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I Love New York In June.
June 24th, 2009
So, all drama aside, what a great weekend! We arrived in NYC after weather-related delays in Chicago and jumped into a yellow cab to the New Yorker Hotel. What a great hotel in a great location, and for $169/night – seems like a steal compared to others I saw.
Spent Saturday with Jeffey Chapman, wandered around Soho, had dim sum in Chinatown, and then did Times Square on the way to the International Center of Photography. We also wandered into the gallery of Peter Lik, who is claimed to be the most awarded photographer in history, and while I’m not sure how much is hype and how much isn’t, you have to give the man props for his marketing, though if you go to his website I don’t advise bothering with the photos on the bio page, unless you like buff Aussies with too much muscle and apparent ego. He’s got some nice work, but the fact that I was more impressed with the gallery itself (he has 13 of them around the world) and the amount he charges for prints than I was his work, surprised me. Any one else never heard of him? Maybe I was just turned off by how slick it all was. Or maybe I’m just a jealous jerk, could be that, too.
At 7:30 we met Joe McNally and Syl Arena for dinner and had a spectacular time. Joe is so awesome I wanted to adopt him and take him home and it was a sad moment when we all got up and said goodbye. Sitting at that table enjoying a meal and the company of three great men of sizable talent and heart was a real joy. And the Cuban skirt steak at the Red Eye Grill? Out of this world. Seriously. I would go back just for that steak and a bottle of red wine.
The next day we wandered the hallowed, if not completely overwhelming, halls of B&H photo. What a great place. I did my lecture which was little more than 100 slides and me on the side babbling endlessly about Lord knows what. But we all seemed to have fun and a couple people told me they were moved to tears, I can only assume that’s a good thing, though the possibility exists that the tears were caused after the first hour when they realized I showed no signs of slowing down and we had one more to go. I had a blast and I’m so grateful to all who came. To do a book signing kind of event on the heels of the release of my first book, and to do it in NYC of all places? Dream come true.
The next morning I had breakfast with the B&H gang, had a great time, rushed to the airport only to wind up in an ambulance, and the rest you can read HERE. Yesterday we got home safe and sound, and a bit tired. The five and a half hour plane ride went by too quickly, which is strange for me, but I got into a groove writing and Van Morrison sang me up to the 60,000 word mark, so the next book is coming along fine. Hoping to be able to announce that one soon.
I’m so grateful for the kind words, all the emails and the promises from total strangers that they’ll kick my arse if I ever do that again. Truly, thanks for your patience and kindness and support. I’m much better and with a couple days of taking it easy I’ll be right as rain. I’ll see some doctor folk and make sure I’m healthy, promise.
Photographically, and this is going to sound a little nutty, I had a great time without anything more than my G9. I shot a few images, just playful shots, all of them crap in almost every sense of the word except that I enjoyed making them, playing, and the freedom to be not so serious about it all. I highly recommend it once in a while.
Shot the image above on the G9 at one of the entrances to Grand Central. Pressed it right up to the glass for stability. 1/10 @ f/3.2, manually exposed at ISO 200. Then I over-processed the life out of it in Lightroom. Like I said, it was all play.
Glad to hear your back and in the groove. Hopefully it was just one of those ‘attack of the wierd’ moments (of which I have had my share). You’re wise to follow it up with the little men in white though. Glad that at least what went before was ace. Take it easy and enjoy, sport (as my anscestors woudl say – maybe!)
Peter Lik is originally from Cairns, where I live and work. He left town for the bright lights and fame of the US where they seem to love celebrity. My friends tell me I should put some half naked shots of myself up on my website but I think I’d just get arrested for exposure!
I’ve been following Peter Lik’s journey since before he launched in the US. Until recently, he had Oz galleries in Cairns, Port Douglas, Sydney and here in Noosa. However I heard recently that he closed all of his Oz galleries bar the Noosa one. I’ve always enjoyed his work and like to drop into his gallery regularly. He does have quite a bit of controversy surrounding him though in regard to some of his claims about his work and achievements. See here:
http://www.lostateminor.com/2006/10/15/peter-lik/
You’re spot on about the marketing though. While he is a talented landscape photographer, where he outshines the competition is in his business savvy and presentation.
Anywho, glad to hear you’re home safe and sound David. Hope all goes well for your next trip.
Peter Lik = Hype but as you say, some nice work and successful business man.
NYC would have been a lot of fun and sometimes a G9 is all you need, travel light, travel fast
Take care.
Glad to hear you are back. Lik is slick! His work is impressive though!
It’s funny that you mention Lik, his work (at the Noosa gallery) is what first inspired me to get into photography…you’ve got to credit the guy for his awesome sense of marketing (though I find his photography not as impressive as when I first saw it).
Btw, your “quick and dirty” photograph is absolutely awesome!
I found the Apocalypse Now chopper scene in Lik’s Artist’s Promo video to be just a tad over the top. As was the cruising around Las Vegas in a classic convertible. However, I liked the furniture in his gallery – almost as much as the gallery manager’s lesson on the incredible skill required to photograph with manual settings.
I’d definitely go back to the Red Eye for the Cuban Skirt Steak (yum!), but I’d also find it really difficult to restrain myself from the crème brûlée topped cheesecake, which is probably why Silvia might agree with the adjective “sizeable” in your description, but she’d be referring to my midsection. In fact, she did.
OMG crème brûlée on top of a cheesecake? Talk about rich…holy cow
(David: this surely must explain your ambulance ride!)
For the record, I abstained from the brulee cheesecake, as well as from dessert at the great Italian place in Chelsea the following night. Jeffrey can afford to gain some weight, I’m trying to lose mine (a losing battle in more ways than one) But it sure looked good!
Glad you are back to the better side of North America
I’ve been to Lik’s gallery in South Beach, Miami. Awesome images! I must say. He has most of his galleries at places where many rich people hang around. For them to buy a print from his gallery for 2000 dollars or whatever they cost is like buying a gum for a normal person. Then give a few prints away to Mick Jagger and other famous celebreties so you can tell people of all the celebs that have your prints on the wall and your off to a good start.. if it sounds like I’m jealous it’s because I am, both of Lik and also of very rich people
Really loved your presentation at B&H: honest, funny and inspirational. Your images really resonate with those to whom I’ve shown your book.
Red Eye Grill is a favorite, but I’ve never had the Cuban skirt steak. You’ve given me a reason to go back!
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A lot of controversy around Lik. I actually found this post by Googling “Peter Lik” and “jerk”. A fantastic marketer who claims to be the most important photographer since God allowed cameras to be created. Don’t be fooled by the nice images. It’s all fluff and filters and PS work.
But the man is rich. If that was his goal, he’s won.
You’re a great photog, David. Love your work, and so sorry I had to come back to your blog by searching for someone who is the polar opposite of what you stand for: respect and integrity.