read more here.

Dancers Among Us in the Press

Slate Magazine, Stated Magazine published fantastic articles on Dancers Among Us, and ZDF German Television featured a segment of a day of shooting Dancers Among Us and a second segment on shooting headshots.

$3,100 Raised for Charity

Dancers Among Us publisher prints were sold for charity this holiday season. I matched 100% of the proceeds raised, and $1,550 will go to both Helen Keller International and The Against Malaria Foundation. Thank you for your generosity!

Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year to you!

The Greatest Six Years Of My Life! Happy Birthday, My Sweet Boy

2011-12-29T10:51:00.000-05:00

My beautiful son Hudson turns six-years-old today. It's truly mind-blowing how quickly he went from this...

to this...

I never craved children. I wasn't against the idea, just indifferent. Like many men I've spoken with, I felt like I had forever. No rush. I would come to parenthood when I was good and ready, after I had achieved my dreams. I focused on my professional ambitions, and parenthood would just have to wait.

This attitude did not change as I saw my wife's belly swell. It did not change as we packed for our final trip to the hospital (five minutes before we left, I completed the first draft of my book, "Uncovered"). It did not change as her labor intensified and the inevitable was upon me. I watched from a distance, oddly disconnected from reality.

Then he appeared. I looked at his perfect face and I was ready to die for him. The shift happened immediately. I couldn't imagine life without him.

I've known him for six years now, and my initial emotional reaction has deepened into a new perspective about life. I am forever changed, and I don't even recognize the man I was six-years-and-a-day ago. The function of my ambition has shifted, from a selfish pursuit of success to an example for my children. My heart has swelled with each passing year.

Hudson, I am intensely proud of the boy you are, and I'm excited to see the man you become (but no rush- take your time growing up). I do have one selfish wish on your birthday- that I have as positive an impact on your life as you've had on mine.

Thank you, Hudson. I love you.

Why I Hate the Paul Taylor Dance Company

2011-12-20T10:10:00.000-05:00

Hanging out with dancers is never great for the ego, but hanging out with ten dancers from Paul Taylor Dance Company is downright devastating. This summer I spent four days shooting PTDC's 2012 campaign, "Moving!" as they move to the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for their upcoming season. Between all of them I think they have a total of 2% body fat.

When I get sick of looking at them and need a pick-me-up, I play my photography card. Sure, they can do unimaginable things with their bodies, they travel the world creating art for sold-out audiences, and they all look like models, BUT I can take better photos.

Ha!

Then Sean Patrick Mahoney and Francisco Graciano shattered that illusion as well. First, they did some crazy s#@t in front of the camera-

Sean Patrick Mahoney

Francisco Graciano

Then they grabbed their cameras and casually took some awesome behind-the-scenes photos-

Francisco Graciano

Sean Patrick Mahoney

Oh, and their personal work is beautiful as well-

Sean Patrick Mahoney

Francisco Graciano

So maybe I can't play the photography card... but I CAN play the age card. I am definitely older than they are.

Ha!

Wait a minute...

Dancers Among Us Under Attack in Paradise

2011-12-15T13:31:00.002-05:00

“Sure, Sarasota has America’s number one beach, but there’s so much more to do.”

For the past few months, I heard this commercial every twenty minutes while listening to my Elton John channel on Pandora. I guess Elton puts me in the Florida demographic.

America’s number one beach? That’s a pretty bold statement, and just too tempting to resist. Dancers Among Us could use a pretty beach location, and I could use a break from the northern winter.

On Sunday afternoon I arrived in Sarasota with my makeup artist and collaborator, Pamela Bob. I had booked a day of actor headshots with Florida State University/Asolo Rep students the next day, so I only had a few hours of light for Dancers Among Us.

I wanted to use members of Sarasota Ballet for the shoot, so for weeks I put on a full-court press to woo them- tweeting, facebooking, emailing, calling. The company’s Director, Iain Webb, finally responded to my stalking, but I was still unsure of my prospects as I arrived at the theatre.

Luckily for me, Iain was very enthusiastic and passionate. He greeted me with a warm smile and four beautiful dancers: Principles Danielle Brown, Octavio Martin and Ricardo Graziano, and Soloist Ricardo Rhodes. They were in the midst of a hellacious rehearsal schedule, but took a few precious hours off to collaborate with me.

As rain threatened, we piled into our cars and sped south towards the famous Siesta Beach. I immediately saw the appeal. The white sand feels like talcum powder, and the ocean is turquoise blue.

And there are seagulls. Lots of them.

Feeding the seagulls was an obvious scenario. My initial thought was a jump to mimic the flying motion of the birds, but Danielle suggested a lift instead. Much better idea! We practiced for a few minutes, keeping one eye on the impending storm.

The approaching rain was a blessing in disguise. It provided me with beautiful light and a dramatic background. Had it been sunny, the bright white sand would have washed out the seagulls.

There was no time to waste, so we got a few rolls from concessions and jumped right in. We threw up a couple of crumbs and the birds went nuts. They descended on her and IT WAS CREEPY! Before Danielle could even fully extend her body, the seagulls attacked the bread and left her empty handed. At least they left her fingers intact.

We had four rolls, and I just kept shooting until we ran out of bread. Unable to control the situation in any way, I adopted a rapid-fire approach: shouting adjustments to the dancers while hoping the ravenous birds would not obstruct them. Or eat them.

I got several cool photos, but the final frame is my favorite. A seagull swooped in and ate out of Danielle’s hand just long enough for me to get the shot, then flew away with the last of our bread.

Pamela Bob recorded the entire experience, and it’s worth spending two minutes to see what this looked like in action. It’s truly surreal. Check the video below:

Help Two Charities & Receive Dancers Among Us Prints!

2011-12-14T13:26:00.007-05:00

I have ten boxes full of 11x14 Dancers Among Us prints, over 100 photos, that I have used to show publishers as a case for creating a Dancers Among Us book. With a book deal with Workman Publishing now in place, I would love to give these special photos to you, and ask that you help support two great charities in return!  

100% of the proceeds will go to the following charities:
• Against Malaria (helping prevent malaria by providing mosquito nets)
• Helen Keller International (helping to save the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged)

Here's the kicker: I will match your contributions dollar for dollar!
Prints are available at a reduced cost to help generate as much interest as possible for these charities. So please spread the word!

Prints will be randomly selected from my favorite Dancers Among Us images. Thank you for your generosity!

CLICK HERE to donate to Against Malaria and Helen Keller International and receive Dancers Among Us prints!

Bebe Neuwirth, I Want YOU for Dancers Among Us!

2011-12-08T11:34:00.002-05:00

I'm on my knees, Bebe. Literally, I'm typing on my knees.

I'm sure I'm not the first man to fall before you, and I don't even know you, yet I'm certain I want to photograph you for my book. Hopefully you'll read this appeal and be intrigued.

I'm a NYC photographer, and I've been shooting dancers in everyday situations for over two years. The project is titled, "Dancers Among Us". It has been viewed millions of times on my website, and featured in blogs, newspapers, magazines and television segments around the world. I just finalized a contract with Workman Publishing for a Spring 2013 national book release. I'm traveling around the country photographing dancers for the book.

Recently someone asked me who I still want to photograph, and your name immediately came to mind. I understand you were a knockout host at the The Bessie Awards this year, so you may enjoy this "Dancers Among Us" photo of Jennifer Jones from last year's ceremony.

I'm sure you're a fantastic subject to photograph. I'm ready to hop on a plane and meet you anywhere. The folks at Workman have given me until March to finish shooting, so I'm yours anytime between now and then. Just say the word.

It's not a stretch to imagine you in this book. After all, this image of you in "Chicago"-

Is not a far cry from this photo of Parson's Dancer Eric Bourne in Westchester-

If you'd like to see the gallery, watch behind-the-scenes videos and read press clippings, please visit the project's website-

www.dancersamongus.com

Feel free to contact me anytime. Here's my private email address. Please don't give it to anyone. I just use it for family, friends and celebrity crushes-

jordanmatter@gmail.com

See you soon!

PRIZE UPDATE: Sweepstakes and First Photo Release of the Paul Taylor Dance Company 2012 Moving! Campaign

2011-12-07T13:33:00.000-05:00

It is with great pleasure that I release the first of many exciting Dancers Among Us photos of the collaboration between Jordan Matter Photography and Paul Taylor Dance Company for their 2012 Moving! Campaign.

Enjoy this photo?... It can be yours! WIN a 11x14 print of this image of dancer Sean Patrick Mahoney by entering the sweepstakes today!

UPDATE as of December 7th: Paul Taylor Dance Company has just up-ed the ante to throw in a DVD of the Paul Taylor documentary "Dancemaker"! The contest is almost up, December 11th is around the corner!

ENTER HERE THE SWEEPSTAKES HERE.

Call for Florida Dancers for Dancers Among Us

2011-12-06T14:23:00.005-05:00

Okay, Florida dancers. This is serious.

YOU have the opportunity to be in Dancers Among Us and its resulting best selling book of all time. The photo bellow was taken in Miami just a few weeks ago (hard to believe it was taken in November right?). Meet me THIS WEEKEND in Sarasota, December 11th and 12th, and rise to the challenge of equaling the awesome Natalie Brum.

Email me at jordanmatter@gmail.com. Please share this opportunity with others!

"Like" This Blog! Pretty Pleeeeaaassseee!

2011-11-29T13:11:00.000-05:00

Before Thanksgiving, I posted four items on my Facebook fan page that received tons of likes, shares and comments- they were very successful posts. Three of them have since been removed, and I have no idea why.

Was it a hacker? A bug in the system? Or did the Facebook police find the content offensive in some way? I don't think I will ever know, but I have to admit, I feel a very bizarre sense of loss.

This unfortunate event got me thinking about the increasing influence of Facebook in our lives. Recently I photographed a midnight birthday party in Union Square, populated by people in their early twenties. Since I don't go to many 22nd birthday parties, I was particularly struck by one thing- at any given moment, half of them were Facebooking on their cell phones. Not just reading but actively posting about the party, complete with photos taken moments before.

The old saying, "If a tree falls in the forest and nobody hears it, did it fall?" needs a 21st Century update. "If a day goes by and you don't update your status, did that day happen?"

We are all victims of our humanity. We crave acceptance and reassurance. Facebook feeds on this impulse, and exploits it brilliantly. Anyone who posts on Facebook is exposing their human insecurity, needing to know how popular they are at that moment.

A young client of mine explained it this way, "If I post on someone's wall, they're much more likely to post on mine. I post on lots of walls. If I get ten 'Likes' and a few comments on one of my posts, it's successful and I feel good. If nobody 'Likes' it, I wonder what I did wrong."

No wonder Facebook is the #1 activity for high school students- it is high school. I was so glad to be finished with high school; I didn't know I'd be trapped there forever.

Please "Like" this blog on Facebook- www.facebook.com/JordanMatterPhotography. If you're feeling generous, write a glowing comment as well. If you don't, did this blog even exist? And how will I get out of bed in the morning?

Jordan Matter Photography and the Paul Taylor Dance Company 2012 Moving! Campaign

2011-11-26T16:01:00.000-05:00

Stay tuned next week as I reveal the collaboration of Jordan Matter Photography and the Paul Taylor Dance Company 2012 Moving! Campaign.

The first of these Dancers Among Us images features this motorcycle. I had a fantastic time working with such high caliber Paul Taylor dancers- just imagine how much fun I had playing with this little prop!

Keep an eye out for exciting contests coming your way- details to be announced soon!

Dancers Among Us Makes a Big Splash in Miami

2011-11-16T23:06:00.006-05:00

NO JUMPING

I read the ominous sign next to the sprawling pool at the famous Fontainebleau Miami Beach. I looked around and saw security personnel everywhere, ready to pounce at any infraction. This was going to be a problem.

Seventeen-year-old dancer Annie Gaddis and her mother Jackie drove three hours from Fort Myers to participate in Dancers Among Us. She brought a bright pink bikini. I wanted to photograph her jumping into the pool. I didn't have another idea. It had to happen.

I decided to pull some strings- I called my new BFF Mary Barrett, VP of Operations at Fontainebleau. We spent the day before bonding during an intense corporate headshot marathon, which I documented in yesterday's blog "Shooting Corporate Headshots for Miami's Biggest Vice- The World Famous Fontainebleau Resort".

"What do you want? You must want something or you wouldn't be calling." Imagine this said with an Irish accent and a twinkle in her voice. True love.

"Pool access. I want a dancer to jump in the pool. Just a few times. We'll be very discrete."

"Done." She's not one for small talk.

My initial idea was to have Annie sunbathing over the water while holding a tanning reflector. I found a good perspective that incorporated two well-placed onlookers, and we tried it a few times.

The reflector wasn't working. I wanted her to be more engaged in an activity. What about reading? I looked around and struck gold- Miami Magazine (I love to identify the location whenever possible)! I handed her a plastic cup as well.

"You're drinking water and holding the magazine towards the camera so I can read it. Try to keep the magazine out of the water when you land so it stays dry. We might have to do this a few times."

Yes, just a few.

Wow, that actually looks really good. It couldn't be that easy, right? I decided to try a different perspective. I wanted her to be more featured, perhaps soaring in the blue sky. And I wanted more palm trees.

I love it! Unfortunately, the magazine keeps blocking her back foot. Annie suggests a different pose.

I love it more! That's a pose I've never used. Amazing. Almost perfect.

"The magazine needs to be turned just a little more towards the camera, and the cup should be closer to your bottom lip."

"Legs are perfect. Turn the magazine towards me. The cup is past your bottom lip now. Bring it back up."

"Legs are amazing, but you covered your face with the magazine, which could be kind of cool but probably not."

"Perfect cup placement, but the legs are turned slightly too far away from me. I don't like the separation. Plus the magazine is wet so it's folding over at the corner. Let's get a different issue."

"God it's so close. The magazine needs to be a hair turned towards me. Plus I like the first issue better. The 'Miami' is more clear. Love the dude in the shot though."

"So, so close. Love the old guy checking you out, but your feet are not exactly together, and that damn magazine is folding over just a little. Plus the cup placement is off again. Keep it in your mouth."

"Beautiful, but your legs can get a little higher- press them against your butt. And please, Photography Gods, give me one time when the magazine doesn't fold over."

"Aggghhhhh, it's perfect except for the magazine. Everything else is absolutely perfect. I don't know what to tell you. Maybe a slight turn of the wrist? Maybe a prayer? Something to get that cover legible. Let's try it one more time."

click to enlarge

"Perfection!! Amazing work, Annie."

Forty-five splashes later, we had our shot. I turned around to see a crowd gathered. So much for the discretion I had promised Mary. I showed everyone the photo, and they all gasped. One woman commented, "The photo makes it look so easy, but it isn't at all."

