The Human Condition exhibition moves from Los Angeles to Paris on June 27th. The show includes an image from my Ferrying series along with twenty-six other images from various photographers around the world who were selected in the px3 competition.

Gail Albert Halaban knocked off her first two Staten Island shoots for her project Out My Window which I wrote about a couple of weeks ago. Assisted by Georgi Richardson, the first task was to frame up Herb Maltz in his Tompkins Circle kitchen with a view looking out into the Hudson Harbor. Herb’s house this day felt very Floridian—the humidity on a 95 degree day, the light oak floors and teakwood furnishings, the airiness—all very seventies-like, gulf-side, naturally.
Using her Canham 4×5 view camera with tripod, Gail works patiently and deliberately. To fill in extra interior light, she used a single strobe bounced from the white ceiling. Herb sipped his red wine while Gail suggested a few different spots near the kitchen table. She shot at least a half dozen Polaroids which looked fantastic—very subtle lighting simulating dusk to a point. Herb framed from waist up, sat peacefully at his table with the harbor in view.
While I made a few documents of the day with my simple Nikon DSLR I thought about the various approaches to making images with different gear. Was my run and gun approach to covering the day any less valid than Gail’s methodical system of image-making? She and I were looking to capture two very different things. I was basically documenting her effort. By using large format, Gail assumed the weight of technical precision which must slow down the photographer. The results are well worth it. But could I potentially capture something important with my method and style? There’s meaning in both efforts. All of the resulting picks say something.

Georgi Richardson (left) looks over a Polaroid with Gail Albert Halaban while Herb Maltz sits at his table.

Herb Maltz sings a classic tune at his kitchen table.
Next shoot…Joe Scaravella, Herb’s next door neighbor. Gail and Georgi set up in Herb’s third floor screened-in deck. More intense heat and humidity. Gail shot down onto Joe’s back deck. I sat opposite Joe—two Italians using a lot of hands—something I think the photographer didn’t mind while we enjoyed an Italian beer on a hot June day.

Joe Scaravella sits outside at his backyard table.
Vinnie Pompa is a good man. His life is defined by relationships which exceed fifty-year commitments to family and community. His wife Marie passed away just a few weeks ago; the wake on Staten Island, was one of the most well-attended services I’ve been to.
In the yard behind his one-level brick house in Mariners Harbor, Vinnie manicures a well-spread garden of flowers and vegetables. It’s deceivingly sparse with an abundant variety. He has a longstanding connection to a nursery which lets him grow and pick the greens of his choice to replant at home.
Among the lettuces, the arugula, clean and tender from a night of fresh rain, is a mouthful of flavor. It’s peppery hot and spiced. I’ve never tasted arugula like that before.
I’ll have to stop by again and get a more detailed sampling of those garden delights.
All images made with the Polaroid Spectra Pro.


