love notes to/from/for nyc
Shooting film again during the pandemic has turned out to be one of my tiny silver linings. It’s not the same pressure as a paid job, and it’s less precise than shooting with my phone. It’s unknown and messy and full of surprises and sometimes a bit haunting, and I am loving the results. Sometimes I see something and go back to it with this camera just so that I can recreate it with this effect. It’s also a bit of a Covid visual diary for me. The photos below are a mix of long walks I take by myself, photo field trips with friends, and anonymous love notes.
Beach Lovers at the Rockaway Hotel
I’m so thrilled to share that six of my Beach Lovers prints are now hanging at the newly opened Rockaway Hotel. I had a chance to visit the hotel yesterday, take a peek at the rooms and have a cocktail on the roof deck bar, and I was truly blown away. The local art, the beachy vibe, the food and cocktails, it is a gorgeous space. It is a perfect tribute to the Rockaways and I couldn’t think of a more fitting place for my couples to be hanging. Thank you so much for having my work there.
To see my images, they are hanging on the 4th floor or stay in rooms 308, 317 and 511. Here’s a preview.
March and April, Light Leaked
Once the severity of the pandemic was clear, I began doing daily walks with my good friend and neighbor Wendy. I brought my mom’s Canon AE-1 film camera with me, and took photos each time we walked. We covered a lot of Brooklyn. I waited until two weeks ago to develop the film and seeing all these photos brought back a flood of memories. The light leak feels appropriate given our circumstances.
Three Months Later
I’ve neglected this blog for three months. THREE! I did not mean for so much time to go by since I last wrote. Since May, at least I can say I have taken a lot of photos. A LOT. More mirror work, some Beach Lovers, lots of walks, lots of the same group of friends I continue to see, the Black Lives Matter protests, the beach, and more. I finally developed the film I had been shooting since 2020, the majority of it taken after the Pandemic hit. My camera has an incredible light leak, which I grew to like the more I sat with the photos.
Here is January and February.
Rooftop Things: A Quarantine Series
I’ve written about how quarantine has forced me to become really creative with my projects. Along with my mirror self-portraits, I’ve taken my mirror series to my roof. I’m bringing households objects and my many mirrors upstairs, and forcing myself to get as creative as I can. Here are a few recent favorites.
Staying Creative & Shooting Indoors, Part II
For Photographers: Getting Started
If you’re not sure what to shoot or where to start, my first suggestion would be to acknowledge how difficult this period of time is. We are collectively grieving right now, and we will be for some time. We are experiencing a roller-coaster of emotions every day, every hour. Because of this, we need art and photography now more than ever, as outlets for our anxiety and isolation, and as a documentation of what is going on around us and inside of us. We must also allow ourselves to find moments of joy, of art, and of pleasure. Allowing ourselves to fully embrace and experience this range of emotions is what makes us human, documenting and expressing it is what makes us artists. It is ok to read the news and despair, and it is ok to put it away for a few hours and take some photographs.
Acknowledging that, here are some practical ways I have made photography (specifically using mirrors and portraiture) part of my Corona-coping. I invite and challenge anyone feeling stuck or constrained by the limitations of their homes, their bodies or their minds, to set aside at least thirty minutes to one hour every day to make photographs.
Make Photography Part of Your Daily Routine. Make a daily schedule and carve out time every day for photo-making and photo-taking. Prioritize photography as a part of your daily to-do list.
Journal. Write some ideas down before you start shooting. Write about how you’re feeling about yourself, your mind, your body, and see what visuals come up for you. What does social distancing feel like for you? What emotions keep bubbling up? What do you miss doing? What do you miss shooting? What do you see in your immediate surroundings?
Think About Your Relationship to Mirrors. Have you used them before in your photographic work? How do you feel when you look in the mirror? What are you nervous about? What excites you about this type of self-portraiture? How do you feel having your photograph taken? What types of self-portraits have you taken in the past?
Tools. Begin with any camera that you have access to; as many mirrors as you want to experiment with; and any and all household objects that either have personal meaning to you, or that you want to get creative with. Some photographers may also want to experiment with a tripod and a timer as well.
What to Shoot. If you’re hesitant to take self-portraits of your face, start with objects or items that are meaningful to you, or that represent you, such as jewelry, clothing or household items, or another body part that you are comfortable shooting.
Get Comfortable Making Mistakes. You will be surprised by what the mirror, and the camera reflecting the mirror, picks up that your eyes will not. This has been my biggest learning since starting to shoot with mirrors. This technique takes a long time to get right, so have fun with rearranging your apartment, your backyard, your rooftop. You may have to clear the room of clutter, or place your mirror in all sorts of angles and positions to get it right. Enjoy this process.
Quiet Distractions. Put your phone on Do Not Disturb. Let yourself get lost. Put on some music. Burn a candle. Do whatever it is you need to do to get creative for a period of time.