"Maybe I should write a blog that explains exactly how difficult it was." I replied.

"Yes, you should."

Shooting Corporate Headshots for Miami's Biggest Vice- The World Famous Fontainebleau Resort

2011-11-16T01:24:00.002-05:00

Two weeks ago I received an inquiry from Dana Hagendorf, VP and Chief Marketing Officer for Fontainebleau in Miami, one of the world's top resorts.

"Can you fly down to Miami next week to shoot our executive portraits?"

My calendar is booked solid until January, with an overflow of people on the waiting list. I cannot accommodate any disruption in my schedule, so I had no choice but to say...

"Sure."

I even added two days to shoot for my Dancers Among Us book. I'm no fool.

As I expected, the resort is lavish and stunning and immense- well deserving of their premier standing in the industry. However, I did not expect to enjoy everyone's company as much as I did. I discovered that "cool executives" is definitely not an oxymoron.

I assumed they wanted a standard corporate headshot approach- find a nice location and have each executive come to me, basically replicating the same photo every time. Instead, I proposed a unique idea- photograph each executive in a different environment, choosing a location that matches the individual's expertise.

As I was making the suggestion, I fully realized I was tripling my workload. But a full workday in Miami is like a day off in NYC, so I wasn't worried.

I had a fantastic time exploring and photographing the property. I shot for twelve hours and we laughed our asses off the entire day. Here are a few of the final images. You'll have to go to www.fontainebleau.com to see the rest.

The President and COO, Philip Goldfarb, surveying his domain from the expansive back patio

Director of Spa Operations, Josie Feria, relaxing in a corner of the 45,000 square foot spa

Leo Carrillo, VP of Facilities, standing among the massive cooling units that run up a nice $3 million per month bill

My new BFF Mary Barrett, VP of Operations, next to the world famous "Cheese Wall" (yes, they actually have a wall that's very famous, and they've named it after a milk-based food product)

Jeffery Klein, VP of Operations, Food and Beverage, overseeing another evening of madness and mayhem in the popular Blue Bar

Aneska Arrocha, General Council, and Alina Molina, VP of Human Resources, at opposite ends of the sprawling lobby

Kevin McKee, Chief Financial Officer, outside the "Presidential Suite," where all the Presidents stay when they're in Miami

Finally, Dana Hagendorf, the woman who made it all happen, looking out over the stunning property

The day that began at 7am finally ended at 7pm, but my time with some of the executives wasn't over. We continued late into the night, but I won't divulge any of the sordid details. You know the expression:

"What happens at Fontainebleau stays at Fontainebleau."

Dancers Among Us Plays With Fire (and Bubbles)

2011-11-10T12:02:00.002-05:00

In Atlanta I went down to the hippie throwback neighborhood, Little Five Points, looking for a location for Dancers Among Us. It was dusk and I had two ballerinas who looked like they stepped right out of a Janis Joplin song- Claire Stallman with Atlanta Ballet and Amanda Farris with The Georgia Ballet.

I was immediately drawn to a store called Serpentine Exotic Pets. I had grand visions of Amanda dancing with a twelve-foot python, but we soon discovered that the store was actually part of a movie set. The latest Ben Stiller film was also looking for a 1970’s vibe, so they decided to “enhance” the already authentic storefronts.

If it’s good enough for Ben Stiller…

Amanda is a fantastic jumper, so I wanted her leaping towards the dramatic red light in the doorway.

She looked kind of lonely there. She needed a friend, but I wanted to save Claire for another photo. As I usually do in these situations, I relied on serendipity to provide me with just the right person.

I looked around. Nobody. The place was dead. Hurry up Serendipity, I’m losing my light.

I took a few more photos, looked behind me again, and this is what I saw-

It’s just completely bizarre how this always seems to happen to me.

I must have been a monk in a former life.

Carlee agreed to join the photo.

Nice, but the shot didn’t really make sense. Why was Amanda jumping? I was stumped. The light was going fast.

Carlee reached into her pocket. “I have bubbles.”

I was a monk who saved a busload of drowning schoolchildren...

Fun! I loved the concept, but there was still something missing. They looked a little isolated out there. It should be more like a party.

“Do you mind if my friends join in the photo too?” Carlee asked.

… and the schoolchildren all had puppies and kittens with them.

Perfect! That’s a wrap. Let’s move on. There’s nothing else here.

“Have you ever photographed fire throwing?”

We stopped in our tracks. Carlee’s friend Mick was offering his skills for another photo. It sounded intriguing, but I had no idea what he was talking about. He gave us a demonstration.

How do I say no to that? This was becoming a very memorable evening. I looked for a new location. Around the corner I found a store called Fearless Weirdos.

Seriously.

I asked Claire to put on her pointe shoes and a colorful dress and to strike a pose that suggested she was stopped in her tracks. We put everyone into the background, and Mick started throwing fire.

After we got the shot, Claire tried her hand at fire throwing en pointe! Take a look at this video by Will Day to see how she did.

Thank you yet again, Serendipity.

Dancers Among Us Inspires New iPhone App

2011-11-01T12:29:00.001-04:00

In January I was invited to participate in a photographer's discussion about creative inspiration, hosted by Carbone Smolan Agency (CSA), a leading brand strategy and design firm. The purpose was to create a Canon app to help inspire photographers. In a blog titled, "Photographers Who Inspire Me", I wrote about the thrill and disbelief I felt sitting on the panel with some of the world's leading photographers. It just couldn't get any better.

Until now. A few weeks ago I received an email from Paul Pierson, CSA partner and design director.

"Dancers Among Us was a real inspiration to us. It was such a pure expression of a photographic idea that is then expertly translated into a great series of images. I'm introducing the Canon app for the first time at PDN PhotoPlus on October 28. I would love to use one of your images as we demo the app. Do you have some time to come back to the office so I can show you how the app turned out, and how your image inspired us in creating our inspiration machine?"

Holy s@#t! Did I mention that the panel was filled with an awesome array of talented photographers who presented stunning, inspiring images? To be included on the panel was enough of an honor. To be selected as the inspiration for the app blows my mind.

Fortunately I never mentioned that I shoot with Nikon.

When Paul showed me the app, I was truly impressed. It's called Canon Idea Mine, and it will definitely help photographers evolve and expand their ideas. If you're stuck for an idea, the app can generate billions of unique image concepts from scratch in just two taps. If you have an idea, the app helps you create an inspiring to-do list for executing the idea.

Since presenting the app to the world on Friday, Paul has received an extremely high degree of interest. I'm not surprised. When it's available later this year, I'll download one for myself.

And not just because I inspired it!

Dancers Among Us Lands in Jail

2011-10-27T13:17:00.001-04:00

So how did this happen?

It all started when I got arrested after a fight with two hoodlums who were threatening a ballerina. I ended up in a cell with Tomas Panto, a dancer with Atlanta Ballet. I bribed the guards to sneak in a camera, and we took this shot before being transferred to a maximum security prison. They felt I was a threat to the other inmates, so they confined me to lock-down until my attorney could get me out on bail.

Do you have any idea how much I wish that was true? The real story is much less sexy.

I actually owe it all to Mariette Edwards, a celebrated career coach who brought me to Atlanta to photograph some of her corporate clients. I agreed to the job so I could shoot for Dancers Among Us as well. Mariette took on the responsibility of suggesting locations, and she casually mentioned that her friend works in a set and props warehouse. Among other things, she wrote, they have a jail cell.

I flipped out. I've been lusting after a prison shot for months.

I didn't waste any time- we arrived at Special Projects thirty minutes after I met my first crop of dancers. I came with an entourage- three dancers (Tomas, Abby McDowell and Adrienne Hicks), Mariette, Chelsea Thomas, a dance critic with ArtsCriticAtl, and Will Day, an Atlanta based photographer.

We were given access to the costume shop, and had been told there were several orange jumpsuits. We desperately scoured the endless rows of costumes and only discovered orange scrubs. The shirt was too small, but the pants looked pretty good. Guess he'll have to disrobe a bit.

We were brought to the location. I was tingling with adrenalin. Not only was it authentically grimy in every way, but the sunlight pouring through the window filled the cell with a haunting glow. It was perfect.

Suddenly I was confronted with the reality that I had no idea how to use this amazing opportunity. What should Tomas be doing? Trying to escape, perhaps?

No, the bars are too distracting. Maybe planking between the bed and toilet?

Too cute. I wanted Tomas to embody a prisoner's desperation and loneliness. But there's very little to work with in a jail cell. Maybe leaning over the sink?

No, no, no! When in doubt, look for the light.

"Tomas, look out the window, towards the life you no longer have. Give me something simple, something lonely. Mariette, do they have a Bible in the props department? Let's put it on the bed."

Now we are getting somewhere, but the pose needs to be stronger.

"How's your backbend? Wait, that's a silly question. You're with Atlanta Ballet, you can do anything. Cling to the window and collapse backwards. The sunlight will wash over you. Let's move the Bible to the foreground."

Suddenly the room was alive with electricity. The dancers were shouting out positioning notes and I was bouncing off the walls. In the midst of the excitement, Chelsea had a poignant idea.

"Should he be holding the Bible?"

Then Chelsea added the final touch. "Do you want his shirt in the photo?"

It was an auspicious beginning to my day. I went on to shoot six more dancers and created some very exciting photos, but there is really nothing like your first prison experience.

Dancers Among Us on a Timeline -- Social Media Saves the Day

2011-10-25T13:25:00.001-04:00

Where would I be without social media? When I began Dancers Among Us 2 ½ years ago, I didn’t have a presence on Facebook or Twitter, and I had never written a blog. I found dancers to pose for me by asking around, calling friends of friends, and posting flyers at dance studios. Times sure have changed. Today I’m in Atlanta with over fifty dancers waiting for me, all because of last week’s blog, Where’s the Love, Atlanta? It was reposted all over Facebook and other social media outlets.

Thank you, Mark Zuckerberg. I don’t care how weird you are- Facebook has made my life a whole lot easier.

On Friday night I posted a last-minute appeal to NYC dancers for a weekend shoot in upstate New York. I was afraid the foliage would be gone by the time I returned from Atlanta, so I hoped someone would be available on such short notice.

I received three emails within twenty minutes, and more followed on Saturday. Sunday morning, Cierra Cotton and Raymond L. Bennett grabbed a bus from Manhattan; two hours later we met in New Paltz, NY. They had both studied at the Alvin Ailey School, and their training definitely made me look good.

Now what? My publishers at Workman Publishing have set a deadline of late February to deliver all the Dancers Among Us photos for the book. Where should I go next? What regions have I neglected? Who wants to pose for me? I have some ideas, but I’d love to hear from you. Email me at jordanmatter@gmail.com, post on my Facebook fan page, tweet me @jordanmatter, visit me on Vimeo, or write a blog… Anything, as long as you don’t send me a request to join Linkedin!

Time flies when you’re having fun! Before we know it February will be upon us. Speak now or forever hold your peace (at least until I start work on the follow-up book).

Where's the Love, Atlanta?

2011-10-18T12:51:00.002-04:00

"Come to Atlanta! You have to bring Dancers Among Us to Atlanta!!"

I've received this request many times on my Facebook wall, always with great enthusiasm. "Dance Capital of the South" was even bandied about. So I booked my airline tickets, got my hotel room, announced October 25-28 as my travel dates, and waited for the outpouring of excitement.

Cricket... Cricket...

Nothing. Nada. Zero. A goose egg.

Everywhere I've gone I've been greeted with an excess of talented, passionate dancers volunteering their time and energy. Atlanta has greeted me with... silence.

Please don't make me beg.

Atlanta dancers, you have so much to offer. The city is ripe with photographic possibilities.

photos via Google Images

If we decide to hop in a car and drive outside of Atlanta, we'll find small towns...

Scenic roads...

Beautiful bridges...

And classic southern estates...

Still not interested? Did I mention the impending nationwide book release through Workman Publishing?

Imagine yourself on a tepid first date, strolling into Barnes and Noble for a coffee before the movie. You see Dancers Among Us on the BEST SELLERS table. You casually mention, "Oh, I'm in that book." Your date leafs through the pages (much too quickly for my liking), sees your amazing photo and falls hard for you. The birds start chirping in the background, a marriage proposal is offered and accepted, children soon arrive, then grandchildren.

Crazier things have happened.

Plus, it's a really fun experience. If I can have a great time in snowy Harlem with Alvin Ailey dancer Michael McBride, imagine how exciting the process will be during a beautiful Georgia fall.

Next Tuesday, I will be carrying my camera and walking around Atlanta. Hopefully there will be dancers with me. If not, I will be that crazy man on the corner, babbling to myself about the good old days.

Please allow me my dignity. Email me at jordanmatter@gmail.com with any potential leads.

Stumbling Around Philadelphia- Dancers Among Us Gets Lucky Again (and again, and again...)

2011-10-12T13:55:00.001-04:00

Another beautiful city, another stunning day of weather, and another outpouring of volunteers as Dancers Among Us continues to crisscross the nation. The Philadelphia dance community welcomed me with enthusiasm, and once again I was unable to photograph everyone who wanted to participate.

On Saturday I started at sunrise and spent 15 hours shooting 10 dancers. To say I was unprepared is an understatement. I put a loose schedule together when I arrived to my hotel at 12:30am on Saturday. Five hours later I was heading out the door with my equipment and a handful of granola. The day was a blur of activity. I had a few scenarios in mind, but I was primarily relying on chance.

One of my favorite sites is stumbleupon.com, perhaps because I rely on chance so much when I'm shooting. Stumbling upon shots was definitely the theme on Saturday, and it took several forms.

Stumbling Upon an Idea-

Sometimes I have no idea what to do. I have a dancer in front of me, an hour before the next shoot, and I need to manufacture something. Fortunately, current events took over on Saturday.

Jaamil Olawale Kosoko waited patiently as I finished a shoot at the LOVE sign. I had no ideas for Jaamil, and I was due in Old City soon. Across the street from LOVE was City Hall, bathed in late afternoon light. That seemed promising.

We arrived to a full scale Wall Street protest. The possibilities were limitless.

Walking through Center City with Kelsey Ludwig, we saw a crowd gathered by the Apple Store. A memorial had spontaneously erupted for Steve Jobs, and it was quite moving. How can we honor the spirit of this memorial without being cute or overly dramatic? We gave it our best shot, and I believe Kelsey struck just the right tone.

"I brought a skateboard." Miles Yueng was offering a suggestion for his shot. He had to leave for rehearsal in 30 minutes, so I had to be extremely decisive- which is difficult when you have zero ideas.

Falling off the skateboard would be funny. But where? We were in an upscale section of Center City- not exactly skateboarder haven.

