New York June NYC Meet-Up

[Calzone]

I am prepped for tonight's meeting with the director/curator/photographer. Interesting to note that Gina is an anthropologist and lately I identify myself more as an ethnographer who uses photography for documentary purposes and to archive a disappearing NYC.

With 1 3/4 inch binding posts I assembled 46 pages. I happen to have a 21x24 inch archival box that contains this assembled book that lacks hard covers. I also found in an Archival Methods catalog I obtained at PhotoPlus Expo an archival box that is perfectly sized to accommodate my book, but it is only 1 1/2 inches thick that is 18 1/2x 24 1/2.

Funny how a work in progress evolves.

I discovered some prints I made with my 7800. I identify them as K7-HD that I made recently on 18x24 sheet. I now remember that using 24 inch rolls was more cost effective and allowed for a slightly larger image size (13.33 X 20) that seems a lot bigger than 12x18 that is my proofing size.

Seems like things will become standardized into these 18.5x24.5x1.5 archival boxes for both prints and workbooks.

Cal

 

[Saganich]

I think regrets have to be about things actually done, else the regret part would be based on a counterfactual at the time and therefore speculation. Makes no sense to be in despair about something that didn't happen? Right? If you did do it there is still a 50/50 probability you would then regret doing it anyway. A persons predilection for risk changes over their life course so what seemed risky (or scary) as a young man looks like folly to the older man. There's an old saying Kierkegaard I believe, "life is lived forwards but understood backwards."

Whens the next meet-up...17th? Oh never mind I saw it in the other thread...see ya probably.

 

[Calzone]

I think regrets have to be about things actually done, else the regret part would be based on a counterfactual at the time and therefore speculation. Makes no sense to be in despair about something that didn't happen? Right? If you did do it there is still a 50/50 probability you would then regret doing it anyway. A persons predilection for risk changes over their life course so what seemed risky (or scary) as a young man looks like folly to the older man. There's an old saying Kierkegaard I believe, "life is lived forwards but understood backwards."

Whens the next meet-up...17th? Oh never mind I saw it in the other thread...see ya probably.

Chris,

Perhaps because I have been foolish is the reason why I have so few regrets. Pretty much I lived recklessly, never thinking I would live long or become an old man.

The article I read was really about remorse, and it does involve speculation.

I'm glad I had balls to do mucho crazy things.

When I was 15-16 I took the PSAT (never took the SAT) and I kinda scored mucho high in the spacial/mechanical reasoning part of the test. On the vocabulary and reading part I was sub-par and below average though. So I got offered a commission when I was 16 to the Coast Guard Academy one of the most elite schools in the U.S.

I pretty much was a wild kid and knew that I would not do too well taking orders or having people control me, so I have no regrets, but I do know that if I had chosen that path that my life would have been totally different.

I think people that have "remorse" are the ones who might not be happy. I for one am very happy, so much so that if I get hit by a cab tomorrow and get killed I will know that I had an exciting, rich and great life.

I wonder if many people could say the same or can say they have had a fufilling life that has meaning. Also if I won the lottery I don't think my life would be so different.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

So having coffee with a director/curator/photographer moved me along. Pretty much the point of this meeting was to nudge me along with my artistic development.

Gina is was educated as an anthropologist, the study of man, and I brought up that I kind of identify myself as an ethnographer, mostly because I don't fit in. Ethnically I'm Chinese, but I'm kinda excommunicated and looked upon as being a barbarian by Chinese because I don't speak the language. ABC Chinese (American Born Chinese) is an expression of this inbetween space. Kinda like in Star Trek being a Klingon and being excommunicated.

Then I identify as being bi-racial and being a white-boy trapped in an Asian body due to my upbringing.

Then I fill this inbetween space where I am a gentrifier and outsider where I have these feelings of being like an unwelcomed refugee, which reflects again my upbringing of being an outsider and not fitting in.

So something I thought about once before (ethnography) really comes into the forefront and provides a deeper meaning for starting out as a painter, then a performer, then a writer, and then full circle back into the visual arts as a photographer and fine art printmaker. Basically all my wanderings and explorations make sense and my 4 decades of struggle in the arts presently has been a container that provides a broader understanding of a lost man struggling to find not only his true identity, but also a home which I define as a place where I belong.

