Archive for February, 2013
Sandy aftermath – Hamilton-Madison House publication
Thrilled to see some of my Sandy aftermath coverage put to great use for Hamilton-Madison House! With props to Blue Pollen for some beautiful design work…
During the second part of my reporting on the blackout and lingering problems affecting residents in the Chinatown/LES/Two Bridges area, Hamilton-Madison House had established a key presence as a neighborhood relief center and organizing hub, and I am happy to see these photos help them tell the story of that difficult time and their efforts in providing for the community.
Shabbos in the city that never sleeps
I produced this series of images for Flemish-language newspaper De Morgen’s weekly magazine, to accompany a story by journalist Margot Vanderstraeten who had spent time with young Modern Orthodox Jewish families from Antwerp who were now living in New York City. The only hitch: None of the subjects she interviewed wanted to be photographed.
Chinatown Valentine – pt. 1
“Men should marry and women should wed!” goes an old Shanghai pop tune. Working in Chinatown over the past few months, I had a couple of opportunities to photograph wedded bliss, and the business of what cynics might refer to as the “bridal industrial complex” definitely commands a big presence in the neighborhood. Wedding outfitters and bridal shops abound, offering a fully packaged experience that will encompass everything from catering hall, decorations, DJs, wedding singers and magicians, to hair and make-up styling for the women and rented white tuxes for the groom, plus of course photographers and videographers to document the special day.
But: before you can get married, someone’s gotta spring the question!
Chinatown Valentine – pt. 2
And then, weddings.
I had heard that Thanksgiving is a traditional day to get married in Chinatown. It’s the one day in the American calendar of holidays when pretty much everybody can get the day off. So, in a parallel tradition to most everyone else in America, the holiday has become a time for immigrant families to gather and celebrate young couples. (And young they are – everyone I photographed this past Thanksgiving seemed to be in their early twenties.)
Welcoming the year of the snake
New year’s resolutions, lunar and otherwise: more sharing / posting of work from this project as I go along. Starting with today’s last minute shopping on Mott Street.