Or maybe it is. Two great looking boarders, Tracy and Jordan, flew by me and stopped at the light.

"Guys, want to be in a book? Can you pose in this photo?" I asked. They were open to the idea, and even suggested a grungy alley around the corner.

Perfect!

Stumbling Upon Props-

"The Italian Market. Do the Italian Market."

I heard this from everyone, so I asked Barry Kerollis to meet me there at the busiest time of the day. Once again, I arrived in a rush with no scenario in mind. We had 20 minutes. I had spent five hours on two shots in the morning, so I was very behind schedule and trying to make up for lost time.

The Market was awash in authentic and surprisingly unphotogenic meat and fruit stands. We headed to the most famous stand- Giordano's. Sitting and waiting for us was one of the greatest props I've ever seen- John's infamous shopping bag cart. Ten dollars later, we had use of it for five minutes. It's all we needed.

Stumbling Upon Reactions-

Often it's the unexpected reactions of passers-by that make the shot, and sometimes I don't even know it's happened until I review the images later that day.

I couldn't leave Philly without photographing a slice of the nation's history. I asked Lauren Bilski to dress like a tourist, bring some binoculars and wear her pointe shoes. We stumbled upon a wall featuring the Declaration of Independence, and the reflection of the buildings gave it added drama. But it is the reaction of the family passing by that gives the image life.

Stumbling Upon People-

This happens to me with amazing frequency- I've got the scenario and the location, and we shoot until I think I'm satisfied. Then something magical happens- a person arrives and completes the story.

This happened twice to Evgeniya Chernukhina. First, we met at 6am for a "Rocky" inspired sunrise photo on the Philadelphia Museum of Art stairs. We shot until 8am, and I thought I had it.

Then I noticed Malik Gray teaching a fitness class on the stairs, and I asked him to join the shot.

Next, we headed to Philly's oldest road, a major tourist destination. I thought Evgeniya should be watering the plants, and I knocked on the front door of a pretty yellow house. I asked the owner t0 borrow his hose, and explained the concept for the book. Incredibly, he had already heard of Dancers Among Us. That never fails to thrill me.

I asked Evgeniya to balance on a slippery pole, lift her leg effortlessly and spray the hose- an almost impossible task.

Looked good to me! We packed up and started walking towards the car. Then my jaw dropped open and I stopped in my tracks. A man dressed in period garb was giving a tour of the street. We ran back to the location, set up the shot again and hoped he'd enter the frame.

He did much more than that!

It is often said, "Chance favors the prepared mind."

Who am I to argue with Louis Pasteur? However, I have a slightly different interpretation.

"Chance favors an open mind."

A special shout out to:

Local photographers Thomas V. Hartman (above photo) and Patrick Cliett for guiding me around the city and suggesting great locations; dancer Jennifer Jones for making a day trip from NYC and conceiving several of the poses; Samantha Siegel, Bill Thomas and PhiladelphiaDANCE for finding me amazing artists; Katie Yohe for her fantastic ideas; and the many dancers who volunteered their time and talent to make this day possible.

Thank you!

The Dancers Among Us Photograph I Feared Taking, and the Pain that Followed

2011-10-06T13:33:00.000-04:00

"Your images are so happy, but life isn't always joyful. We need photos that show people's struggles and hardships as well."

I was speaking with Susan Bolotin, editor-in-chief at Workman Publishing, and the rest of the design team. We were discussing the photos I should attempt in Chicago. I understood exactly what she meant, but I didn't want to hear it.

I knew what I had to do. I had to say goodbye to my mother.

Four months ago, my mother died suddenly. Just as suddenly, my career exploded. Since she died, I was filmed for a television feature that aired throughout Europe; I shot the 2012 promotional campaign for the Paul Taylor Dance Company and the 2012 calendar for the Olympic Women's Crew Team; I agreed to a book deal with Workman, and brought Dancers Among Us to San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago, Stanford, Princeton, Boston, Indiana, Westchester and Baltimore. I shot over 150 headshots and comp cards.

It was a busy summer. I never gave myself a moment to grieve. I just put my head down and hit the accelerator.

"Maybe a graveyard. There's usually a beautiful one in every city...." Now everyone at the table was discussing the merits of a mourning photo. I smiled and nodded my head. Inside I was filled with dread.

When I arrived in Chicago, I asked the innkeeper for some good locations to shoot. He gave me one- Graceland Cemetery.

Jesus.

I met dancer Chloe Crade at Graceland on a sunny afternoon. I asked her to bring flowers. We sat on the expansive grounds and discussed loss. A friend of hers had recently died, and she was feeling raw and vulnerable as well. We wanted to honor our memories with dignity- to create a simple image with resonance.

As I photographed Chloe draped across a gravestone, I felt exhilarated by the creative process- photography has been my protective blanket. When I looked at the image later that evening, alone and undistracted in my hotel room, I broke down and cried uncontrollably.

This photograph is the beginning, not the end, of my grieving process.

Today is my birthday, and Saturday I will be shooting Dancers Among Us in Philadelphia, where my mother spent many years of her life. The confluence of these two events will likely be another step in this process of grieving, and I approach it with similar apprehension.

I'm not ready to say goodbye.

Racing the Clock- Sunrise and Spontaneity on Lake Michigan

2011-09-28T13:39:00.008-04:00

5:15am:

“Sweet Jesus you’d better be awake.”

My Chicago collaborator and tour guide, Katie Yohe, is meeting me downtown at 5:30am, and her text says it all. We're doing a sunrise Dancers Among Us photo with Jessica Deahr. The idea is titled, “Walk of Shame". We meet near a bunch of bars.

I immediately don’t like the location. Maybe I should have done some pre-production. The clock is ticking. Sunrise is scheduled for around 6:45am.

“Is Lake Michigan nearby?” I ask.

“Four blocks to the east.”

I decide to abandon the "Walk of Shame" idea (for now), and get a sunrise shot on the lake instead. I have less than an hour to figure out exactly what that shot will be.

6:03am:

We arrive to magical light on the lake. The cityscape is breathtaking, and I have no idea what to do. How do I find a pose that equals the beauty of this moment? We still don’t have Jessica- she is looking for parking. I really should have done some pre-production.

6:14am:

Jessica arrives. In a frantic effort to create a scenario, I borrow someone’s coffee cup. She strikes a pose and is immediately swallowed up by the environment.

6:16am:

Forget the cityscape. Let’s shoot the lake instead.

6:19am:

Forget the coffee cup. It looks too contrived. With no other prop in sight, I consider settling for a beautiful pose in the sunrise. I hate the idea, because it’s just so obvious and has been done a million times already. Why, oh why, didn’t I do a little pre-production? Just this one time?

6:21am:

Wait, is that a dog in the water? Before I even ask, Katie runs over to the owner Molly and works her magic. The dog’s name is Cooper, and Molly is willing to help tame the puppy's frantic energy. We decide on a game of fetch. This just might work.

6:26am:

That’s a pretty pathetic looking stick. We scour the beach looking for a better one. I hand Jessica the coffee cup and a new stick.

6:31am:

Why am I holding on to this coffee cup idea? Get rid of it already. Just a girl playing with her dog- beautiful! Except that Jessica is terrified of big dogs, and keeps dropping the stick in sheer terror. Eventually she warms to him a little, and we shoot for ten straight minutes (except when Cooper is running around in circles or chasing other dogs- tick tock Cooper!).

6:44am:

We review the images. I can sense Katie’s dissatisfaction immediately.

“She’s a dancer. She needs to be doing something! It needs movement.”

You’re right. Thank you, Katie.

Now if only Cooper would look at her.

6:48am:

Bingo! It only happens once but we get the shot. Cooper stands up, ready to fetch. He looks right at Jessica. She nails the pose, the stick in perfect line with her leg. A sailboat magically appears on the horizon. The gathering clouds are illuminated with a pre-dawn glow.

6:52am:

Minutes later the sun appears and Cooper, now a seasoned veteran, poses majestically. Jessica, exhausted from jumping in the sand, gathers her energy for one final push.

Pre-production is for sissies.

Katie put together a fun and quick video that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at this exciting morning. Take a look.

5 Days and 50 Dancers Among Us -- Getting Gritty in Chicago

2011-09-25T01:23:00.001-04:00

I booked my flight to shoot Dancers Among Us in Chicago before I had any dancers, any ideas or anywhere to stay. I figured if I got a few quality dancers I could get maybe a dozen shots I liked. But you just can't overstate the power of social media. After a few tweets and Facebook posts, I had over 50 terrific volunteers. I was able to shoot 23 of them in five days, and I ended up with 30 photographs I love.

Good week at the office.

Chicago is an amazing city. The dance community is tight knit and extremely talented. I was blown away by the skill of the dancers volunteering their time. They were creative, athletic, fearless and beautiful. They made me look very good.

I arrived at a coffee house Monday morning to meet my first three dancers, Kara Lozanovski, Justine Humenansky and Erin Clyne. I knew nothing about Chicago and had no idea where to go.

Luckily I had Katie Yohe. I photographed Katie years ago for my book, "Uncovered", and I hadn't seen her since. She proved to be an invaluable asset, volunteering her time and considerable energy to help me navigate this unfamiliar territory.

I wanted to shoot a ballet dancer en pointe at a construction site. Not the easiest way to start my trip, but Kara's enthusiasm made me hopeful. She was willing to do anything!

We all hopped in a cab and Katie took us to the Fulton Meat Packing District. I assumed Kara would be standing in front of a warehouse on her lunch break, but a wrong turn by the cabbie landed us at an Asphalt factory instead. We couldn't have been luckier.

I approached a couple of the guys on the site and showed them my work.

Photo by Katie Yohe

They suggested I shoot around the corner, away from the prying eyes of The Man in the office.

"Can we borrow your vest? And helmet? Oh, and how about your goggles?"

Believe it or not, there was even an abandoned shovel. If I had done pre-production for a month, I couldn't have found a better set-up. I asked Kara to roll in a mysterious black substance. She happily complied.

I had Kara stand on top of this soft mysterious substance. I asked her to lean on the shovel like she was exhausted, and kick her leg up while en pointe. She kept sinking in or falling down. I was desperate to get the shot quickly. The location was perfect but we had no permission.

Photo by Katie Yohe

We kept frantically shooting. After almost an hour and over 200 photographs, I realized I had tested everyone's patience long enough. I pulled myself away and reviewed the shots. They looked great! The location and the sky couldn't have been more perfect, and Kara nailed her pose.

As Kara walked towards me, I saw what this mysterious substance had done to her pointe shoes. I needed one more shot. She climbed back up on the mound and posed again.

This was an unbelievable start to an incredible trip, and it portended good things to come. I will release more Dancers Among Us photos later this week. In the meantime, if you want to know what that mysterious substance is, take a look at this fun behind the scenes video.

Video by Katie Yohe (of course!)

My Son's Inspiring Moment, and the Book Deal That Followed

2011-09-14T13:45:00.000-04:00

Dancers Among Us will be coming to a bookstore near you! I have agreed to terms with Workman Publishing for a national book release of Dancers Among Us, tentatively scheduled for the spring of 2013. This gives me another seven months to shoot a slew of new images across the country before the book goes to press. Anyone have a spare RV collecting dust in their driveway?

In a recent blog post, Will They Like Me In Kansas?, I outlined the process that eventually led to this book deal. What I didn't mention was the moment of inspiration that led to the first photograph. For that, I must thank my son, Hudson.

One afternoon two years ago I watched Hudson play with his toy bus. I was trying to follow the fantasy racing through his three-year-old mind, as he intensely played with a yellow plastic box and armless figurines. At least that’s what I saw. He saw a thriving community rushing to catch the 77 local bus to Australia. He frantically jumped in place, mouth agape and slapping his knees, joyously reacting to a world I couldn’t see, but one nonetheless powerfully present for him. As we get older and wiser, what happens to this enthusiasm, this ability to be wholly present in the moment? Why are these pure moments of passion so often replaced by cynicism, boredom, and indifference? As I played with my son, I thought about creating photographs that would show the world as if through the fantastical eyes of a child. The people in the images would be alive and in the moment, celebrating all aspects and emotions of everyday life.

Shortly after playing “bus”, I attended a performance by the Paul Taylor Dance Company, and I knew immediately I had found my collaborators. Asking dancers to embody these ideals makes perfect sense. Dancers are storytellers. They’re trained to personify passionate moments, their bodies imbued with a stunning combination of artistry and athleticism. They create a fantasy world, offering us a deeper look into familiar settings. They bring to life what we feel but are unable to express physically.

The process of producing the images is organic; created through a spontaneous collaboration with the dancers. The essence of the subject material parallels the current state of our society, where people are finding an appreciation of smaller, simpler pleasures. I try to infuse the images with humor and joyfulness to make the viewer feel good. I hope the carefree nature of the work is a welcome antidote to the persistent anxiety that defines many people’s lives.

I’ve created Dancers Among Us for my two children, who are everything to me. There is so much I want for them. My hope is that they will live long and healthy lives, find loving partners and fulfilling careers, and experience the joys of parenthood. Most importantly, I want them to be free from self-consciousness, to discover the deep happiness of impassioned lives, and to find the serenity to be truly present. The photographs communicate my dreams for them more powerfully than words alone-- relish moments large and small, recognize the beauty around you, and be alive!

The Curse of Faulty Equipment... and the Patience of Paul Taylor

2011-09-08T13:50:00.000-04:00

"We've got a problem."

I was standing in the lobby of the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center, talking with John Tomlinson, Executive Director of the Paul Taylor Dance Company (PTDC). Director of Marketing Alan Olshan stood close by, looking concerned.

"I enlarged some images to 80 inches for posters from last week's shoot, and they're not sharp enough."

Uh-oh.

The shoot to which John was referring was the two day, ten dancer marathon recently documented in my blog, "When Life Gives You Lemons..." I ended that blog with a confident declaration about the quality of the final images.

Perhaps my boast was a bit premature.

The campaign will not be revealed for a month or two, so I cannot mention any specifics. I can say with confidence that it will be stunning, unlike anything seen before. The dancers are phenomenal, and the concept PTDC created is fun and unique. They produced a tremendous amount of exciting images for any print and media campaign they pursue.

But there's this little issue with the posters. You know, the big posters hanging all over Lincoln Center. The face of the campaign. Well, they're not sharp enough.

I had rented a special camera for the marathon shoot. The Nikon D3X is specifically designed for shooting large images, but it wasn't focusing properly. Let me reiterate- I rented a camera to solve the problem before it became a problem, and it was broken! So I turned to my trusty D3S, the very best camera on the market. It takes amazing photographs that look flawless, even if you blow them up to 60 inches.

Did they say they needed 80 inch posters?

