On the Road - Las Vegas, NV

(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Happy Valentine's Day

Home of the World Famous... ? (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Merry Christmas

Fulton St., Brooklyn, NY (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - NYC (Part 2)

(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

While in NYC, I finally made my way down to the temporary WTC Memorial at Ground Zero.

So sad on so many levels.


(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - NYC (Part 1)

Home of Liz Lemon. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Just returned from a week-long trip to New York City to show the portfolio around town and tour a few studios. The following are a few frames of personal shots from around the city.

Christmas in NYC, especially with snow, is amazing. I look forward to returning.


Chelsea Market. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


The Standard Hotel from The Skyline. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


Lone chair near The Skyline. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


Prius with snow and sneakers. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


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

On the Road - Farewell Ryan & Julie

Goodbye, home. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

By pure providence, my trip to Seattle coincided with the departure of two of my best friends from the Emerald City. I met Ryan first, circa 2004, through the music community. Sometime thereafter Ryan began dating "The Girl Next Door." Literally. They were neighbors. They fell in love. Happily ever after, etc. Since then, they have been friends, confidants and double-date partners.

They lived in a small, 20s era courtyard apartment complex officially known as "The Taylor Court Apartments." Unofficially known by residents as "Ghetto Melrose Place" or just "Ghetto Melrose." Anyone who visited them or participated in their epic barbecues or annual Halloween Party can attest to the wonderful spirit at that place.

When Pamela and I left Seattle back in Summer '08, our very last stop before hitting the road for SoCal was Ghetto Melrose. And it was there that Ryan took the last photos of us as residents of the 206. The photos were beautiful, lyric.

Since I was present for their last day there as well, I took the photo above as payback. And though not nearly as artful as Ryan's, I think I captured the feeling quite well.


Progress looms. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Not unlike us, a few years back they became restless. They were changing. Seattle was changing. Some changes were subtle, some not. The seven story condo abomination built behind their building that brought nearly a year of construction noise and stole their late afternoon sunlight was an obvious one. And the last one.


Home Sweet Home 2.0. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

As of last week, they are residents where the nights are long, the stars bright: Texas. Austin specifically. I felt honored to be there as they said goodbye to the city that changed all of us. I know it was just as emotionally confusing as when we left. I was glad I could be there.

The Rainier beer tallboys and Ryan's incredible bbq fish sandwiches didn't exactly hurt either.

On the Road - Seattle, WA (Part 4)

(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On a quiet, winding road alongside Lake Washington there is a small nondescript grassy park with a small lonely bench. A casual passerby may not even notice it. When I lived in Seattle I must have driven by it 20 times and never even saw it. That is, until one walks up to the bench to find it covered in scribbles and carvings written to "Kurt." That Kurt would be Kurt Cobain and that park sits adjacent to the house were he died 15 years ago.


"Sorry about the Guitar Hero thing." (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Officially, it's called Viretta Park. Informally, it's known as "Kurt's Park" and is the defacto Cobain memorial in Seattle. Every time I've visited it's a completely new bench, covered in messages like a guestbook. I've always been fascinated by the way people communicate indirectly like this. A long conversation taking place between people, separately, all drawn together by a single purpose or the emotions of loss.


Rest in Peace. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

I visited Kurt's Park this time with my 15 year old nephew. He's a huge Nirvana fan. It dawned on me as I photographed him at the park that he was born the year Kurt died. He's a physical reminder of the time that's gone by since that horrible day. As I watch this long-haired rebellious kid, who loves playing his guitar, wearing Converse sneaks with "Endorsement" written in Sharpie marker on the toes, I realize that Kurt really does live on.

Endless, Nameless.



Smoke offering. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - Seattle, WA (Part 3)

Mudhony (sic). (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Grunge history in the throne room of Scott Colburn's recording studio/church in Ballard.

On the Road - Seattle, WA (Part 2)

Lake Union from the Space Needle. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Picture Train

(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

This past weekend they were filming Leonardo DiCaprio's latest film Inception downtown. How did I learn this? Why, the full-size, drivable locomotive parked on Hill St. that's how.


That's going to be a bitch to tow. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Prop Shop Sale

(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

There are numerous prop shops in this neighborhood. Which makes sense considering how many productions happen here. There's one particular shop on Colyton St. that opens it's warehouse every now and then to sell off excess inventory.

Communication Arts Photography Annual 2009

Cover image © Andrew Zuckerman

I am proud to announce my inclusion in the 50th Anniversary of the Communication Arts Photography Annual.

From 8,612 entries, 157 were chosen for inclusion in the annual and I am honored to be one of them. Below is the winning image. The annual is the September/October issue and should be on newsstands shortly.


(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - Manhattan

Dapper isn't Dead. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


Chotskies. aka "tchotchkes." (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


Times Square (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


Don't Walk (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


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


Tourist Dad (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - New York City

The Hot Seat (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Dreaming on Mill St.

Mill St. between 7th & Industrial (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

UPDATE 8/3/09:
It's the work of artist Phil Lumbang. Thank you Phil. Thank you very much. So glad you chose our neighborhood.

