graeme mitchell

A portrait of the musician, Chris Maher, taken for his upcoming album release:

photo: Chris Maher, NYC, 2010. ©Graeme Mitchell

photo: Chris Maher, NYC, 2010. ©Graeme Mitchell

I was in LA recently and had an extra day and the chance to meet up w/ the painter, Lisa Solberg.  We talked about art and book clubs and mexican food and schizophrenia and LA vs NYC and ski racing and light and taking things far and further and then further still.

We also had the chance to take her portrait:

photo: Lisa Solberg, LA, 2010. ©Graeme Mitchell.

photo: Lisa Solberg, LA, 2010. ©Graeme Mitchell.

And a gawldamn-good painting by Lisa:

painting: Land Red Down, 101×80,” by Lisa Solberg

(Opps, had to pull and re-post this.  I thought it ran in Dec, turns out it’s in this month’s Interview issue, Feb.  So once again…)

The actor, Alex Kaluzhsky, shot for Interview.

Alex Kaluzhsky, NYC, 2009, ©Graeme Mitchell.

Alex Kaluzhsky, NYC, 2009, ©Graeme Mitchell.

Stylist: Miguel Enamorado
Groomer: Laura de Leon (w/ Joe Management)
Photo Assistant: Nyra Lang
Location: Fast Ashley’s Studios

I’ve posted a number portraits of the painter, Alex Steckly over the years, and will continue to do so. Like Julian in the last post, Alex is someone who I try to take a portrait of when the opportunity arises.  There’s an old writing saying that goes, “write what you know.”  I believe in this for photography too.

photo: Alex Steckly in his studio, Portland OR, 2009. ©Graeme Mitchell

Julian is someone I have the pleasure to photograph whenever our schedules allow.  It is always a great pleasure.

photo: Julian in my basement, NYC, 2009. ©Graeme Mitchell

He is a friend, a musician, and a wonderful mind.

Here is a song:

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song: Dolls Aren’t Supposed to Bite by Julian Tulip’s Licorice

And – peelug -  he also did the music for the Unreal City Slideshow.

I took a portrait of each of my brothers while visiting home this winter.  This trip was a supposed conclusion – 2 years later – to what I first mentioned in this post.  I found out though, that nothing is ever actually concluded.  The expanse behind what we realize is infinite.  Think of it as a movie stage facade on a clear cold morning with an unknowable and unending landscape falling behind it to a dark horizon line, to where your imagination ends.  And I’d wonder at anyone who does not stop in awe of this notion, of this incredibleness of existence.

photo: Ian Mitchell, Portland OR., 2009. ©Graeme Mitchell.

photo: Scott Mitchell, Portland OR., 2009.  ©Graeme Mitchell.

photo: A Hand, 2009, ©Graeme Mitchell

These are from a job shooting portraits of a legal company for their marketing needs.

photo: ©Graeme Mitchell.

photo: ©Graeme Mitchell.

photo: ©Graeme Mitchell.

photo: ©Graeme Mitchell.

photo: ©Graeme Mitchell.

This is actually from an older portrait sitting I did with the director, Cary Joji Fukunaga for Interview (here).   I’m excited he’s doing so well, and Levis commercials he’s been shooting w/ WK aside, I’m waiting to see what he’s got going for his next feature.   Anyway, the reason I’m revisiting this is b/c I’ve had requests for shots of him for other mags recently – two of which are below.

photo: Cary Joji Fukunaga, Brooklyn, ‘09. ©Graeme Mitchell.

photo: Cary Joji Fukunaga, Brooklyn, ‘09. ©Graeme Mitchell.

The designer, Tara St. James.

photo: Tara St. James, NYC, 2009. ©Graeme Mitchell.

Portrait of the architect, Trattie Davies, originally shot for Interview magazine.

photo: Trattie Davies, NYC, 2009. ©Graeme Mitchell.

The rapper, Buckshot for Dazed and Confused magazine.

photo: Buckshot, Brooklyn, 2008, ©Graeme Mitchell.

The painter, Kevin Baker for Interview, Aug 09.

photo: Kevin Baker, NYC, 2009.  ©Graeme Mitchell.

Styling: Miguel Enamorado
Grooming: Mary Douglas (w/ The Wall Group)
Photo Assistant: Aaron Binaco

More a regurgitation of a conversation, but after all, it’s a blog: so: while having lunch in Tompkins Sq. yesterday with photo-friend, Aaron Binaco he gave me some, how should I put it, neat shit. My first sun-drunk-enthusiasm was for that by now well known moment when Avedon went to take Freidlander’s portrait at his home, and how Freidlander, being a really real photographer (see note), also took Avedon’s portrait. I said I could find the Avedon picture, but have yet to be able to find the Friedlander. Well, Aaron found it and sent it to me. I imagine a sort of stand-off of great personalities, great wills face to face, and even if they were cordial and kind on some level it must have been profound-intense. Either as a matter of attrition of neither ever giving in, or maybe rather of two old masters being able to wink and nod, knowingly.

photo: from Aperture #188, Lee Friedlander by Richard Avedon (left) and Richard Avedon by Lee Friedlander (right)

Both Aaron and I grew up racing bicycles, so then he started on about this Scottish trials rider, saying, “he’d ride up that tree over there and just chill out,” while pointing at this giant bloody elm that a cat could maybe climb. I called, hyperbole!, but then he emailed me this link and jesusmurphy…if you’ve ever ridden a bike you should be able to appreciate this video:

And, yes, I am in fact posting on extreme sports youtube video…sigh, probably a slippery slope, so I’ll post this to balance it out:

photo: Corvette I saw in soho which I voted best possible prop of the day and sent it to a fashion editor with a synopsis of a story involving Death Valley, Bottega heels, and a Camio by Dennis Hopper (as eminence grise, naturally). Fashion editor responded, I weep.

Note: “real photograher”: I was shooting on 5th ave by Tiffany’s on Saturday morning, and I saw this old timer shooting people fast with an old Nikon. I guessed maybe he was part of the old-Magnum-guard. I said, hello, asked his name, he said, Bill Cunningham, didn’t ring a bell. I asked him if shot there much, if he’d seen Bruce Gilden out, he’s always shooting on this corner. He said, I have seen him in the afternoon; how is Bruce? I said, I’ve no idea, I just see him, can’t catch him. He said, now that’s a real photographer. I liked that. Since there was truth in it. We chatted a bit more, then he took off after this super chic blonde to photograph. I thought, huh, mildly-licentious, but, yeah! It wasn’t until I mentioned it later in the day in passing that someone explained to me who Bill is. Love it. Before he ran of he waved and said, keep snapping kid. I offer the same good-bye, keep snapping, Bill!

Director, Cary Joji Fukunaga for Interview, May 09.

photo: Cary Joji Fukunaga, Brooklyn, ‘09. ©Graeme Mitchell.

Oh, and I just caught Cary’s new film, Sin Nombre (here).  I was speechless, really incredible work for a debut at the ripe age of 30.

Photo Assistant: Aaron Binaco
Fashion Editor: Miguel Enamorado
Grooming: Daniel Martin (w/ The Wall Group)
Location: Brooklyn, NY