We returned to Lincoln Center on Monday to reshoot two dancers, Michael Trusnovec and Amy Young. I rented the D3X again, and it was fully functional this time. We had a very successful shoot, and we parted ways, excited to see the results. The images would look stunning as 80 inch posters.

Whew!

I got home and ran straight to my studio. I couldn't wait to see the photos. I popped in the memory card, opened the file, and...

Nothing. No images. The memory card was corrupt.

I can't write about the rest of that evening; I don't have the skill to put a voice to the level of my frustration. I will say this though- I wasn't looking forward to the reaction from PTDC. I wrote an email promising my third-born child for one more chance to shoot these damn posters.

I hit "Send" and waited to hear the explosion on Grand Street. Ten minutes later my cell phone rang.

"Jordan, this is John Tomlinson. This isn't a call to strategize about the next step. This is just a call to calm you down. It's going to be fine."

Now I know why his dancers speak so glowingly about him. His calm absorbed my anxiety.

In the end I was able to retrieve some images, and we're hoping the memory card's service department can recover more.

We've scheduled one final shoot for next week. I'm going to bring three cameras, ten memory cards, two computers, four assistants and the CEO of Nikon.

Is that overkill?

Goodbye to a Friend- The Blog I Wish I Had Written Earlier

2011-09-01T13:51:00.000-04:00

Two weeks ago, Geoff Legg, my friend and assistant, died tragically young. His behind-the-scenes photography has been featured in many of my blogs, most notably in a Valentine's Day Chinatown blog. I had always intended to write about him and his path to NYC. He loved the idea of being the subject of my blog and had anticipated it with great enthusiasm, but other priorities distracted me from writing it. So I now write this blog not for Geoff, but for his family and friends. They know they've lost a gentle and caring man, but they may not know that we've all lost a passionate and talented artist.

Geoff gave me the title for a blog about him-

From the High Country to the High Line

In Colorado, Geoff was kind of famous. He was known as a progressive thinker, and he dedicated his life to making the world a better place. He started the first "green" painting company in the world after studying for a year at the oldest renewable energy school in the country. He could build a wind turbine out of junk-yard parts. He dedicated himself to volunteering for non-profits, and he ran some of the biggest arts/crafts/music festivals in Western Colorado. He bought an old schoolhouse so he could start his own arts/music/organic farming school. On top of all of that, Geoff was an avid landscape photographer.

Geoff believed in positive change. When he moved to NYC and found it difficult to find like-minded people, he called me out of the blue and expressed an interest in my work. I invited him to join me on a Dancers Among Us shoot, and he photographed the process beautifully. The first blog featuring his photos, "Getting Kicked Out of the Plaza", went viral, which I don't believe is a coincidence. We hit it off immediately.

He joined me on many shoots after that, and he found great enjoyment documenting the process. I called him a "behind-the-scenes documentarian." The next time I saw him, he handed me a business card with that title under his name.

Geoff loved the creative artists we were photographing together. He was exposed to people who thrilled and inspired him, and he seemed to be having a blast. He saved a very special place in his heart for dancer AdeChike. Geoff had seen Ade compete on "So You Think You Can Dance?", and he was a bit star-struck at the opportunity to work with him.

Eventually I started putting Geoff in front of the camera as well. He appears in the background of several Dancers Among Us photos. The final time we worked together, I asked him to take a face full of iced coffee thrown by dancer Allison Jones. It was a spontaneous request, and he wholeheartedly agreed without hesitation. Ten minutes after we got this shot, Geoff gave me a coffee-soaked bear hug and walked through the subway doors. I never saw him again.

I always found comfort in his presence. His passion for photography mirrored my own. Though his love was landscape and art photography, he had an uncanny ability to capture candid moments as well. Without any time to prepare, he was able to record my shock as I asked Ade, "So, can you jump?" This is my favorite photograph of me working, and he knew it.

Even a very static process like shooting headshots looked interesting when seen through Geoff's lens.

Having lost my mother earlier this year, and now my friend, I'm struck by the sudden finality of death. Shared experiences I had casually anticipated will never be realized. Relationships are left frozen in time, with no opportunity for a deeper connection. I am more saddened by the loss of future possibilities than I am by memories of the past.

As I look again at his photography, I am reminded of Geoff's great potential. These are a few of his favorite photographs. Each of them could easily be sold in a gallery, and the world could celebrate an artist whose images mirrored the man himself- thoughtful, unpretentious and beautiful.

I'd like to end with a stunning self-portrait taken by Geoff in Colorado.

Goodbye, Geoff. I miss you already.

To see more of Geoff's work, you can visit his website, leggacyphotos.com.

The Clothes Don't Make The Man... Right?

2011-08-31T14:05:00.000-04:00

On Friday night I photographed a classic New York City wedding in Flushing, Queens. The bride and groom were passionate...

And ecstatic...

And gracious...

There was a Jewish ceremony and a Korean ceremony...

And the guests partied so hard they collapsed.

So given the significance and formality of the event, why in the world was I wearing this?

Photograph by Ryan Carville

Because until Friday afternoon, there was no wedding scheduled for that evening.

Brian and Lisa Hong contracted me several months ago to photograph their wedding on Saturday night, at the Chelsea Piers. But there was this little storm called Hurricane Irene chugging up the coast, scheduled to hit Manhattan right around the time of the first dance. On Friday afternoon Governor Cuomo shut down the Piers (has he no sense of romance?), and the Hongs were forced to scramble.

The rehearsal dinner became their wedding. My assistant, Ryan Carville, was scheduled to shoot the rehearsal, but they wanted me there as well. At 1:30pm, I received an urgent phone call from Brian.

"Can you please come tonight? Anything you can do!"

"Brian, I would love to but I'm completely booked with shoots already tonight. And I'm wearing shorts and a silly hat. And I only have one camera and lens. I'm so sorry."

"I'll call you back in 15 minutes." Click.

Five minutes later the phone rang. It was Lisa.

"I don't care when you arrive or what you're wearing. Bring a Polaroid camera if you have to. Just please be there."

Brian knew how to play me. I can't say no to a desperate bride.

I had a blast. The event's spontaneity gave it a whimsical and relaxed feeling that is unusual for a big city wedding. And excluding nudist ceremonies, I was probably the most under dressed wedding photographer in history.

After the wedding, Brian and Lisa did what everyone else was doing Friday night. They shopped for provisions.

Surrendering to the Storm- The Lesson I Learned from Hurricane Irene

2011-08-30T13:33:00.000-04:00

My home is surrounded by trees. Big ones. The kind of trees that squash cars and houses. As Armageddon approached, I watched these trees surrendering to Hurricane Irene, swaying violently in the unrelenting winds. There was a frightening blue glow in the early morning sky. I was powerless against nature's whims.

News coverage of disasters always focuses on the storm's aftereffects. I find it much more terrifying to look up, before any devastation has occurred, and see the potential.

Two days earlier, my daughter stood under these same trees, playing in their protective shade.

As the storm arrived and my fear continued to grow, I thought of my children, tucked safely away down south. I was alone to face this devastating force, but the image of my daughter finding protection under the trees reassured me. Impending disaster can be a source of reflection, and I found myself looking for a greater lesson.

Nature has given us what we have, yet it can take it all away in an instant. What protects us one minute can devastate us without warning. Since nothing in life is predictable, we try desperately to maintain control over everything. The more firmly we squeeze the reins, the more we realize the futility of trying.

As I came to this realization, with the wind screaming and the rain pouring down, I felt suddenly calm. I let go of my absurd attempt to exert control over the uncontrollable, and I saw the beauty around me. Taking my cue from the trees, I surrendered to the inevitable. The magnificence of nature and the power of the earth both humbled and excited me.

I hope I will remember this lesson as I encounter less dramatic, yet equally uncontrollable events in my life. There are great rewards awaiting those of us who dare to let go of the reins and to see where the horse leads us.

When Life Gives You Lemons... My Adventures with the Paul Taylor Dance Company

2011-08-22T23:43:00.028-04:00

I spent the weekend at Lincoln Center, photographing some of the greatest dancers in the world. It caused quite a commotion.

Two young ladies with painted eyes tentatively approached dancer Eran Bugge during one of our rare two-minute breaks.

"Excuse me, what company do you dance for?"

"Paul Taylor."

"Really? Paul Taylor? OH MY GOD! Really??? Agggghhhhh!! Really?? PAUL TAYLOR?!"

It was that kind of weekend. I was cool by association.

Photograph by Samantha Siegel

Over the course of eighteen hours, I photographed ten dancers in seventeen different locations. I had a total of one sandwich, six venti mocha lattes and twelve minutes of break. Every shot was a spontaneous decision. There were three photographers and one videographer recording the action. At any moment, there were at least ten people waiting for me to decide what to do.

Photograph by Sean Patrick Mahoney

Photograph by Francisco Graciano

Photograph by Samantha Siegel

I was running out of ideas. How many different ways can I photograph dancers in Lincoln Center? We had two shots left. Dusk was quickly approaching. Magic hour! I had been waiting for a beautiful sunset all day.

The skies suddenly darkened and rain poured down in buckets. No sunset. Everyone scurried to safety, the shoot interrupted at a critical moment. Two beautiful dancers were waiting in costume, with the final vestiges of light quickly fading away.

I remembered the expression, When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

I looked at Parisa Khobdeh, who is one of the most creative and gutsy dancers I've ever worked with. I asked the question, though I already knew the answer.

"Will you dance in the rain?"

She didn't hesitate. "Let's go."

We all ran into the downpour. I found a light source and asked her to stand in the spotlight.

"Now throw yourself back and kick your leg up to the sky. Again. Again. Again. Again!"

I heard voices around me-

"She's going to be freezing."

"Have a towel ready as soon as we stop. And something hot to drink."

"She keeps falling down."

"Her leg is cramping."

"PARISA, ARE YOU OKAY?" someone screamed.

She didn't hear it. Or she didn't care. She stopped for a brief second, and then threw her body back again. And again. And again.

Parisa catching her breath

When we finally stopped, Parisa was the last one out of the rain. She was drenched. And exhausted. And beaming.

We were all safely tucked away under the City Opera overhang. Everyone was feeling relieved, but I wanted more. It was still pouring. Masses of people were arriving for a Friday night at the theater. The famous Lincoln Center fountain was illuminated and exploding.

I turned to Francisco Graciano. "Do you have bright tights? Time to get wet."

Francisco getting ready to jump

I've promised the folks at PTDC that I won't release any photos before they have a chance to see them first, so I can't share the final images we created that magical evening.

But I can say this- last Thursday I posted a blog about this upcoming shoot. I set my expectations very high, and I was worried I wouldn't meet them. I wrote, "It is my responsibility alone to create photographs worthy of the company's immense talent and reputation."

I'm not worried anymore.

Dancers Among Us Faces Its Greatest Challenge

2011-08-18T13:39:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow and Saturday I will be photographing the Paul Taylor Dance Company at Lincoln Center. The purpose is to illustrate their move to the David H. Koch Theater for their upcoming New York season. The images we will create are inspired by Dancers Among Us. Since many of the company members were the first dancers photographed for the series two years ago, this is truly a full circle assignment. And a huge one.

Paul Taylor is certainly one of the world's greatest living choreographers, so it is a distinct honor and unique opportunity to collaborate with his company. This is a very high stakes assignment that requires thoughtful preparation, yet my shooting style is spontaneous. I rarely scout locations, and I rely on my ability to improvise in the moment. Yet with ten dancers utilizing dozens of locations and costumes, with photographers and videographers recording behind-the-scenes footage, and with widespread rain in the forecast, my off-the-cuff approach is about to be tested like never before. To be safe, I've immersed myself in pre-production, creating a long shot list and researching each dancer's strengths. Right?

Not exactly. I stopped by Lincoln Center one evening and took a few iPhone photos. Does that count as pre-production?

As we used to say in my baseball days, "Dance with the one that brung you." The success I've received with Dancers Among Us is due to the spontaneous nature of the photographs, and to abandon that now would be undermining what makes the work unique.

I must admit, I have no idea what will happen. That makes me nervous. And excited. Great risk can yield great rewards, but that's not a guarantee. Everyone at Paul Taylor has been incredibly supportive of my process, but it is a huge risk for them as well. I enter the shoot with that weight on my shoulders. It is my responsibility alone to create photographs worthy of the company's immense talent and reputation.

As everyone gathers around me on Friday, waiting for instructions, I will focus on the environment around us, looking for inspiration. Will I find it?

My Rendezvous With San Francisco's Loveliest Ladies

2011-08-16T13:29:00.000-04:00

"I have to shoot the Golden Gate Bridge today! I'm leaving soon and I might not have another chance. Right?"

I was talking to Stephen Lee, my San Francisco assistant and protegee, as we drove into the city. I had four dancers headed towards the bridge. We were ready to attempt an iconic Dancers Among Us image, but I had an uneasy feeling that it was the wrong decision. It was certainly the obvious choice, but at the last minute I called an audible.

"Let's go to the Painted Ladies instead."

I have no idea why I did that, but I've learned to trust my instincts. I had heard of the Painted Ladies, but I knew nothing about them. Somehow I was being pulled there. Perhaps the photography gods were sending me a message.

As Stephen drove, I Googled "Painted Ladies": "A row of Victorian houses at 710–720 Steiner Street, across from Alamo Square Park, in San Francisco. It is sometimes known as 'Postcard Row'... The most famous row of houses in San Francisco."

We arrived as the sun broke through the clouds. I saw the tourists before I saw the Ladies.

Behind the scenes photos by Samantha Siegel

As I looked through my camera, I understood the appeal. A row of brightly painted antique Victorians framed by the modern San Francisco skyline. There was definitely potential here. But what would the dancer be doing? Kaitlin Ebert arrived in a pink dress, excited and ready to jump! All I needed was a scenario.

Alamo Square provided the answer. A man was playing fetch with his dog, and he was using one of those cool tennis ball throwing devices. He introduced himself as George and agreed to lend me both the thrower and the dog. Kaitlin jumped high in the air, looking as joyful as possible.

She nailed it! So did the dog. And so did the weather (blue skies can be an uncommon sight in San Francisco). I got my Painted Ladies shot. I guess that's what the photography gods had in mind.

Or maybe not.

As we were leaving, George casually mentioned that he lives in the blue Painted Lady. I stopped in my tracks.

"Can we take a photo at your home?" I asked apprehensively.

"Sure."

Access to one of the city's most famous houses should not be approached casually. We all scoped out the facade, looking for the perfect shot.

"Can she pose on that top balcony?" I asked George. Once I assured him he wouldn't be liable if she injured herself, he was happy to accommodate us.

But what could she be doing? Why is she up there?

"What if I'm kicking my boyfriend out of the house and throwing his clothes at him?" Kaitlin suggested.