I also got confirmation that my framing of the art world as being a series of "gated communities" is well founded. I presented my business plan to promote myself to skirt the commercial galleries to go rogue, and to exclude myself from being part of that closed off world.

Also my expectations I learned are not delusional and are well grounded.

I learned that Gina broke down some barriers by volenteering to initially gain access, and then worked the nonprofit till age 30 before moving into the mainstream. My volenteering at Photoville last year was really a great thing.

My book without hard covers presented in an archival clamshell box certainly was impressive.

So I'm moving forward, a little at a time, but I have guidance and direction to help me along.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

"Maggie" came home last night from her Chicago trip. Two parcels came while she was away. One was two copies of "Shine" magazine where she is featured. My photography was used in a spread that was a few pages and all the photos are mine. The second parcel was some mighty beautiful clothes. Very high end from a luxury brand.

No photo credits again. Maggie gave them the info, but I got screwed again. What an insult. Come on: how hard is it to give Photo Credits?

The consolation her is in lew of an exhibition history at museums or galleries I do have a broad distribution of my work published in print and online, and even broadcast by the BBC and NBC World News Tonight over the past 4 years through Maggie's blog. Pretty much would be honest to say that my work has been broadly distributed. Maggie is very close to having half a million followers.

Next Wednesday I will be taking off from work (day-job) to do a shoot. This art director is very well connected and seems to know everyone. She got access to this designer who never lends out clothes. So I have a gig that is kinda high profile. I'm in over my head and this is out of my league. "I was just minding my own business..."

Last night I reorganized my book and grouped images. An editing process has begun.

Cal

 

[jsrockit]

"Maggie" came home last night from her Chicago trip. Two parcels came while she was away. One was two copies of "Shine" magazine where she is featured. My photography was used in a spread that was a few pages and all the photos are mine. The second parcel was some mighty beautiful clothes. Very high end from a luxury brand.

No photo credits again. Maggie gave them the info, but I got screwed again. What an insult. Come on: how hard is it to give Photo Credits?

A lot easier than actually paying you too... jerks.

 

[Calzone]

A lot easier than actually paying you too... jerks.

John,

"Maggie" has actually been making mucho money. I can't see her working her day job for more than a year, but the money is not like a regular paycheck and there are taxes and expenses.

So now I get thrown some money. Maggie said she would throw me some dough towards the 35 Cron-SL when it comes out.

So my work is widely seen, and I have it spackled all over the place, but only some people know who the photographer is.

So the next rant is what can a gallery do to earn a 50% commission?

This is the other side.

In the end I did the right thing in working jobs that have pensions so I don't have to be an old ho.

BTW my book pushes my work forward. Thanks for the role modeling.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

UPDATE: Just got the rejection e-mail that I did not get awarded a studio residency in Dumbo. Oh-well.

Time to keep on keeping on.

Two things remain in the fire: one is my 5 images and 200 word narrative I submitted for "The Fence."

About 80 artists are selected each year, and I put in a very strong application.

Then I think sometime later this month I should hear from the L.A. billboard public art submission yeah or nay. Not so sure I stand a chance here, but I applied anyways.

After taking all these chances, putting in a good effort, it seems the thing to do is just mind my own business and continue with my work without distraction. The only thing that remains is that Photography is due to be part of the NYFA cycle later this year (cycles every three years).

Cal

 

[MrFujicaman]

Cal...I think some people don't give photo credits just to prove that they can be A-holes and get away with it.

 

[Calzone]

Cal...I think some people don't give photo credits just to prove that they can be A-holes and get away with it.

MFM,

Costs nothing to be nice.

Pretty much though this is the ultimate insult. All my shots, 6-7 in total for a big spread. Last time this happened in print it was a full page shot in Vogue Italia.

Even worse is when the BBC in a broadcast gives me photo credits for another photographer's shot, and then gives photo credit for one of my shots to another photographer.

Oh I forgot that one online magazine mispelled my three letter last name.

What other bad things can happen to me? LOL.

NBC World News Tonight also said they would give me photo credits but didn't. Pretty much a producer looked me in the eye and lied.

