Something different

I’ve been quiet here for the last couple of years.

I was still working on my “Chiaroscuro” series when the pandemic hit, and that put a damper on intimate photo shoots in controlled lighting. I also dealt with a major health issue, which I’ll talk about eventually. I hope it’s behind me now. We’ll see what the coming months and years bring.

One thing I did not do during this time is stop taking pictures. Here are some.

Funky pic of my daughter, filtered and overlaid using the Polish app.

This colorful spatula image was manipulated and filtered using the Polish app. I like the painterly quality.

Daughter Emily enjoying a lovely summer day last year with some interesting graffiti.

Father’s Day during COVID. We traditionally do a Father’s Day photo session with Emily’s dad every year. The pandemic didn’t keep us from having a socially-distanced outing.

Seven days of my life in black and white

A family friend tagged me in one of those Facebook challenge things: to post a black and white picture of my life every day for seven days. This is not something I would normally participate in, but she knows I love taking photos.

These are what I posted each day. Meaningless, and all but one without a filter. Click to enlarge.

Happy birthday, Suzanne Muldowney, supreme interpreter of Underdog

Suzanne Muldowney is a special breed of performance artist. For over 40 years, she has been creating and performing interpretive dances based on historical, fictional, and original figures and characters. The most famous of these is her portrayal of Underdog, not as a bumbling idiot, but as a heroic archetype.

Suzanne Muldowney July 27, 2019, Manhattan. Image copyright Amy Frushour Kelly. All rights reserved.

I first met Suzanne in 1991 or 1992 at a live taping of “Beyond Vaudeville” at Caroline’s Comedy Club in New York City. Though she was already known derisively as “Underdog Lady” from her ill-fated appearances on Howard Stern, I found her fascinating and moving. Since then, we’ve maintained a sporadic friendship, often through our mutual friend Phil Dejean of the Manhattan Neighborhood Network program “Checkerboard Kids.” (If you’re a ska fan, check it out.)

Last month, Phil and Suzanne invited me to a taping of her performance and Q&A for “Checkerboard Kids” in honor of the 55th anniversary of Underdog’s premiere. I got some good shots of Suzanne in action, as well as some good selfies. We had lunch before the taping, and Phil got a couple photos of me with Sue after the show as well.

If you’ve only encountered Suzanne Muldowney as “Underdog Lady,” I hope you’ll take a look at her face and the controlled movement in her body, even at age 66. (She turns 67 today.) She’s a trained dancer, with a background in classical ballet and influences as diverse as Anna Pavlova and Isadora Duncan. To continue practicing her art for 40 years, even as people continue to make fun of her for her artistic choices, demonstrates a vision and commitment of the highest order.

Some the shots I took at the taping are below. Click to enlarge.

Happy birthday, Suzanne. And thank you, Phil, for being a stalwart friend to Sue for so many years. I’m lucky to know you both for so long!

Barbara

My friend Barbara. Working up to a portrait one of these days. So many stories in her face. Getting closer to figuring out the right place, light, and time.

In a coffee shop before an hour-long conversation. Somehow, our talks never seem quite long enough. She is the master of ending a conversation at exactly the right moment to leave one wanting a bit more.

The Son - fiction! By me!

Normally I post photography or personal essays here. But I recently wrote a quick short story and posted it on Medium. Here it is, in case you’d like to read it. Enjoy.

*Shutterstock (not even my photo… sheesh!)*

“The son of a gun is a bullet,” he says, cradling the revolver. It’s the first thing he’s said.
He squints down at me, looking for a response. I don’t know what to say. Speaking requires breath. Breath requires effort. I don’t say anything.
“The son. Of a gun. It’s a bullet. Do you understand?”
“A bullet,” I whisper. My throat is so sore. Mouth so dry.
“Exactly.” He turns around. Starts walking away. Stops. Comes back to my chair. He leans down, lips to my ear. Inhales. About to say something. Or do something. I tense. …

Read more

When it's not okay

(this post originally appeared on Medium.com.)

Reflections

My partner Chris and I spent the last week of June driving up the California coastline from Los Angeles to San Francisco. I ended up snapping over 1,000 photos. As you might imagine, collating and editing this number of photos is a time-consuming process. These stood out to me this evening, and I'll share them below. They're shots of the indoor pool at Hearst Castle in San Simeon. The day was overcast, but the soft light made for wonderfully clear reflections. Click on any photo to see it full-size.

I'll post more California photos as I edit them. Hope you enjoy.

Emily in the sun

My daughter consented to a quick photo shoot this morning before she went out for the day. Click any image to embiggen it.

The fra-a-aming is the har-r-dest part...

May the ghost of Tom Petty forgive me for the title of this post.