Amazing idea. Just perfect.

I turned to dancer Brendan Barthel. "You can do a nice back bend, right?"

"Beautiful! Here's the idea- the clothes are about to hit your face, and you're bracing for impact. Of course, you have to be naked as well." He stripped down to his underwear and socks, and gave the tourists a nice show.

Kaitlin threw on a slip, grabbed a bunch of clothes and headed upstairs. It turned out to be a very difficult shot to get. Initially I had the wrong angle.

When I moved my position the shot looked better, but the clothes kept falling too far apart.

It was also missing an element of humor- something to bring it all together. Someone should be in the window, filling that empty space. But who would be there? Another woman maybe? Too obvious. A child? No, that's not funny at all. Or...

"George, can we borrow your dog again? Can you get him to look out the window?"

Unbelievable. Now if only he would look over at Brendan, just when the clothes are in mid-flight, while both dancers are hitting their poses perfectly and Brendan has a funny expression on his face.

We kept trying. The dog was getting antsy, and he kept disappearing behind the curtain. Then he poked his head out and looked right at Brendan. I screamed, "NOW!" I took four photos and he disappeared for good. We were done.

I looked at the photos, holding my breath...

I screamed in joy and ran around in circles! George and I celebrated together.

Thank you photography gods. I'll never doubt you.

Postscript- If you haven't already, you HAVE TO click the final Dancers Among Us photo to see it larger. Check out Brendan and Kaitlin's fantastic acting- Broadway is waiting! And thank you to everyone behind the scenes for making the shot possible- photographer Samantha Siegel (pictured on the sidewalk), assistant Stephen Lee, the irreplaceable Dudley Flores, and George, of course.

My San Francisco Angel- Dancers Among Us Finds a Guiding Light

2011-08-11T00:45:00.041-04:00

I was fortunate to receive a very enthusiastic reception in San Francisco. So many dancers wanted to participate in Dancers Among Us that I was unable to work with everyone. I will definitely make another trip to that amazing city.

What really surprised me was the number of volunteers who showed up to assist and watch the process, even though I made no such request.

Most notably-

Anna Marie Panlilio, a terrific dance photographer, coordinated the initial shoot and connected me with several fun local dancers.

Stephen Lee, a student at UC Davis, spent two very long days at my side, enthusiastically assisting in all capacities.

Meagan Reidinger, a gifted photographer studying at Brooks Institute, drove over 400 miles from southern California to be a part of the process.

And then there was Dudley Flores with Garrett + Moulton Productions, Printz Dance Project, and RAWdance. He was one of many dancers to email me in the days leading up to my arrival. His tone was so warm that I contacted him immediately. His modesty did not prepare me for his talent, which surprised me right from the start.

As always, I had done very little research before arriving for the first day of shooting. Three dancers and three assistants I had never met greeted me at a local coffee shop. After about a minute I asked, "So, where should we go?" Everyone seemed a bit surprised by my lack of preparation. They must not read my blog.

As I would later come to know, Dudley was a fountain of ideas. "Fisherman's Wharf is right around the corner, and the sea lions might be there." That sounded promising to me.

The sea lions were indeed there and drawing a crowd, which made for a photogenic location. Given the commotion, the dancer would have to do something pretty spectacular to draw attention. I turned to Dudley, "Can you balance on that overhang without falling into the bay?"

He didn't blink. I took 323 shots from five different angles. This was one of the last ones-

I had found my muse. Photo-love at first sight. Later I asked him to jump high off a wall and pretend he had to pee really badly. We only needed 25 shots that time.

The shoot was becoming the Dudley Flores Show, but I couldn't resist using him again. I wanted a cable car shot, as well as a steep hill shot- we found them both with one location. Dudley partnered with Jenni Bregman to create an image I call, "What's a girl gotta do to get laid in San Francisco?"

From that point on, Dudley was with me for every shoot. He often found amazing dancers to fit my concepts, and he was constantly offering ideas for locations. Twice he even traveled far from San Francisco just to collaborate. He was willing to slide on a wetsuit just to be a background player as his friend Brendan Barthel from Robert Moses' Kin got the attention.

When he drove RAWdance Artistic Directors Ryan Smith and Wendy Rein to The Dish on Stanford campus, I had to spontaneously put his amazing talent to use once again.

And finally, just for fun, I posed him with Brendan for a few quick shots in The Castro District.

As I travel around the country for Dancers Among Us I will be very lucky to find other dancers who are invested in the process and willing to volunteer their time and talents. But no matter where I go, I seriously doubt I will find anyone who compares to Dudley.

Perhaps I'll take him on the road with me.

Jordan Matter's Believe It or Not- Dancers Among Us Unveiled

2011-08-02T13:48:00.001-04:00

Last week I spent an exciting Dancers Among Us afternoon in Westchester, New York with Lloyd Knight of Martha Graham Dance Company, Eric Bourne of Parsons Dance, and Broadway dancer Dayla Perkins. The dancers kissed in a photo booth, smoked cigarettes on a train platform, got stuck to gum on a boardwalk, and were busted jumping at an amusement park (who knew you aren't allowed to jump off picnic tables??).

As the sun was setting, we all rushed to a quiet beach in New Rochelle. I wanted a twilight photo of the guys splashing around in the water while Dayla levitates above the horizon. The fantastic thing about working with such talented dancers is that if I can imagine it, they can usually do it.

People often ask me if any tricks or devices are used to create my dance photographs. The answer is an emphatic "No!" There are no trampolines, wires, or Photoshop effects. I rely solely on the creativity and athleticism of talented professionals, and they continue to make me look good.

This photograph caused an unusual degree of disbelief among those who saw it. "Did she jump? If so, off what? Did they throw her? But their arms aren't in the air. How the frack did you do that? Did you combine two photos?"

Where's the trust, people? Where's the love? Have I ever fooled you before? Fortunately, my assistant, Travis Francis, brought his video camera. I have decided to expose the process, imperfections and all. If you believe the moon landing was rigged and Elvis is still alive, this video might not sway you. But for everyone else, you'll gain a better understanding of what the dancers put themselves (and their bodies) through for a photo.

This week I'm in the Bay Area of California, and I have discovered firsthand that the Pacific water is far too cold to try anything like that for another Dancers Among Us scenario. I am sure there are a slew of adventures waiting for me and the west coast dancers I will be working with here, and I look forward to sharing them with you!

Dancers Among Us Heats Up in Baltimore

2011-07-26T13:49:00.000-04:00

The enthusiasm dancers have shown to participate in Dancers Among Us has been humbling. I have never paid anyone to participate, yet I have had the good fortune of working with talented and creative artists who are always willing to spend long hours pushing their bodies to the limits, simply for a photograph.

This week may have taken the cake. On Friday, Rachel Bell from Dance/USA in Washington, DC rented a car and drove two hours to meet me in Baltimore. The temperature reached 107 degrees, and the southern humidity was in full swing. It was oppressive!

This was the third time Rachel has driven from DC to work with me. The results of our past efforts were recounted in an earlier blog- "Dancers Among Us Celebrates America". For Independence Day, Rachel produced these two stunning photos:

Apparently the previous trips weren't enough, and Rachel braved the sweltering heat for another adventure. We met at the Inner Harbor; I wanted to use the USS Constellation as a backdrop. Rachel jumped 28 times as I laid on steaming asphalt for the best angle to capture the moment. We were both just a wee bit drenched as we reviewed the images.

On paper I liked all the elements- the flag matching her dress, the people watching her, the pose, the gorgeous ship- but in practice it looked too busy. Time to move on.

We decided to try a different perspective from Federal Hill, which overlooks the Baltimore skyline. It didn't take long to discover the perfect scenario- a dancer in a red dress draped on a lone cannon perched high above the city. Enticing Rachel to comply was another matter. I'm not sure what concerned her more, the burning heat of the black cannon or the distance of the potential fall.

Rachel secured herself by wrapping her left leg around a steel plate on the cannon. I wanted her to hang farther over the cannon, so I recruited a passer-by to hide behind the base and hold her foot. Nothing like entrusting your life to a stranger (in my defense, he was a pretty strong dude!).

Beautiful! After a mere 170 photos and it was time to stop. But I couldn't drag Rachel all the way from DC for just one photograph, no matter how exciting the experience. We headed into the countryside to a former plantation I've had my eye on for a month. I asked Rachel to bring a "farm girl doing chores" outfit, handed her a pail and pitchfork, and asked her to jump off a high split-rail fence.

It was too high; she nearly sprained her ankle. I assumed we were done; I was satisfied with the cannon shot and grateful she didn't hurt herself. Instead she offered to try again (away from the fence). Gotta love dancers- they just never give up!

This was her first jump-

It's impossible to describe how difficult it is to nail a jump on the first try, let alone while holding a pail and pitchfork, and jumping with a sore ankle. And again, gotta love dancers- they just keep making me look good!

The sun had already set (finally!), and the sky was turning into a deeper shade of blue by the minute. I wanted her position to look a little more purposeful, as if she was rushing to finish her chores before dark. We took 35 more photos and nailed it on the final frame.

That's when I saw the police approaching.

Apparently this site is private property, and I shouldn't have mistaken the warm hue of the porch light for hospitality. I apologized profusely and left with my police record still clean. It's amazing how the police keep arriving after I get my shot- the photography gods are looking out for me. Let's hope they stick around as Dancers Among Us travels west.

Next stop, San Francisco! I hear the police are pretty nice there.

Feel-good postscript: On Federal Hill we ran into Kelli and Mike, a beaming couple who had just gotten engaged. They were ecstatic, at least partly due to Mike's creative proposal:

Can't you see a dancer in a beautiful pose, holding onto the wing with one arm, his body elevated by the force of the wind?

Or is it just me?

Dancers Among Us Rises to Terrifying New Heights

2011-07-20T13:15:00.007-04:00

Immediately after meeting Rhythmic Gymnast Evgeniya (Jenia) Chernukhina, my mind went to Dancers Among Us. She hired me for headshots and a promotional dance photo, but how could I resist? She has been training eight hours a day in Russia since she was four, she was familiar with the project, and she was excited to participate (plus she knows five languages, which has nothing to do with anything but is very impressive). This was going to be a very good day at the office!

I didn't have any ideas nor any props to use, but I knew it needed to be special; I couldn't waste this opportunity! We found one of the most beautiful spots in Manhattan at Fort Tyron Park, overlooking the Hudson River. The park has a magnificent 100 foot cliff stretching down to the West Side Highway. My assistant, Travis Francis, and my makeup artist, Valerie Weiss, both looked at me with concern. "You're not going to ask her to stand on that ledge, right?"

They already knew the answer, and they could barely watch. Jenia didn't seem concerned though. I asked her what pose made her feel the most secure, preferably one that resembled the "king of the world!" moment in Titanic. We practiced on the grass a few times to make sure she was very stable. Jenia climbed on the wall and Travis hid behind her, ready to grab her if she, well, you know. Valerie covered her eyes, and Jenia hit her pose as I shouted, "Try it again! Amazing. One more time. Can you get your leg a little higher? Smile!"

A small crowd had gathered behind me, watching intensely. One of them expressed his unease. "I'm totally freaking out. What if she falls off the cliff?"

Honestly, I was a little freaked out myself.

I rejoined my team and we reviewed the images. We loved them. I had dodged a big bullet. Then the sun came out and it was time for a little more Russian Roulette (terrible, yet irresistible pun).

"Let's try it one more time. Open your body to the sun. Close your eyes like you're basking in the afternoon light."

Crazy idea, but maybe she could do it.

And she did! I captured 102 photos of Jenia on that ledge in eight minutes. It was finally time to thank the photography gods and move on.

Satisfied that I had a beautiful shot for Dancers Among Us, I turned my attention to her dance promotional photo. We decided on a jump. I found a location filled with beautiful light and flowers that matched her shirt. Of course, she nailed the pose.

Beautiful! Perfect form. Nice composition. Quick and easy. It's a wrap.

EXCEPT the composition was so nice that I wanted to turn it into another Dancers Among Us shot. But what could she do?

Jenia looked very Daisy Duke. I started politely accosting all the sunbathers in the park, looking for a prop to match her country vibe. The very last group I approached had a pair of water guns (the photography gods were still hanging around). I recruited Valerie to be her playmate, splashed some water on them and asked Jenia to jump and laugh.

She nailed it every time. I only needed seven frames before we got this shot (quick shout-out to Valerie- your back looks amazing!)

Now I was finished. Seriously. What more could we do? It was hot. Jenia was tired (though she didn't admit it). I loved the photos. It's a wrap!

"EXCEPT remember how when you were warming up, you did that little thing where you kick your leg straight up and touch your head to your knee? Feel like doing that real quick? Maybe while you're crossing the street?"

Finally we parted ways, and I promised to photograph her again soon. Coincidentally enough, Jenia and her teammates train in Philadelphia, which is one of the three cities listed in my current poll on Facebook to determine the next Dancers Among Us location! Guess what city I am now rooting for...

25 Beautiful Women and 2 Frantic Photographers- How We Photographed an Olympic Calendar in One Day

2011-07-12T13:50:00.000-04:00

Months ago I was contacted by the US Women's Rowing Team to photograph their 2012 Olympic calendar. I immediately called my partner, Jeremy Saladyga, whose gifts for lighting and visual concepts never cease to amaze me. We envisioned black and white portraits highlighting the women's strength and athleticism. We also knew we had to take photographs of the women in action on the water, which of course had to be at sunrise. This was going to be a long day.

THE SET-UP

The day before the shoot we traveled to the USRowing training facility in Princeton, NJ. I dragged Jeremy kicking and screaming to a couple of Dancers Among Us shoots, and then we were off to meet the team. They welcomed us with a lavish BBQ, which very well may have been the most intimidating meal of my life. We were surrounded by disarmingly nice and extremely athletic women over 6 feet tall.

After the welcoming meal, we headed over to the team's weight room to set up the backdrop and lights for the next day's portraits. We requested a model to test out the lighting- they sent us Olympic gold medalist and cover girl Susan Francia.

ON THE WATER

We headed back to the hotel for a few hours sleep, but instead we tossed around ideas late into the night. The schedule for the shoot was nearly impossible. We had only two hours on the water, and we had 6-8 shots we wanted to get. That meant a photo every 15 minutes, including travel time. Much of the calendar will likely be these rowing shots, and we needed at least a day to get it right. Instead, we had two hours. Jeremy and I were each on a boat with a bullhorn. We were shouting directions to try and coordinate and photograph eight teams, while also making sure we didn't get in each others' way.

photos by Sabine Pallat

Somehow it all came together. Before the sun rose over the bridge at 5:00am, a stunning orange hue lit up the sky. We screamed, "Someone grab a boat and get in the water. This is our light!" It was go time.