Boy this list is getting long. LOL.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Call me a delusional artist, I thought I submitted a strong application for "The Fence 2018," but received a rejection e-mail today.

Oh-well...

I only have one outstanding application and that was the L.A. Billboard public art competition. My fine art printer friend Sara sent me the link thinking of my large prints and the billboard effect I create as an experience.

Anyways I kinda submitted as a joke and it would be funny if I somehow won.

I spent a lot of time and effort doing mucho applications and submissions. I think after the NYFA fellowship I will withdraw back into my work full time and not waste anymore effort.

"Maggie" hates when people ask if I'm an artist or a pro photographer and I reply, "I'm just a guy with a ponytail." All those that encouraged me to get a gallery or put my work out there should know how really hard it is to catch a break, and there truely is mucho gatekeeping.

Also in looking at all my work I present a very high level that is outstanding, but it is really hard to commodify what I do. In one manner I make good images, but I'm not really limited to a known specialty. I return to the dilema of when the art dealer Ivan Karp was interested in my work when I was a painter and as an artist, "I had too many ideas."

Oh-well...

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Rain-day reschedule for a fashion shoot from Wednesday to Friday.

I'll be working for an art director who kinda knows everyone in NYC in the fashion world.

So now that I'm kinda moving out of the fine art world and not boxing myself in a new form of expression emerges. Just going with the flow.

Cal

 

[Particular]

Cal,
Doing all those applications is good practice for getting your story straight. I’m sure you don’t write that you are just a guy with a ponytail. They are always a long shot, because so many people apply, and art trends are so fickle.
You have one advantage that no gallery can get you, and that is Lyn. If you would set up shop and sell short print runs of your pictures of her to her fans, you’d make a killing. If you sell your own ‘urban’ images along side, Lyn’s images might outsell yours them 9-1, but you will still be selling more prints than the rest of us. Put that closet print factory to work!

 

[Calzone]

Cal,
Doing all those applications is good practice for getting your story straight. I’m sure you don’t write that you are just a guy with a ponytail. They are always a long shot, because so many people apply, and art trends are so fickle.
You have one advantage that no gallery can get you, and that is Lyn. If you would set up shop and sell short print runs of your pictures of her to her fans, you’d make a killing. If you sell your own ‘urban’ images along side, Lyn’s images might outsell yours them 9-1, but you will still be selling more prints than the rest of us. Put that closet print factory to work!

Christian,

You are right. "Maggie" has 495K followers and I only have a few on this thread.

Kinda funny how I don't think of myself as a fashion photographer and my being so is accidentally. BTW fashion photography may be very exciting, but it is also hard work. Not sure I like it. LOL.

While there is a market for images of Maggie, I don't think my utopia of being a self proclaimed lazy slacker gets fulfilled because in fine art the amount of printing would be very limited and the pricing high, but selling images of Maggie is the opposite.

I don't want to retire myself into a self imposed sweat shop. Also I'm primarily a B&W printer. I'd like to maybe stay that way.

Interesting to note that Bill Cunningham had his neighbor (an actress) as a muse for most of his life. He photographed her a lot.

You are correct in being long shots. The studio residency had over 1600 applicants for 17 spaces, and to compound that generally they support painters and sculptors and not photographers. Would have been quite exceptional if I won.

I do feel pretty lucky getting into the Bronx Artist Development Initiative. That $250.00 stipend to me is a very big deal, and this initiative is pushing me in all the right directions. I think I won because I developed good practice in filling out applications. The writing is mucho important. I have a book without a hard cover assembled of 50 pages. Very impressive.

Cal

 

[ptpdprinter]

You have one advantage that no gallery can get you, and that is Lyn. If you would set up shop and sell short print runs of your pictures of her to her fans, you’d make a killing. If you sell your own ‘urban’ images along side, Lyn’s images might outsell yours them 9-1, but you will still be selling more prints than the rest of us. Put that closet print factory to work!

I may be wrong, but it seems to me to be a big jump from liking someone on FB to buying a print of that person to hang on the wall in your home.

 

[Calzone]

I may be wrong, but it seems to me to be a big jump from liking someone on FB to buying a print of that person to hang on the wall in your home.