Research. Spend an afternoon (or several) looking up photographers who use mirrors in their work, as well as photographers who have a strong body of self-portraits. For example, Vivian Maier’s “Self-Portraits” book has been a huge source of inspiration for me and I have sat with it twice in the last week for ideas.
Edit & Share. Once you’re done shooting, carve out some time to cull and edit your images. Be brave enough to share them with your network, on whichever social media platforms you’re most comfortable with. Ask for feedback. Try to do this at least once a week.
Instagram. There is no shortage of photographic inspiration on Instagram. I have created an Instagram TV tutorial about using mirrors in photography, and I have committed to posting them every Thursday. Follow along for more ideas at @ericareadeimages. I have also been sharing any mirror images made by other photographers on my Instagram stories, and I welcome any and all submissions.
Other mirror photography accounts I follow for inspiration include:
@ziqianqian, @mrwhite_, @thankyou_ok, @themirroreffect_,
Start All Over Again. Repeat all these steps. Keep shooting. Enjoy.
Shooting Indoors & Staying Creative: Part I
I was recently asked to submit a response to interview question about what creative work I have been able to do while inside as a photographer. I ended up writing so much the editor was only able to use one paragraph of my otherwise length essay. I didn’t want it to go to waste, so here it is.
Shooting Indoors & Staying Creative
We are all coping with the Corona virus in different ways, but what we have most in common right now is our collective isolation, being “apart but together.” We are quarantining to stay safe and healthy, to keep others alive. We are trying to be there for our loved ones, to pay our bills, and to stay hopeful. We are all grappling with the confinement of our homes, and managing the daily onslaught of scary news. As a freelancer and small business owner, I initially panicked when so much of my work came to a halt, either cancelled or postponed. But after a few days of feeling completely disoriented, I sought ways to stay engaged and inspired, and to share my journey with others. At first, it felt frivolous to focus on creativity, but with each passing day of increasingly bad news, it felt more and more necessary to make art, to document what has been happening, and to connect with others virtually about this process.
Taking Self-Portraits While Quarantined
Getting Vulnerable
I have been shooting a series called ‘Reflected’ for almost three years. 'Reflected' is a photo series using mirrors in nature, largely taken on the beaches of NY, where I play with reflections, create portals, and invite viewers to do a double take with the imagery. My own reflection was only a minimal part of the larger project. During this time at home, I turned the camera on myself with my mirrors in a new self-portrait project, flipping an otherwise outdoor photo project on its head. Prior to Corona, I had planned to teach an in-person workshop about shooting with mirrors this Spring. Now I’m using this time to make self-portraits and create the content for my workshop.
In this photo, taken during the first week of quarantine, I dedicated an entire afternoon to shooting with three big mirrors, two cameras, a few outfit changes and some plants. I cleared out the space of its usual furniture, I put my phone away, and I had music playing. I was able to forget the world and simply create for a few hours, and it was incredibly therapeutic. It helped me to channel my anxiety into something productive. While I didn’t set out to do anything more than pass the time and reignite my creativity, once I began taking the photos, a wave of thoughts and emotions poured in. I remembered why I love shooting with mirrors. Now more than ever, we’re being forced to take long hard looks at ourselves, internally and externally, personally and as a society. Suddenly, using mirrors felt more significant because of that.
I had to really look at myself in the mirror in a way I hadn’t in a long time, to reflect on what it means to spend so much time alone, on who I am in the world. I tried not to censor my thoughts as they bounced around in my mind. I looked at myself and thought about every mistake I have made in the last year, every heart break I’ve gone through, every failure and trauma I’ve endured. I thought about my impending birthday, turning 37 in a few weeks, and I had to gaze at who I am right now, and what this means as a woman, for my body, my desirability as I get older, and what any of that even mattered anymore. Then, I thought about how lucky I was to even be able to do this, as there are countless people without the space, time or resources to be creative right now. I thought about the failures of the health system, the suffering that is happening, and the threats of climate change. I was reminded of my incredible privileges, my innate sense of resilience, and an appreciation for who I am today and what I can contribute to the world.
With all these thoughts tumbling around in my mind, I began to shoot a variety of self-portraits, using different dresses, angles, mirrors, and props. By the time I was done, I felt good about my work and even slightly optimistic about the future. While I haven’t formulated a more nuanced direction for the self-portrait project yet, it’s the beginning of something much larger that I am thinking about. It is a vulnerable thing to share my journey here, but my hope is that many of you can relate to this and be inspired to create your own work.
Daily Corona Sanity Walks
When it was clear NYC was shutting down on Friday the 13th, my neighbor and friend Wendy and I began taking daily walks. In these three weeks, we’ve watched restaurants and bars shutter their doors, signs appear all over the neighborhoods advertising support and help, playgrounds being closed, and more and more people keeping their distance and wearing masks. I feel so grateful to live in Crown Heights, because we’re able to avoid crowds and have spent hours getting lost in Prospect Park. Here are a few photos from those walks.