The shoot was incredible! The women were extremely efficient, the water was wonderfully calm, and the light was absolutely beautiful. Our greatest success was that neither Jeremy nor I fell into the river. We were a little behind schedule, but we got all the shots we hoped for, and even some we hadn't anticipated.

THE PORTRAITS

We rushed off the water and headed to the studio. As we arrived, three women were in place and ready to be photographed. Several more were finishing makeup. And this was just the first group. I finally understood the expression, "out of the pot and into the fire".

When we discussed the studio schedule with the crew team the week before, we laid down the law! "We absolutely cannot shoot more than 15 women. That is the very maximum. We have to light each woman individually, come up with a concept and pose, make sure their hair and makeup look great, and direct them in front of the camera. The process can take a long time to get it right. We prefer only 10 women, but 15 is the max."

They scheduled all 25 women.

We rolled up our sleeves and got to work.

Some photos came together organically and others had to be constructed. Many of the women have won medals in past Olympics, and we insisted on including them in the photographs. We wanted each woman's portrait to be unique, and it became increasingly more difficult to come up with a new concept every time. Often the women would aid us with suggestions.

"Show them how high you can jump."

"Look at the muscles in her back."

"She can do more push-ups than both of you combined."

25 women and seven hours later, we shot our last portrait. We are proud of each one. I am thankful they scheduled everyone and forced us out of our comfort zone. After all, they know something about pushing beyond your limitations.

The day was exhilarating and exhausting. We rarely stopped shooting from the moment the sun rose. We were surrounded by athletes at the very top of their profession, and we were determined to rise to their level. It was as close to the Olympics as we will ever get, and we enjoyed every minute of it.

Jeremy and I will continue updates about the calendar, so keep an eye on our Facebook and Twitter pages for regular posts and to view more photos of these stunning Olympians.

Dancers Among Us Celebrates America

2011-07-06T13:27:00.000-04:00

As Dancers Among Us continues to go national, the response from regional dancers is growing extraordinarily! Dedicated even over the holiday weekend, four amazing dancers traveled from Washington, D.C. to Baltimore County to participate in Dancers Among Us- Kamille Upshaw and Alexei Geronimo of Bad Boys of Dance, Rachel Bell from Dance/USA in DC, and Christina Jackson of Capitol Movement Dance Company. I was also joined by Penny Green, a lovely D.C. photographer who wanted to observe the process and take behind-the-scenes photos.

With only five hours on Saturday afternoon to capture all the shots, we first met at my in-laws' home in Towson, MD to shoot a series of "Americana" images celebrating Independence Day. Quite fortunately, their house is about as all-American as you can get. You can practically smell the apple pie from the driveway.

1:22 pm

I have always wanted a gardening photo, and this location was perfect- the American flag, dappled sunlight, and stone house are right out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Rachel Bell came up with a terrific pose, and to complete the scene I recruited my dog and 19-month-old daughter, Salish- and was that asking for trouble! I wanted them seated and focused on Rachel, but neither of them felt compelled to stick to the script.

Finally Salish sat down, looked up at Rachel and started petting the dog, who then looked back at Salish. Rachel nailed her pose as the breeze blew the flag. Perfect!

2:26 pm

The next location was the local bowling alley to shoot a favorite American pastime. I had a pretty difficult idea in mind, and I attempted to demonstrate it to Christina Jackson.

Behind-the-scenes photos by Penny Green

Usually I prefer to include passers-by in my shots, but Saturday afternoon bowlers are pretty intense. They didn't want to be distracted, so we couldn't shoot while they were focusing on their bowling. Instead, I recruited my D.C. entourage. Everyone got their own bowling ball, and we staggered the start time so all the balls would be in the lanes when Christina struck her pose. This took some serious teamwork, and I got just a little amped-up trying to coordinate everything.

I took 82 shots to make sure it was right. I probably owe Christina a visit to the chiropractor.

4:05 pm

Next stop on the Americana wagon, McDonald's! No celebration of America would be complete without a little fast food. Plus, I was in the mood for a Big Mac. The concept was simple but the execution was the tricky part. I wanted Kamille Upshaw to utilize her incredible dexterity at the drive-thru by paying with her foot. I assumed I would only have a few seconds before getting kicked out, so we practiced in the driveway.

Incredibly, I was able to capture 48 photos in two minutes as Kamille kept her leg in the air and the $20 snug between her toes. The employee kept holding out the bag, seemingly amused. Finally she ducked her head inside the window, and I braced myself for a frantic manager screaming at me about brand recognition. Instead, I ended up with a fun photograph and a stale Big Mac. It was worth the trade-off.

5:27 pm

Fishing is another cherished American pastime. I wanted a Moby-Dick shot, so we headed to the reservoir. We needed to weigh down the fishing line, and Penny generously offered her own sneaker! I asked Alexei Geronimo to give me a back bend and expression that suggested, at the very least, a small whale on the line. I demonstrated in the parking lot.

We had less than an hour to get this shot. We rented a couple of boats and hit the water.

Many things went wrong- the sneaker didn't sink, the boats were difficult to maneuver, the currents kept drifting us away from the location, the light kept changing, the geese kept begging for scraps, the line got tangled in the motor (shown in the second photo below), and Alexei almost fell out of the boat a dozen times. We managed to keep him dry and got many nice images- I am having a difficult time selecting just one. Have a favorite?

24 Hours Later

In five hours I got terrific photos of four amazing and creative dancers. But I still had a surprise waiting for me- Rachel Bell came back the next day for just one more Dancers Among Us image! On a break between class and performance, she rented another Zip Car, grabbed her boyfriend and drove an hour north to produce one of my very favorite shots of the entire series - "Love on Independence Day"!

Thank you to Penny and the wonderful Dancers Among Us for making my Independence Day weekend so memorable. From gardening, bowling, and fishing, to picnicking and the fast-food frenzy, capturing America's pastimes continues on its national quest!

Dancers Among Us Feature on ZDF German Television

2011-06-29T13:45:00.004-04:00

When ZDF German Television first asked me if they could create a segment on Dancers Among Us, I never imagined how successful it would be! My blog series recalling the day of shooting and the images I captured went viral and reached thousands, and I am now more famous than Brad Pitt in Germany! (Please don't ask me to provide statistics for that one).

A huge thank you to ZDF for the wonderful exposure of sending my photography and Dancers Among Us (Tänzer Unter Uns) across the globe! A day of shooting such thrilling dance photography for this ZDF Life & Style segment, and the phenomenal responses I have received in return, have been such a highlight in my career!

Will They Like Me in Kansas? -- Dancers Among Us Goes National!

2011-06-28T13:58:00.003-04:00

DANCERS AMONG US -- THE BEGINNING

Two years ago I met Paul Taylor dancer Jeffrey Smith . I had the germ of an idea for dance photographs- incorporating dancers into everyday situations in NYC- and Jeffrey got me access to the entire company. I had limited, okay, no dance photography experience, and I was suddenly collaborating with some of the best dancers in the world.

I spent the summer of 2009 discovering the style that would become Dancers Among Us. The dancers were very enthusiastic, often returning several times with new ideas. Their commitment and creativity was invaluable, and I felt indebted to them. After Labor Day I sent thirty images to Paul Taylor, with no strings attached. The company was free to use the images in any capacity.

The company manager loved them, the publicist loved them, the dancers loved them, everyone loved them... Except it didn't work with their marketing strategy at the time.

Michael Apuzzo, my very first shoot

Jeffrey Smith

Michelle Fleet, my last Paul Taylor shoot

GOING VIRAL

I had only created the images for Paul Taylor and had no idea what to do next. The photos sat on my website through the fall and winter, and I moved on to other projects. In the spring of 2010, Photo District News, prompted by tech reviewer Dan Havlik, chose an image of A nnmaria Mazzini for their prestigious "Photo of the Day" website.

That's all it took- Dancers Among Us went viral. I was inundated with requests for interviews, phenomenal dancers started posing for me and I was flooded with congratulatory emails. I was shooting again with renewed enthusiasm. My photos were showing up on television, and in blogs and magazines around the world.

View Magazine, Germany

Focus Magazine, Italy

Omikron Magazine, Greece

NY Daily News

HEADING TO THE HEARTLAND

After the NY Daily News feature, I received a call from literary agent extraordinaire Barney Karpfinger. He wanted to pitch a book to the big publishing houses. After months of preparation, we started making the rounds in the winter of 2010. Everywhere we went, the response was overwhelmingly positive. The editors loved it, the designers loved it, the publicists loved it, the interns loved it, everyone loved it... Except the sales departments- they were apprehensive.

"It's too New York. They might not like it in Kansas."

"But I've had millions of views on my website from all over the world!" I reasoned. "I'm sure some of them must have been from Kansas."

Then a funny thing happened- I began to wonder if they were right. How can I represent moments in the lives of Americans without photographing America? I had always envisioned a NYC setting, but I became very intrigued with the prospect of taking it on the road. The potential seemed limitless, and I wanted to give regional dancers the opportunity to strut their stuff.

Three weeks ago I began my journey by testing the Northeast waters. I've visited college campuses, suburban neighborhoods, picturesque towns and rural farmland. I have to admit, I love it- I wish I had done this a year ago!

I am very excited for all the new dancers and places I will encounter and photograph this summer. Dancers Among Us is evolving before my eyes, and it is thrilling! If you have any suggestions of great dancers or fun locations, please feel free to post your ideas on my Facebook fan page or @jordanmatter on Twitter. I'll see you soon!

Kansas, here I come!

I Went Viral - 45,000 Reads in 72 Hours

2011-06-14T12:30:00.001-04:00

My blog had 45,000 reads this weekend, fueled primarily by the Dancers Among Us series last week! I owe a great thanks to posts on The Daily What, Laughing Squid, Super Punch, Tumblr, and various other personal blog sites -- this is the power of sharing! Because of you my work and passion grows! Thank you to all who are interested in my work, and to the new-comers, welcome! I'd love to hear from all of you. Please keep an eye on my Facebook fan page- lots of exciting things coming up and new adventures for Dancers Among Us happening this summer!

One Coffee, One Shot... A Day of Dancers Among Us Ends with a Splash

2011-06-10T12:37:00.003-04:00

I was exhausted.

I had started shooting Dancers Among Us with ZDF German Television at 9:00am with Marcella Guarino and the $10,000 helicopter, then met Jermaine Terry for the Andy Warhol and Lincoln Center adventures. All three situations had been extremely challenging, with the heat stifling, and I was about to attempt the most difficult shot yet.

Years ago I was so excited to get my first cell phone that I couldn't wait to play with it. I was on the subway while doing so, holding a coffee. The train stopped suddenly and I spilled my coffee all over the woman next to me. I wanted to recreate that moment now- a dancer stumbling, gracefully of course, on the subway, spilling her coffee on an innocent bystander.

The dancer would be Allison Jones, whose unique physicality inspired this idea. The innocent bystander would be Geoff Legg, whose wonderful photographs often grace the pages of these posts. Geoff changed into a white t-shirt, we bought a huge iced coffee from Dunkin' Donuts, and we all climbed aboard the B train heading downtown.

We had one chance to get the shot... ONE CHANCE! A single frame! After that Geoff would be stained with coffee, the ground would be wet, and the passengers would be freaked out.

With the ZDF sound and camera men recording the madness, we tried to solidify a pose. The train rumbled on, speeding quickly toward Brooklyn.

Allison was trying to use the bar above Geoff for stability, but her leg was getting blocked- I wanted her line to be unobstructed. Her handbag was in the way as well. We came up with a new plan and kept practicing.

We rehearsed for THIRTY MINUTES! Allison was getting tired. The passengers were getting concerned. We were deep into Brooklyn. It was time to roll the dice.

I asked Allison to practice one last time, just to set it in stone. All of a sudden my camera STOPPED FOCUSING. It just stopped. There was nothing I could do.

We waited ten infuriating minutes. Nikon was being temperamental, focusing about half the time. People were starting to get off the train. The subway would be empty soon. Now was the time.

I asked Geoff to appear asleep. I hoped Allison's position would be right, her eyes would be open, her expression would be natural, and the coffee would be arching in a steady stream, splashing Geoff in the face at the exact moment I released the shutter. Oh, and I hoped Nikon would decide to focus.

"Here we go everyone. Remember to get your leg up, Allison. Hit him hard with the coffee and look surprised. Geoff, you ready? One.. Two... Three... Go!"

Splash! Coffee everywhere. Mayhem ensued. The train pulled into the station. Our moment had passed. I took a breath and looked at the photo.

Allison nailed it! Everything I wanted, and more. One take. In focus. Unbelievable!

I wasn't even exhausted anymore. I was exhilarated. It had been the most exciting and productive day of my entire career.

And it wasn't over.

When we returned to Manhattan, Allison had an idea. "I could do something really cool with that phone booth." Five minutes later, I had this image.

Then Jennifer Jones, who had been waiting patiently all day to shoot an homage to Marilyn Monroe on her 85th birthday, hit this shot on the first try!

Thank you to everyone I mentioned in this week's Dancers Among Us blog posts- dancers Marcella Guarino, Jermaine Terry, Allison Jones, and Jennifer Jones for their amazing talents, Travis Francis for two fantastic videos, Geoff Legg for shooting and taking one for the team, and ZDF German Television for making me bigger than Brad Pitt in Europe! What an incredible day.

Conquering the Big Kahuna - Dancers Among Us at the Lincoln Center Fountain

2011-06-09T13:38:00.003-04:00

Here is the advantage to working with a television crew: they get permits. Jermaine Terry and I arrived at Lincoln Center with actual written permission to photograph there- a very rare luxury for me (thank you, ZDF German Television!). The specifics of the permit were 1) access from 1:00-2:00pm and 2) location limited to the Reflecting Pool.

Photo by Geoff Legg

My idea was to shoot Jermaine doing a cannonball into the Reflecting Pool. He couldn't actually do a cannonball because that might cause simultaneous cardiac arrest among the security personnel, and it is also only 1 foot deep.

Making it look like a cannonball was easy- perspective is a very deceptive tool. And the background was temporarily filled with kids seeking relief from the heat. Perfect contrast to Jermaine in a swimsuit.

But I wasn't too pleased with the location I had selected. The Reflecting Pool was looking too much like an actual pool, so the cannonball wasn't very thrilling. It just looked like Jermaine was jumping into a public pool. The photo didn't have much drama.

I decided to try for the Big Kahuna- the Lincoln Center Fountain. It is Lincoln Center's Fort Knox- there is a guard assigned to the fountain at all times. I have longed to photograph a leaping shot over the fountain for years, but I have always been kicked out before getting it.