Unwelcome

Stencil on S. Hewitt St. / Unneeded apostrophe on E. 3rd St (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

These are constant reminders that we live in an cultural ecotone.

Lily

Flowers at 5th & Alameda (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

I promised myself that the 90021 project would document all aspects of this neighborhood, good and bad. We had something terrible happen here last Friday to a girl named Lily Burk.


As found on Sunday. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

UPDATE: 7/29/09

A makeshift memorial has materialized. While there I spoke to Pepper. He said the area's homeless keep the candles lit all night. He was also adamant that the person who did this is not "from here."


(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Happy Fourth®

I.O.U. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - A Home Depot somewhere in MN

She found a bird nest. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - Cambridge, MN

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

Pepper

(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

In some circles, photographing the homeless is considered cliché. There—I said it. But yesterday morning, I met a man I had to photograph. Had to. I formally met Pepper, aka "The Mayor."

I'd heard a lot about Pepper. I was told by some long-time residents that despite his outward appearances, he's a great guy. Which made me think about how some of the world's most infamous assholes actually look like decent people. So let's agree that bookcover judging has a poor record. I'd seen Pepper around. He has a swagger not unlike George Jefferson's. And it's a swagger even Weezie would be proud of.


(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Pepper is truly an institution around here. His stomping grounds seem to be fluid, though I am told he doesn't stray far from the Los Angeles River. He has many names. "The Mayor, Sheriff and Mouth of the South" to name just a few. A neighbor friend who has lived here in the Industrial/Arts District for 12 years finally introduced me to Pepper. And I'd learn there was so much more under this bookcover than I could have imagined.

Pepper has lived here for 22 years. Yes, TWENTY-TWO. And when he first came here it was a very different, far more dangerous area. Originally from Iowa, he was disowned by his father for marrying "outside his race." He moved to the South where he picked up his strong southern drawl. Sometime thereafter, he ended up in L.A.

As I spoke to him, I could tell he was sizing me up. Yeah I was a friend of a friend, but someone with this amount of street smarts doesn't take anything on its word. I asked if I could take his photo. He grinned his remaining teeth silently and immediately grabbed three dolls he had in his shopping cart and held them in his arms. He was proud. It was then that I noticed his second-hand shirt. An ambulance driver's uniform, probably acquired from one of the many film prop shops around here.

He went on to tell me that some people think he looks like Brad Pitt. (I'll admit there's an undeniable resemblance underneath all the wear.) He also proudly told me that he has starred in at least eight Lowrider magazine spreads with "hot chicks."


(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

I told him I'd like to photograph him again someday. His response was something to the effect of a friendly, "I don't do nuthin' for free." Which then led me to ask him what he needed that I could give him as payment. To which he responded "I don't need nuthin'."

So, as a sign of gratitude, I told him I'd print one of these photographs, put it in a nice frame and post it to a utility pole in the neighborhood with the caption "Employee of the Month."

He liked that idea. He liked it a lot.

Doug Pray | Art & Copy

Dramatic photocopier shot. From DDB Project. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Doug Pray is an incredible filmmaker. I almost wrote "documentarian" but that would be a limiting descriptor. Not all documentaries are as beautifully crafted as Doug's. For some reason, many documentarians feel the subject matter alone is reason enough to carry a film. But ever since seeing the act transition scene showing grainy, handheld camcorder footage of the first time Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was played live in his debut HYPE! I knew this was more than just your average, run-of-the-mill documentary—it was "film." Goosebumps-hold-your-breath-exhale-while-saying-wow-out-loud "film."

Well now Doug has done it again. This time with something many love to hate—advertising. Full disclosure: I used to work in advertising and I have also worked alongside Doug. (See here.) But I have to admit upon learning about his new film, Art & Copy, I gave out an audible "duh." It's a no-brainer. Of course he'd be intrigued by the personalities in advertising. Of course he'd dig deeper into the slogans and taglines that make up our culture's landscape. Doug digs deep. And this new doc looks no different.

And I look forward to seeing it.

On the Road - Keenesburg, CO

The Duke. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

We drove right into a tornado warning/thunderstorm/hailfest enroute from Ft. Morgan to Denver. Knowing it would pass quickly, we pulled in to Rooster's Country Grill & Steakhouse off I-76 for some coffee and pie. Great place. Proof was right inside the front door.

On the Road - Nederland, CO

Right vs. Left. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Subtle political message?

On the Road - Boulder, CO

T&A 4 sale. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - Las Vegas, NV (Part 3)

Pink Cadillac. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

The reason for our trip to Vegas was that one of Pamela's best friends from high school was getting married and getting married in a very Vegas kind of way. The ceremony took place at the Little White Wedding Chapel in the North part of the strip. It's a famous location of sorts. Joan Collins and Michael Jordan were married here, not to each other mind you, as well as other celebs.

I don't shoot many weddings. And I wasn't the official photographer for this one. Which is nice because it allowed me to roam and capture the spirit of the event from the perspective of a guest. A perspective not usually seen by the bride and groom and one I am very good at. ("Excuse me where is the champagne? Thank you very much.")

And no, they were not married by Elvis.

Best wishes to Stephanie and Mike.


Here comes the bride. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


Tourist drive-by shooting. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


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