Personal Work - Pop

Pop. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

While on assignment for Architect Magazine earlier this year, we met "Pop" in Baltimore. Pops ran the construction elevator at the Silo Point project. All Pop does, all day, is run the elevator. Up. Down. Up. Down. Need to know which floor has a porta-potty? Pop simply points to the dry erase board to his left while he leans forward and looks downward to make sure the floor of the elevator car lines up with the poured concrete floor of each level. Need help loading three cases of camera gear onto the elevator? Pop knows just the right (younger) construction workers to help you with that. Pop never leaves the elevator. And his job description is pretty simple. Open door. Close door. Up. Down.

Interestingly, Pop doesn't take a lunch break. He takes his lunch with him. Hanging from the metal grating sides of the elevator is a thermos full of hot coffee—it was in the mid-30s when we were there, a little colder on the upper floors in the wind—and his lunch pail. He eats on the fly, literally.


Pop's Office. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Everyone on the job site seemed to love Pop. Or at least respect him. After the official portrait shoot of the architect on the 23rd floor, on our way down, I asked Pops if I could take his picture. He smiled from ear-to-ear and the cold, rickety, mud-covered elevator car warmed up a few degrees.

I was glad to break his routine if even for just a few minutes. But as soon as I finished, he turned back around, hand on the lever.

Up. Down. Up. Down.

DDB Seattle Agency Video

All images © William Anthony

During my years in Seattle, I worked on many jobs with the ad agency DDB. One such project that just came back on my radar was this agency video. Not only does it contain my black and white stills but also a few ads I shot for clients such as The North Face.

It's a great short that was directed by friend and fave documentary director, Doug Pray. (See also: HYPE!, Scratch, Infamy and Big Rig.) If you have not seen any of his films—do.

See the video in its entirety here:

Quicktime
Windows Media

Staying at the Animal House

Catherine and Iris. © William Anthony

I need to give a long overdue "thank you" to my good friend and photographic inspiration, Catherine Ledner. Catherine and her husband Kyle were kind enough to let Pamela and me stay in their guest house during our first month in Los Angeles while we looked for a place of our own.

I've known Catherine seven years now. We met in 2001 when, as an Art Director, I hired her for a job after serendipitously falling in love with her work while doing an image search on Getty Images. And from the moment we met, I knew I'd be stuck with her forever. And I mean that as the highest of compliments.

When the time came to make the move South from Seattle, she opened her home to us. And for the better part of May and June we felt at home with her and Kyle and their menagerie of dogs, cats, rabbits and lizards.

If you are not familiar with her photography, have a look here at her commercial portfolio. From the inception of my photography career, she's been an inspiration, motivator, sounding board and most consistent fan. She's the reason I am a professional photographer.


My favorite photo from Animal House. © Catherine Ledner

She recently published her first book of animal portraits, Animal House. And there could be no more fitting subject matter for someone I jokingly refer to as "St. Catherine of Assisi." Catherine loves animals. And animals totally dig Catherine. It's freaky how much they do. Not long ago, she launched a web site to sell limited edition prints of her animal portraits. They're wonderful. And there's no better visual description of her than the playfulness of those images. She's currently working on a new book, and let's just say after seeing a sneak preview, it got my tail wagging.

Now that we're all settled in here in Los Angeles, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you Catherine. Thank you for everything.

PEMCO Insurance

Marymoor Off-Leash Dog Lady outtake. © William Anthony

Just got back from a three day trip to Seattle to shoot another installation in PEMCO Insurance's "Northwest Profiles" advertising campaign. We shot a total of three ads in one day. Locations included Green Lake Park and the moss-filled alley beside my assistant's apartment.

There was no shortage of irony having to pause our shoot of the "Green Lake Power Walkers" every so often to let ACTUAL Green Lake Power Walkers pass through.


Our Power Walkers pausing for the real thing. © William Anthony

These ads will run as transit boards later this summer.

Credits
Photo Assistant: Ryan Schierling
Props/Wardrobe: Alvin Stillwell & Nikoma
Hair/Makeup: Jennifer Verador
Production Manager: Pamela Sunnarborg
Art Director: Lonnie Weis
Agency: DNA Brand Mechanics

In The Biscuit.

The National Biscuit Company Lofts. Los Angeles, CA © William Anthony

We're all moved in. The building is pretty darn cool. We hope to be shooting in our space very soon. Until then, we'll be drinking Newcastle and eating Bubble and Squeak at The Royal Claytons across the street and anxiously awaiting the opening of Church & State—a French brasserie slated to open in the former loading docks of our building.

According to Google, public records state that my neighbors may or may not include Posh & Becks, Ichiro Suzuki, Vincent Gallo and Nicolas Cage.

That'd be a hell of an elevator ride now wouldn't it?