I knew we would only have a few seconds, if any, to shoot. Once I saw the giant American Ballet Theatre banner hanging behind the fountain, it sealed the deal. I had to give it a try, the setting was just too perfect.

Jermaine climbed on the platform and started jumping, quietly and quickly.

It looked great, but the water height wasn't at its fullest. I aimed to get Jermaine fully silhouetted against the bright water. Suddenly the jets exploded upward and I got one shot with perfect form.

Then I heard that familiar NYPD whistle. I knew the officer was walking toward me, but I, of course, pretended not to notice and kept shooting.

Photos by Geoff Legg

I heard him screaming before I could understand the words.

"Does your permit specify jumping on the platform? DOES YOUR PERMIT SPECIFY JUMPING ON THE PLATFORM? I don't think so! It's 95 degrees and I'm getting paid! This is how we do it at Lincoln Center. He has to get off the platform and put his shirt on. Now!"

"Those are the two main elements!" I retorted. "It's supposed to look like a cannonball. It won't look very good on the ground and with a shirt. So, you're killing the shot?"

He smiled. "Yes I am."

The officer radioed headquarters but we didn't wait around to hear what they had to say. It's amazing how quickly equipment can be gathered.

I didn't get to tell him I already got the perfect shot. Success.

I owe a huge thanks to the amazing Alvin Ailey dancer, Jermaine Terry for working with me and conquering the impossible, twice. (Check out yesterday's blog post of Dancers Among Us at the Andy Warhol monument where we hear that NYPD whistle yet again!). And of course, a huge shout out to Jennifer Jones for her help and the wonderful idea of adding the arm floaties- nothing like adding the perfect prop to complete my Big Kahuna catch.

As difficult as it was to photograph at the Lincoln Center fountain, it was a cakewalk compared to the next shoot of the day. Tomorrow, in the final installment of this 4-part series recalling a day in the life of photographing Dancers Among Us, I'll tell the story of capturing the most challenging shot of all. Stay tuned!

Floundering Through a Dancers Among Us Shoot, Rescued by a Hot Dog

2011-06-08T14:07:00.002-04:00

I was on a high after completing the first exciting Dancers Among Us shoot of the day last Wednesday with Marcella Guarino, the helicopter, and the aircraft carrier. With ZDF German Television still in tow, I headed to Union Square to photograph another dancer among us, Jermaine Terry from Alvin Ailey. We had a bit of time to kill before our 2pm shoot in Lincoln Center, and I thought the Union Square Greenmarket would be a nice backdrop.

Well, we never made it to the market. Instead my attention was grabbed by the new Andy Warhol monument on Broadway.

Photo by Geoff Legg

Outdoor art installations and statues are very common in NYC, yet there is not a single Dancers Among Us photograph incorporating one. Andy Warhol seemed like the perfect premier subject.

But I didn't have the faintest idea on how to incorporate him. Nothing. Not even a germ of an idea. So, I climbed up next to Andy and attempted to figure out a pose myself.

Photo by Geoff Legg

And that is when I heard the very distinct whistle of the NYPD (how I am familiar with it, I do not know). I looked over and was waved off the statue. Normally I would take that as a signal that there is some law I'm breaking, and perhaps I should think of another idea... but this is Andy Warhol! He wouldn't have walked away, right?

So, we couldn't rehearse- we had to come up with an idea and quickly implement it. There is a quote I like to repeat like a mantra in these situations:

It is easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.

I was still at loss for an idea and feeling pressured for time. The oppressive heat wasn't helping much either. I was definitely on the cusp of a photographer's block, so I just kept talking incessantly. Maybe something would eventually stick...

"How about pretending you're a tourist, and you have your arm around Andy? Or what if you are mimicking Andy's pose? Okay, let's get Jermaine a camera and shopping bag... Okay, the camera looks really silly..."

Then I remembered my grandmother, Mercedes Matter. She was an accomplished artist and hater of Andy Warhol. She would rail against the commercialization of art- "And that awful Andy Warhol and his absurd soup cans! That has nothing to do with art!"

Light bulb. Hot Dog Bean Soup! Perfect.

Jermaine would jump off the top of the statue, split his legs while holding Andy's shoulder and eating a hot dog, then effortlessly land 8 feet below as Geoff is eating another hot dog in the background- all before we get arrested.

Amazing! This is the benefit of working with the most exceptional dancers in the world- they only need a few takes to get the perfect shot. I reviewed the photos and loved them, minus one detail- his shorts were blending into the background. If only he had lighter colored shorts. I looked around. Everyone was wearing dark shorts except... me!

Got it in one take! And no handcuffs. Thanks for the inspiration Grandma.

And when I say I was talking incessantly, I am not exaggerating. Check out this video by Travis Francis to see what a floundering photographer looks like. The woman I keep asking to rescue me is Jennifer Jones, star of many Dancers Among Us photos and a friend of Jermaine. The two came up with the final dance pose together (must give credit where it's due!).

If you were worried about the whistle of the NYPD as much as I was during this shoot, just wait until tomorrow's post when I tell you what the police had to say about doing a cannonball in the Lincoln Center fountain.

A Helicopter, an Aircraft Carrier, and a $10,000 Photograph - Dancers Among Us Reaches New Heights!

2011-06-07T13:56:00.001-04:00

Last Wednesday I spent ten hours photographing five Dancers Among Us scenarios. ZDF German Television captured the day for a lifestyle segment to air this summer throughout Europe. It was an exciting and creative day. This is the story of the first unbelievable shoot, with more to exciting stories to follow this week.

I met Marcella Guarino at V.I.P Heliport before our helicopter was due to arrive. That's what I said- our helicopter. To put this in perspective, the cost for private access to a helicopter for a photograph is pocket-change. You know, just $10,000.

I have been trying for months to make this shot happen. It all centered on Marcella- she is no stranger to the helicopter experience, and she made a few calls. Late Tuesday night we got the thumbs up- we are free to shoot on the heliport.

...for fifteen minutes! If we go over, we have to pay. *Gulp*

Marcella warmed up and we practiced the shot as we listened for the hum of the rotors above us.

Behind-the-scenes photos by Travis Francis

The helicopter arrived and we were ushered into the waiting area. It was very dramatic. I had 15 minutes to get the shot, and I had no idea what it would look like when we got out there. We couldn't control the direction the helicopter would be facing, that was up to the wind. And I was told the blades would be turned off- absolutely, no exception, non-negotiable.

"But it would be so amazing. She's flying through the air just under the blades, and it will add this element of drama, and..."

Somehow that argument didn't sway them.

I wanted Marcella to look like a socialite on her way to the Hamptons, and she pulled off the styling perfectly. But the shot was still incomplete in my mind. It was missing an element, and I couldn't put my finger on it (I am not exactly a regular at heliports).

"Your helicopter is ready."

I turned to see a pilot straight out of Central Casting. Now the shot was complete.

"Want to be in the coolest photograph ever?" I asked. A big dork moment, but it worked!

We ran outside and got hit by a wall of sweltering heat. We started shooting and Marcella started sweating.

"Great! Go again. Beautiful. Again." We took thirty shots in five minutes.

We hid in the helicopter for a break from the heat. Marcella was wiped out. We reviewed the photos and saw several we liked!

As we were patting ourselves on the back, relieved that we got the shot so quickly, the pilot said casually, "How about this aircraft carrier floating by? Might look good in the background."

Fleet Week was over, and the sailors were passing by us at that very moment, pulled by a tugboat. We had five minutes left to shoot, and they would be gone in about two. We scurried back into the heat. Marcella shifted into gear, propelled by the drama of the moment.

Everyone was ecstatic. We finished in time, and the circumstances were unbelievable. An aircraft carrier rarely passes that heliport, and we were there to witness and capture it. That alone was enough to make the shot one of my very favorites.

Thank you to the folks at Heliflite for their extreme generosity, to the pilot for his amazing art direction, and to Marcella for absolutely everything else.

To view an awesome video of this shoot by Travis Francis, CLICK HERE!

One would think a scenario with a helicopter would be enough excitement to photograph for one day- just wait until tomorrow's post when the Dancers Among Us shoot continues! Breaking the law to get the next shot was nothing compared to what I asked Jermaine Terry from Alvin Ailey to do...

My Lucky Life

2011-06-01T13:40:00.000-04:00

My mother died last Monday. Two days later I went back to work. She wouldn't have been surprised.

As a child I was surrounded by eccentric and creative people. My grandparents were all artists- a photographer, a painter, a pianist and an actor. My uncle is a guitarist, my father a filmmaker, and my mother was a flutist. That's everyone. A small but highly artistic family.

I grew up the only child of divorced and impulsive parents. We moved a lot. Extreme behavior seemed normal to me, and I hated the instability of their Bohemian and irresponsible lifestyles. I envied the stable, suburban upbringing of my friends. I wished my name was John and that my parents were accountants. I went off to college and declared my major- Economics.

That lasted one semester. I never stood a chance. The fear of instability of an artistic life was trumped by the fear of boredom.

With death comes reflection. My mind has been frantically racing against time, storing up memories before they begin to fade. As I think back on my childhood with her, one image dominates my mind- my mother playing scales on her flute.

Every day. For hours. And it would drive her crazy.

Fah, fa, fa, fa, fa, fa...

"Aggghhh!!"

Fah, fa, fa, fa, fa, fa...

"Aggghhh!!"

As a child I found her perfectionism infuriating- every "Aggghhh!!" meant I would have to listen to another scale. Now I find it inspiring. Music was her lifeblood. Whenever she was having a difficult time, which was often, she reached for her flute. As she played, her sanity was briefly restored. Now I find myself in crisis, and I have reached for my camera. Photography has helped restore my sanity as well.

I do not intend for this to be a eulogy, and I am wary of revealing such a personal and painful journey. But my mother's death has helped me realize how lucky I am, and I feel compelled to share it. While many people mourn privately and stay away from work as long as possible, I felt an urgency to return. I am living my passion, and I know how rare that is. Photography doesn't just make me happy, it makes me whole.

Today I am running around NYC, photographing Dancers Among Us. I am being filmed by ZDF German Television- they are doing a segment on me to air throughout Europe. On Friday I will be meeting with publishers about a book and calendar collaboration. These events are a culmination of two years of work, and I wish my mother was here to share it with me. I did not mention these new opportunities to her, nor did I acknowledged her role in shaping my passion. The best I can do is acknowledge her now, and continue forging a path that would have made her proud.

Thank you, Mom.

A Child's Power to Heal

2011-05-25T14:00:00.000-04:00

Sunday night I received an email from a friend. His mother passed away that weekend. I wrote him this note:

"I'm very sorry Steve. I haven't lost a parent yet, so I can't really understand what you're going through. But I imagine it must be very difficult. Please let me know if you need anything."

The following morning my phone rang. It was my mother. I was busy and didn't answer. She called back a few more times. Finally I picked up. A police officer was on the line instead.

"I am sorry to inform you that your mother passed away. She was discovered today in her apartment."

The unexpected death of a parent brings a sudden and unrelenting pain. A quote has been haunting me-

If you had one phone call to make, who would you call and what would you say? Why aren't you making that call?

I wish I had remembered that quote last week.

Monday was a long, raw day. I was feeling alone and exhausted. I came home in the evening, and went directly to my studio to hide out. My 5-year-old son sauntered in, right before his bedtime.

"Throw me some pitches Dad."

"I'm a little worn out tonight. I'm pretty sad."

"Why?"

"My mommy died today."

"Why?"

"I don't know yet."

"Come on, just a few pitches."

"Okay."

We headed outside. Before he even picked up his bat, he had a better idea.

"Let's go to the baseball field."

"The baseball field?? It's your bedtime."

"Come on, just for a minute. Puh-leeeeeeease"

"Okay."

We spent an hour playing baseball together as the sunset. Then we went to a local bar, ate pasta and watched the Yankee game. We talked baseball strategy and voted on our favorite commercials. He made me laugh. Finally he curled up in my lap, hours after his bedtime. I stroked his hair and felt truly fortunate. For a few hours, the unrelenting pain had relented.

I began the day as a devastated son, alone in the world, and ended it as a grateful father. I hope one day my son's child will give him the same comfort. There is no greater gift.

Hudson with his grandmother, 2007

No Time. No Budget. No Permission - How I Shot My First Book Cover In 15 Minutes

2011-05-16T22:36:00.044-04:00

My literary agent, Barney Karpfinger, called me a few weeks ago with an urgent request. A client of his, Leah Hager Cohen, had written a beautiful book about a family dealing with the loss of a child. The publisher was having a difficult time finding appropriate cover art, a deadline was quickly approaching, and they might have to settle on a cover that nobody was crazy about. In contrast to the heavy tone present in the book's title, The Grief of Others, he wanted a cover that offered some hope yet also retained a sense of mystery. He asked me to create a cover photo with two essential elements- home and light. I suggested the first image that came to me-a house at dusk with light pouring out of the windows, and a happy family scene inside. The mother would be alone representing the family's grieving, in juxtaposition to the joyful scene in the next room. It was a long shot, but we decided to give it a try.

I had to implement this concept immediately. It is unheard of for an author or agent to submit their own cover art. The publisher did not know Barney had contacted me, so we had to ensure to get them an exciting image before they finalized the cover later in the week. Cover art typically involves weeks of pre-production, days of shooting, and weeks of post-production. I had 48 hours. And I've never done it before.

First, I needed to find the home. My wife suggested a stunning yellow Victorian, and I approached the owner- "Are you home tomorrow? Want a nice photo of your house?". Then I needed to find the right mix of family members- kids had to be the right age, parents under 40 and attractive. I combined two sets of friends to obtain the perfect mix. We all met and waited for sunset. I had not done any location scouting nor did I bring any lighting, and proceeded with trust that it would work out. We turned on all the house lights, and as the skies darkened I shouted out directions from across the street. I took 100 photos in 15 minutes, and then it became night.

I sent a few images to the publisher and hoped for the best.

(Click images to enlarge for detail)

A week later I received an email attachment with this mock-up.

They loved it! However, they also thought the mom in the window was a bit creepy and Psycho-esque. Did I have any other options? ...Nope. (I had not mentioned I only was able to shoot for 15 minutes!). Could I reshoot the mom again, so they could combine the photos in Photoshop? Oh, and could I do it tonight?

The mother I had recruited is an artist and friend, and the home owner is very proud of her home. I asked the mother to walk up the stairs towards her family, and sent this photo over the next day:

Yesterday I received this final cover from my agent, with effusive notes of gratitude. Everyone was happy.

My first book cover! Next stop- romance novels. Those must be fun to shoot.