Photography is a lot of work. Maintaining my camera, caring for the lenses, keeping track of UV filters, hot-shoes, and other photography ephemera takes time, money, and elbow grease. The act of photographing itself -- while for me, is a sacred experience -- can be mentally and physically draining. Composing shots, worrying about lighting and depth of field, clicking the shutter at just the right moment -- all this takes time and energy. Then there's photo editing. I try to keep it to a minimum and let my craftsmanship speak for itself, but I still sometimes spend hours slaving before a screen, fiddling with Lightroom until it does what I want.

Marketing photography is another way of eating up time and money. Submitting to juried exhibitions, contacting galleries, trying to get someone, anyone, to look at my physical or online portfolio... There's an emotional toll, too. Any artist has to get used to receiving many more rejections than accepted photos. You eventually develop a thick skin and learn to persist.

But the worst part? The part that I loathe?

Framing the damned prints.

I hate it, I hate it, I hate it! But unfortunately, being the daughter of an artist, I'm all too familiar with the art of cutting matte boards, measuring wire, and centering anchors perfectly. And I'm good at it. Also? I'm a cheapskate.

Here we see me framing "Rise" for an upcoming exhibition of nature photography at the Westbury Memorial Public Library. I was surprised and grateful that my work was accepted, as I've never considered nature photography to be my strong suit. I love nature, but I prefer photographing people.

Anyway, I dislike the process of framing so much that I put it off until the night before I'm supposed to deliver the framed artwork. Because that's what responsible adults do, right? Right?

*crickets*

Wait, you say. Why not go to a professional frame shop to get it done? I refer you to the "cheapskate" comment above.

I took these photos with my iPhone in low light, which isn't conducive to the crisp contrasts you may be used to in my photography, but you get the idea. Here's the finished framed photo (reflections in the bottom of the glass, sorry):

And here we see the finished, framed print in my big, soft Elfa tote bag, ready for delivery in the morning:

So the worst part is over. Time to relax and kick back...

Until the next frame job comes along.

In the meantime, "Rise" will be up from June through (I think) September, so stop by the Westbury Memorial Library to see it, along with five other nature photographs. Westbury Arts is publishing a program with the artists' statements, and I wouldn't be surprised if there's an opening party at some point. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks for reading my rant. My next post should be pretty exciting.

Available for talks Saturday, May 5

"Art is an Awakening," the group exhibition with my photos in it, will have artist volunteers on hand to answer questions about the art this Saturday from 2:00 - 4:30 PM.

If you'd like a guided tour of a great show, or if you'd like to meet some of the artists, please feel free to stop by and visit with us. We'd love to chat with you.

Westbury Memorial Public Library, 445 Jefferson Street, Westbury, NY 11590. Fully accessible by public transportation and ADA compliant.

2018 Bike-to-Work Parade

This morning, I had the privilege and pleasure of photographing the Third Annual Bike-to-Work Parade at Hofstra University, sponsored by Car-less Long Island. The bike parade route was 6.5 miles, and the walking route was 1.9 miles. I drove from stop to stop, but still managed to get a lot of walking in. It was a pleasant day, with mild temperatures and a dense fog that lifted as the morning progressed. Here are a few of today's photos. Hope you enjoy, and that every once in a while, you take the opportunity to walk, bike, or take public transportation to whatever your destination. It's good for the planet, and it makes the world a safer place for fellow pedestrians and bicyclists

Click on any of the images in the gallery below to see a full version of the photo.

Appearing in "Art is an Awakening," Westbury, New York

Hi, folks. I'm very excited to have three of my photographs accepted into "Arts are an Awakening," a juried art show sponsored by Westbury Arts. I will be showing three black and white prints from my Chiaroscuro series. If you happen to be free the evening of Monday, April 16, please stop by and say hello. Details below.

Monday, April 16 at 6 PM - 9 PM
The Lounge
Westbury Memorial Public Library
445 Jefferson Street, Westbury, NY 11590

Artists' reception for "Art is an Awakening," a juried exhibition featuring works by local artists. The event is sponsored by Westbury Arts (www.westburyarts.org). Refreshments will be served and First, Second, and Third Place winners will be announced during the reception.

"Arts are an Awakening" will continue through May 12. Admission is free to the public. Questions? Contact Alex Nunez of Westbury Arts at alex@westburyarts.org.

Appearing in Art Basil LA Exhibition

Interior, home on the grounds of Ellis Island Immigrants' Hospital.

Good news: some of my photos from the abandoned Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital will be shown at Art Basil LA. This exhibition may sound like a novelty, but it's drawn attention from major outlets, such as The Los Angeles Times, and features a good sales record. It's curated by John Kilduff, the man behind Let's Paint TV and accomplished painter and performance artist in his own right. It's thrilling to be involved in a Kilduff project, and (let's be honest) even more exhilarating if I sell a print or two.

Sadly, I won't be able to attend the opening, but if you're in Los Angeles, you can! Please support small artists by attending this quirky, amazing show.

Many thanks,
Amy

Abandoned Immigrant Hospital at Ellis Island

Chris and I took a hardhat tour of the long-abandoned Immigrant Hospital on Ellis Island. It was a moving experience.