PTP,

You are correct in that it is a big jump.

The gauge in Maggie's case though is not the number of followers although high, but really the quality, level of comments, and the high level of engagement that she enjoys.

The people who do social media and study the "Analytics" heavily weigh the level of engagement.

For the Shorty Awards there was about a month of voting where her fans had the opportunity to cast one vote per day. Maggie's fans rallied behind her and she won against Victoria Beckham and Fran Dressler who not only are more well known then Maggie, but I'm pretty sure have higher numbers of followers. Maggie won in the Fashion Digital Influencer catagory, and in the realm of the Internet and Social Media this award is a very big deal.

Level of engagement is what really counts.

I can think of two occasions where "Maggie" was solicited by private messages by loved ones for a personalized birthday wish: one was from a grand daughter; and the other a husband. I had printed up a few cards and had purchased some envelopes for PR and promotional purposes.

Maggie sent out those cards via snail mail with a personalized messages and giving due credit to the thoughtful loved one who knew how big a fan would appreciate the interaction. The response from these two acts was profoundly touching and moving. Pure joy.

On a very sad note, one of Maggie's long time followers said a goodbye. Over the years they communicated and got to know each other and the last PM was to let Maggie know that she was going to a hospise to die and not to take pity because she had a long and happy life.

Another thing is how my gal has become a model for changing a woman's self image, the ideas and notions of aging, and even the concept of true beauty.

Most of her followers are actually young people, and in China she is a huge celeb. It seems that in China the younger generation that was brought up in a more open China don't really have their parents and grandparents as a role model anymore because the older generations of Chinese grew under a very different culture, so aging and remaining relevant is of very high importance to this younger generation. Maggie's blog stepped into this vacuum and took up the space.

There is a lot more going on here.

Cal

 

[Particular]

I may be wrong, but it seems to me to be a big jump from liking someone on FB to buying a print of that person to hang on the wall in your home.

For most yes, but if 0.1% of her followers are interested in a print, he’s got almost 500 potential customers. That is not a bad place to start.

 

[Calzone]

For most yes, but if 0.1% of her followers are interested in a print, he’s got almost 500 potential customers. That is not a bad place to start.

Christian,

I have to stop and inhibit all those requests for selfies everywhere we go. Not my best interests to have selfies kill my print market exploitation.

Also there is this huge campaign going to happen in/around September that has big potential to really change things. 500K could double in no time.

Cal

 

[jsrockit]

Another thing is how my gal has become a model for changing a woman's self image, the ideas and notions of aging, and even the concept of true beauty.

So, a quick story about this. My brother's wife posted a video of your GF to Facebook because she thought here story was very inspiring. It was a weird experience for me to see that since I have known you and her for 10 years now.

 

[Calzone]

So Friday's shoot is with a woman who formally was in public relations and has her own fashion blog that now has emerged as a creative director. The notoriety here is that she is deeply connected with some prestigious luxury brands.

It will be interesting because: I'm not really a fashion photographer; and because I think I'm in over my head. Let's see what will happen...

So "Maggie" sent in some of my shots last night to The New York Times. About two weeks ago Maggie had a long telephone interview with this senior styles editor/writer from the Times, and now they wanted shots.

Pretty much they pick what they want from her Instagram, and then requested higher resolution files.

So I'm not sure if this feature will be about my gal exclusively, or also include other people. Not sure if this will be part of the Sunday weekend edition. Not sure how many of my shots might get used. Not sure if in color or B&W, although my guess would be in color. My guess is also that it would likely be in the weekend styles section.

So my biggest question is, "Will I get hosed again?" and not get photo credits?

So some Canadian lawyer says the Buzz Feed video got over 17 million views. This was mostly responsible for the huge "bump" that moved from close to 200K to now almost 496K followers.

Understand that Maggie has written letters to the State Department so "Artist Visa's" are granted for some artists who reside here in the U.S. Somewhat of an Underground Railroad is forming. One photographer was a student at Parsons; another is our enemy (a Canadian); and even Maggie's hair stylist who has been here in New York a very long time (Japanese) has to get a visa renewed and is at risk of getting kicked out.

Like I said, "There is a lot more going on here."

Cal