Dinner with Bill Irwin

2011-05-10T23:51:00.031-04:00

Monday night I shared a burger with Bill Irwin. We watched the Mets lose again, and we talked for hours about topics which mostly began with one of us saying "Between you and me…". I am therefore sworn to silence. However, one topic is definitely available for public consumption- Bill is writing a book about practical thoughts on the craft of acting, which will include his anecdotes from the trade. He briefly touched on a few of these thoughts and anecdotes, and it is very clear this will be a fascinating book.

For those of you who are not familiar with Bill's work (is there anyone who is not?), he is a Tony Award winning actor, dancer, performance artist, producer, director, writer, choreographer, and the greatest vaudeville clown of his generation. He has starred on Broadway, in films and on television for decades. Other than that, he hasn't really done much.

I photographed Bill last year when he graciously agreed to pose for my Dancers Among Us series. We shot in a mall, and he improvised vaudeville dance while listening to headphones in a music store. After, he felt like clowning around (cheesy pun intended), so he threw on his clown suit and we went for a walk.

During our dinner, I told Bill a story about my son. He had just won the game ball in his T-ball league (proud dad moment- click here to check out my son's awesome swing!). As I looked at the ball later that night, I got teary. I felt the sentiment I know will be attached to that ball in the years to come. I fear the loss of his innocence and the loss of this magical time of his life. This began a discussion about the content in Bill's book. He considers a sense of loss as an essential element in understanding a character. In an overall sense, he feels the actor's job is telling the story of loss.

We continued our discussion through email, and this struck me:

"What is any character's sense of loss? Loss is -- paradoxically -- often a more useful story to an audience than joy or satisfaction (though they're important, too, and maybe harder to play). Useful, but it can also trip us up as actors -- the wrong kind of preoccupation with the idea of loss. How to keep from letting it do that...."

I used to be an actor, so I can appreciate the complexity of this approach. I worked with gifted actors and directors at Circle in the Square, where I studied acting intensively for two years and was never exposed to an approach like his. For any actor (or publisher, for that matter) reading this blog, know that Bill's book will be invaluable.

If you only know Bill as a clown, you've just scratched the surface of his talents. Start by renting Rachel Getting Married, and you'll see an actor dealing with a character's sense of loss. His performance blew my mind.

Rye High School Students Explore Photography

2011-05-05T00:50:00.024-04:00

Recently I was invited to speak at Rye High School in Westchester, NY. I visited students from AP Photography, and we discussed the nuts and bolts of a photographer's life. The head of the department, Tony Campbell, had seen Dancers Among Us and used it to inspire their creativity. He gave them this assignment- Bring a friend to model in a location where either what they are doing or wearing juxtaposes the environment. Sound familiar?

I really enjoyed meeting them. They seemed interested and passionate, and several plan to pursue professional careers as photographers. My main point of emphasis was, to quote Nike, just do it! Every day each of them will have a choice- to grab their camera and go make photographs, or not to. It's really that simple. The ones who say yes every day will probably have exciting careers, and the ones who say no should find something else to do.

Below are the results of their assignment. They all headed into NYC on a cold Saturday and walked around with their cameras (which is basically my job description every day). And they took some cool photos. Just imagine how much they'd learn if they did that every weekend!

I made this offer to them, and I'd like to extend it to any young, passionate kids interested in photography. Come to my studio, watch the process, join me on a shoot, pick my brain. I'm convinced I have the greatest job on earth. Spend some time with me and you'll be convinced too.

Image by Cat Raynor

Image by Eleni Speal

Image by Katie Geogehegan

Image by Kelly Bonaventura

Image by Kelly Bonaventura

Image by Kelly O'Neill

Photo by Will Florio

Uncovered: Photographing the Way You're Supposed to Look

2011-05-02T22:25:00.016-04:00

When I was working on Uncovered, the BBC flew in from the UK to do a feature on me. They asked me to set up a few shoots, and I preferred women who hadn't participated in the project already because their reactions to being shirtless in public would be more dramatic. However, there was one exception. I knew I had to recruit Kim, who is quite possibly the most inspiring person I have ever photographed. I wanted Europe to hear what she had to say.

I called Kim. She had tragically just lost her fiance in a drowning accident. She was devastated, but chose to join me anyway - she was trying to move on with her life. I told the BBC producer, Betsy, about the accident, and when she met Kim, she offered her support. "I'm part of an online support group - I lost my sister in a drowning accident." Kim said, "Betsy? Betsy from England?" Betsy's mouth dropped open. "Oh my God, Kim from Brooklyn." They had been communicating every day for weeks.

Take a look at the BBC feature by clicking on the image below-

Below are two passages from Uncovered. She has much more to say, but I have to hold something back so you'll buy the book.

“I’m very comfortable with my body and I know that everybody is not supposed to look the same. My grandfather always said to me, ‘We’re not all the same. And you’re not meant to look like Gretchen who lives down the road; you’re meant to look like Kimberly. That’s who you are.’ He was telling me this because I developed breasts at a very young age — I was a size 34D at age 11. The kids used to tease me and I would cry because I felt like a freak. But he said, ‘Don’t feel that way. You look the way you’re supposed to look.’ So growing up, I knew this. And I know that no matter how much weight I lose, I will never look like Tyra Banks, so why not be the best Kim I can be?"

When I was invited on to the Tyra Banks Show to discuss Uncovered, I brought Kim with me. She told Tyra about this quote, and Tyra got a big kick out of it. To take a look, click on the image below.

“I asked my 11-year-old son, ‘How would you feel if Mommy took her shirt off in public and people saw?’ And he said, ‘Well, Mom, I’m 11 so I’d be embarrassed . . . but they were my food at one point, and that’s fine.’ So I showed him my picture. And he looked for a long time, and finally he said, ‘You know, that’s right! You are beautiful. You should stand up.’ My son doesn’t care about the size of a woman’s breasts. He says he’s much more concerned about her being happy with who she is. He says, ‘If she doesn’t like herself, what good is that going to do me?’”

Dancers Tweeting Among Us

2011-04-27T13:35:00.012-04:00

Last week I shot dance photographs for Skybetter and Associates, a contemporary dance company in NYC that is performing at the Joyce in June. I wanted to do something fun and different, so I proposed creating a social media campaign utilizing social media in the photographs. The goal is to encourage people to follow the company's Facebook and Twitter posts religiously, and I wanted to show the dancers actively video blogging, Facebook posting and tweeting, even in the most unexpected moments - since they never stop updating, you should never stop following them.

The company members - Kristen Arnold, Gary Schaufeld, Jennifer Jones and Jordan Isadore - were exciting to collaborate with because they were up for anything. Sydney Skybetter, the Big Kahuna, gave me free rein to do whatever I wanted. Once he saw the process unfold, he began to fear backlash from NYU, but he bit his tongue and perhaps even enjoyed himself. As planned, we began by shooting in the rehearsal space, but then I wanted more creative options. That led us to the ladies room, the dressing room, and - my favorite - the shower!

This photograph features the irrepressible Jennifer Jones, who I've used several times in my Dancers Among Us series. I've asked her to do some crazy things, including jumping through a blizzard, but at least she's kept her clothes on.

Until now.

Jennifer suggested a terrific tag line for this photo - "There's so much more to see. Follow us on Facebook."

All artists steal from each other, but this next idea I stole from myself. Here's a photograph from Dancers Among Us.

And here's Kristen Arnold, utilizing her very expressive toes in the NYU bathroom.

My tag line- "We can't hold anything back. Follow us on Facebook."

Here's Kristen again, this time using her iPhone to tweet while applying makeup, as Gary Schaufeld blogs in the background.

Here's Sydney's tag line- "We never stop tweeting. No seriously. We have a problem."

These next rehearsal photos attempt to capture the heightened state of narcissism that social media has exposed. If we don't post about it, does it even happen? It's a new twist on the 'tree falling in the woods' scenario.

Jennifer video blogging, Jordan Isadore updating Facebook, and Caleb Custer live streaming while Sydney films himself and I photograph everyone.

Kristen and Gary rehearsing an intimate moment while recording themselves, as Sydney watches the footage.

My tag line for both images- "Others wait until after rehearsal to post. That's so 2010."

If you think of any fun tag lines for these photos, please post them on my Facebook fan page. We're having a contest. And if you think of cool scenarios for future images, post those as well. We will continue adding photos to this campaign.

By the way, doesn't this series look like an Apple campaign? Perhaps a corporate sponsorship is imminent. Anyone know Steve Jobs?

PS We had invited an additional group of dancers to join us for background action, but I decided against using them - it felt too cluttered. I want to thank everyone for showing up and participating in the process - I'm sorry I wasn't able to incorporate you into the photos. I hope you enjoyed yourselves anyway, and I'm sorry I never wore that leotard.

Cancer Uncovered

2011-04-21T12:30:00.001-04:00

Most of you are familiar with my Dancers Among Us series, but it is actually the second series that I've done. Over six years, I photographed over a hundred women bare-breasted in New York City. They varied in terms of age, education and profession. Every one was a volunteer. Every subject faced reactions to her decision to defy convention, and many confronted feelings of shame and inadequacy. But after the shoots, the women were unexpectedly euphoric—and I wondered just what I had uncovered.

Many of the women agreed to interviews or to write their own texts for my book, Uncovered, and below are some excerpts. Though the book does not focus primarily on breast cancer, many of the participants had suffered from this terrible disease. I am humbled and honored that they trusted me to share their bodies and stories with the world.

Nancy

"When I heard that I had breast cancer, I thought, 'I would rather be dead than lose a breast.'"

Emma

"When your boobs are as big as mine, they're like an extra pair of arms.

"When I saw this picture, my eyes went immediately from my boobs to the mole on my right shoulder. I had never noticed it before. I decided the next time I went to the doctor, I'd have it looked at. I did. I was diagnosed with a melanoma that was growing very fast. Had I not taken part in the project, I would simply never have noticed. I was treated in time, and there is no doubt in my mind that this picture saved my life."

Karen

"I was photographed on Broadway, two days before a double mastectomy."

In the book I never comment on anyone's text, but I have to share this story about Karen. She took a train from Philadelphia to NYC to be photographed for Uncovered. She arrived on Sunday afternoon, and Tuesday morning she was scheduled for a double mastectomy. She had lost her entire family to various forms of cancer, and she did not seem confident that she would have a long life herself. She seemed resigned to her fate, and accepting of it. When she took off her shirt on a crowded corner, she started to dance and play. She was celebrating her body, and her joy was contagious. People were cheering and smiling and rooting her on. She was shirtless for five minutes before the police asked her to stop. This is the final image I shot of Karen. I never heard from her again.

Rita

"The fact that I had breast cancer was not going to stop me from doing the things I liked to do. I realized how many women were out there, their lives ruined because of this. Your life doesn't have to be ruined. I'm proof that it doesn't have to be.

"I was on Match.com for a while and I met this man, an attorney. We met one night for wine, had a nice time and decided to see each other again. The second date was a week later and we met for martinis and appetizers. Sounds nice, doesn't it?

Afterward, he embraced me, giving me one of those lip-lock kisses, and then he said, 'Let's go back to my loft.' I said, 'There's something I need to tell you. I'm a breast cancer survivor.' And he backed up like I had leprosy. He said, 'You had a mastectomy?' And I said, 'I had reconstructive surgery.' Then he said, 'You may think this is shallow of me, but I'm into beautiful breasts.' I said, 'My breasts are beautiful.' He said, 'This is too much. I can't take this.' So I said, 'You're 55? I would prefer you to be 45 with a full head of hair. I had breast cancer. You have a daughter. You might find yourself wearing one of those pink bows to support her one day. She might tell you a story about a man treating her the way you just treated me. And by the way, the same risk statistics apply to men for prostrate cancer! Sometimes the only way to save a man's life when he has prostate cancer is... should I spell it out for you?'"

Dancers Among Us Knocked Out of Avery Fisher Hall

2011-04-19T11:30:00.010-04:00

Last week I photographed Jordan Isadore for Dancers Among Us. We met at Lincoln Center on a cold, damp evening. I had no plan to use that location - it's thick with security guards dying to blow their whistles. But we needed to warm up, so we quickly ducked into Avery Fisher Hall where I saw a listening station near the box office. Nicely dressed patrons were enjoying opera on headphones. The image of a dancer rocking out to opera immediately popped into my head, and I laughed out loud.

There was security everywhere, so to avoid calling attention to ourselves prematurely, we went outside to rehearse the pose. Jordan has an absurdly flexible back, and I wanted him to incorporate a back bend into a rock and roll pose. "How far back can you bend?" I asked.

When I saw this pose, I thought, "This could be really cool!" I was buzzing with excitement! But I was also worried about security. I loved the idea of the photo, but I knew all the variables meant that it would take time to get it right, and security may not let me take that time.

We went back inside (trying to look inconspicuous) and grabbed our spot. I took out my camera, which was like having a neon sign flashing, "Kick Me Out! Kick Me Out!," and I wondered if I'd even get off one shot (earlier, security had stopped me immediately when I tried to shoot in front of the fountain outside). To make matters worse, I had to sit on a banister to get my angle.

I asked Jordan to rock out, and he improvised with an air guitar move. I loved it.

I was lucky - I took twenty shots and got a good one before any security arrived. I knew Jordan could bend farther back, and I was hoping for some fun reaction shots. I kept shooting with one eye looking for more guards. People were starting to notice and react.

Fun, but the elements didn't come together perfectly. Crowd shots are challenging because the dancer's position, the crowd's expressions and the spacial relationship between them is all essential. If one of them isn't working, the shot doesn't work. After fifty shots, Jordan was exhausted, but I felt we needed more options. We hadn't matched what I saw in my head (was it possible?). We kept going, and took another fifty photos. Where was security? On a coffee break?

So close. Jordan's position is good, I love the air guitar, and the man's expression is nice. Plus there's space around Jordan, so he stands out. BUT the other guy has his back to us, rather than pointing focus towards Jordan, so it's dead space. And I think Jordan can dip farther back.

Another fifty photos. I'm no longer worried about security - I think they're having a staff meal, or something.

Even closer. Both guys are looking at Jordan, and their expressions are perfect. But I miss the air guitar, and I think Jordan can dip a little farther back. Another twenty photos.

There it is - the image I had in my head! Exhausted, Jordan put everything he had into the pose (including a protruding tongue), just at the moment the woman turned to look disdainfully at him. Two hundred photos later, all the elements finally came together.

And then security arrived. I showed the guard the photo, thanked him for taking his time, and allowed myself to be gently nudged out the door.

As Jordan enjoyed a celebratory cigarette outside, I couldn't help but notice the lights illuminating the steps. "Hey Jordan, can you do one more back bend?"

Postscript - Jordan dances for Skybetter and Associates. I have a really fun shoot scheduled with them on Wednesday from 5pm-8pm at NYU Tisch in the east village. We need volunteers to be in the shot, so email info@skybetter.org if you're interested..