I chose to concentrate on empty spaces and images that evoked a sense of loneliness. I shot it all digitally and in color, but going through the RAW files, I noticed a fine graininess to the images (probably the result of dust everywhere). Black and white just felt right. I have color images, too. Still deciding what to do with them.

Anyway, enjoy this look at a neglected bit of American history. (Click any image to enlarge.)

Work in progress: Chiaroscuro - Out of the Shadows

A lot has happened since my last post. My mother became ill and passed away, which has been difficult for me to process. Creative work helps a lot. Here are the current portraits in my new "Chiaroscuro" series. Ideally, I'll end up with about 30 portraits and stories for this project.

If you'd like to model for me, shoot me an email. Let's work together.

Serendipitous Sofia

I often encourage models, especially younger models, to bring a parent or friend along to their first shoot with me. It helps them feel safe, which is crucial.

This week's model brought a friend along. I was happy to meet her, and offered to take a few shots of the friend, as well.

Sofia hadn't planned on being photographed. She wore no makeup, hadn't done anything with her hair, wasn't wearing anything special. But my model encouraged her to take a few, and Sophia shrugged and said, "Sure, why not?"

She said she had low self esteem and low self confidence. I don't know Sofia well enough to gauge whether this is true. On my modeling stool, she projected an air of guarded vulnerability that I found fascinating. Sofia was a study in contrasts: unexperienced, but needing little or no direction; shy, yet willing to take a chance; soft exterior, but a sharp mind.

You'll see the primary model in next week's post. She's somewhat experienced and brimming with vitality, and I loved every minute of our shoot together. We plan to shoot more. It's going to be absolutely amazing. But today, let's focus on the young woman who bared her face and soul without warning or expectation.

This is Sofia.

Click any image to enlarge.

Note: This post originally had the model's name spelled incorrectly. Her name is "Sofia." The headline, text, and tags have been changed to reflect this correction.

Tim

My model this week had to postpone her session. Fortunately, Tim needed a publicity photo anyway, and he graciously allowed me to take a few photos for my growing chiaroscuro collection. We didn't have time for a full session, but we did get some good shots. Click any photo to see it in larger size.

Jordan

Recently, I've been experimenting with lighting; specifically, highlighting the angles and planes of the faces and the chiaroscuro effect. Last week's work with Jace is an excellent example of the type of look I'm trying to create.

This week, I had the pleasure of working with Jordan, a college student just beginning to try a modeling career. Jordan was very different from Jace, whose older, more world-weary looks drew on a rich and varied experience; Jordan is still learning. It took us a while to find a common ground. Once we found it, we were able to get some really good shots.

Modeling is harder than it looks. You don't have to be classically good-looking. What you really need are the ability to relax and the ability to allow your face to reflect what's on your mind. Generally, I find young adults the most difficult to shoot. They're still finding their feet, learning who they really are, and trying to figure out how much of their inner selves they feel safe expressing. So I didn't have very high hopes when I started out with Jordan -- but he surprised me.

Take a look and see what you think. Click any photo to see it in a larger size.

An evening with Jace

What can I say? Jace has a smoldering, brooding look that delivers on its promise: our session was punctuated by his insightful discourse on politics, healthcare, science, and chemistry. I need to schedule another session with Jace, as the conversation was so fascinating that I neglected to get all the photos I wanted. It's a rare treat to have such an intellectual experience during a photo shoot.

Click any photo to see it at full size.

Update

I've received many kind and supportive comments from people regarding last week's post about my daughter Emily's evacuation from the Long Island Railroad (and the very sad death that preceded it). My family and I are very grateful for the compassion we've seen in the days following the event. Emily is doing well, and life is more or less back to normal in our household.

My post generated over 6,000 views in just two days. It is humbling to think that our story could reach so many people.

The man who was struck and killed by our train was an LIRR foreman named Michael Gregory Ollek, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and . There is currently a GoFundMe campaign set up by one of Mr. Ollek's coworkers to raise funds for the Ollek family. You can view the campaign and donate here. The funds will be used to reimburse the cost of the funeral.

The New York Post did a story on the event. Here are the photos that accompanied their story:

Photo credit: G.N. Miller / NY Post. Here, you can get a good look at what I called the "ladder-stairs." — Photo credit: G.N. Miller / NY Post. Here, you can get a good look at what I called the "ladder-stairs."

Photo credit: G.N. Miller. This is the train car Emily and I had to exit from. Emily was evacuated through the rear door on the left, and I had to come down the "ladder-stairs" in the rear of the car.

I've been in touch with Officer Bryan Marksteiner, the police officer who was so kind and helpful to Emily. I'm glad I was able to thank him properly for his work. Though I realize it was simply part of his job, Officer Marksteiner went far beyond the scope of his duty to ensure that Emily got out safely. We will forever be grateful to him.

My next post will be on photography, I promise. I just wanted to write this quickly so that the many people who've written to ask how we're doing know what's going on.

Love always,
Amy, Chris, and Emily