Corona Self-Portraits
I’m not quite ready to put my thoughts to virtual paper yet for a full essay about what the pandemic means to photography and to me personally, so for now, here are a few self-portraits I took last week.
Nikon Z50 Giveaway Winner!
When Nikon reached out to me to try their new Z50, I was humbled and so excited. When they asked if I’d consider running a camera giveaway, I was beyond thrilled. After I returned from Puerto Rico, I opened up a photo contest on my Instagram page. The contest was open for one week, and contestants had to do three things: 1. Send the best photo they’d taken in the last year, and why it was meaningful to them; 2. Tell my why they wanted to win the camera and what they’d do with it; and 3. Have a friend follow my page. I never expected the outpouring of moving stories and images that poured into my inbox. The decision was much more difficult than I had anticipated. I even extended my offerings, to offer two additional portfolio reviews to two runners-up.
In the end, I chose a young photographer, Natu Makombo. She is working on a project about toxic masculinity and navigating NYC as a black woman, and her camera had recently broken. When we finally met in person, I was immediately impressed by her wisdom and depth, and drawn in by her energy, light and enthusiasm. On the brink of giving up photography because she had been feeling so discouraged, winning this camera completely turned things around and I am so excited to see the work she makes with it. I’ll be sitting with her in a few months to do a portfolio review and I invited her to join Camera of the Month Club. Congratulations Natu and a huge thank you to Nikon for making this possible!
In Puerto Rico with Nikon
Two weeks ago, Nikon reached out to me and offered me an incredible opportunity, to test and shoot their new mirrorless camera, the Z50. This happened to coincide with my leaving for Puerto Rico for vacation and the timing couldn't have been more perfect. I loved the camera immediately and I was thrilled with the results. The camera is lightweight and sturdy, the colors are rich, the image quality is sharp, and I loved how easy it was to sync the photos directly to my phone.
I fell in love with Puerto Rico immediately, and plan to return as often as possible, for the rich colors, the warm waves, the sweet cats, the delicious food, and the music pouring into the streets.
(Click on the images to see them full sized.)
2020: Twenty Things I Am Committing to This Year, Part I
Fort Tilden, January 2nd.
Halfway through the month, and here is my New Year post. Better late than never right?
In all seriousness, I am feeling more and more like a new person. I have renewed energy and ideas for this upcoming year. I’ve been talking about doing a Beach Lovers book for months, and this is the year I am committing to making it happen. Here is my first set of practices, big and small, that I am committing to this year.
Start a new personal project that is unrelated to the beach.
Shoot more film.
Attend creatives events that are outside of photography.
Beach Lovers book: do everything needed to get it made.
Do more writing and brainstorming about my photo work.
Rewrite my artist statements. Have someone read and edit them for me.
Visit more museums and galleries.
Take at least one class or workshop.
Teach at least one class or workshop.
Pitch my work on a more consistent basis.
Home for the Holidays
It’s that time of year when so many of us return home for the holidays, whether that’s taking the subway a few stops or travel to other cities, states or countries. I am back home in Montreal for several days, to visit my family, to rest, and to take in winter in its true glory. Each time I return to Montreal, I appreciate the city a little more. Here are a few shots from the last couple of days here.
Beach Lovers 2020 Calendar
I’m so excited to announce that for a limited time, I am selling a 2020 Beach Lovers Calendar! Here are the images, January through December 2020 you can expect. Get your orders in soon!
Deep in Summer
June was a whirlwind of commercial work; weddings, events, editing, emails. July was editing, Beach Lovers, editing, beach Lovers, editing, Canada. And now finally, August. I love August. The city is calmer and emptier, the beaches are still packed and the weather is divine. Now I can focus this entire month on Beach Lovers. Shooting, editing, shooting, editing, submitting applications. Thinking longer term about the book. Here are a few I’m happy with so far.
PARIS!
I submitted one of my favorite Beach Lovers prints, The Voyeur, to Feature Shoot's the Print Swap competition in March, and quickly forgot I had done so. Fast forward to early May when I found out that out of 250+ images, mine was one of twenty selected to be part of a group show at Studio Galerie B&B in Paris. I was so thrilled I decided to make the trip there to go to the opening, meet the curator and other photographers. It was an incredible night of creativity, meeting of minds and photographers from all over the world. A huge thank you to Elise for curating and Alison for the opportunity!
A Santa Fe Update
I was in New Mexico in September 2018 to work on a pilot episode of an educational photography video series with the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops. I came back to NY and dove into work and New Mexico slowly faded into the distance. Just a few weeks ago I was reminded of the state I love so much and I found myself really missing it. I got in touch with my team and learned the episode is still in production, and should be ready in the coming weeks. I can’t wait to see it, and share it with you.
