Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Matt's shrimps
Last week I had the most amazing bbq shrimps ever, at my friend Matt Weber's place. His bbq sauce is killer too ... On my way out Matt gave me this amazing print (he actually let me choose one of the framed ones he had around) - taken in 1990, long before I immigrated to the States; I was in ex-Yugoslavian army at the time. Matt is a real New Yorker, used to drive a cab back in the days, and will hopefully do a book on NY back in the 80's some day (you better do it, ok??)
Sent via Boogie's BlackBerry
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
NAPOLI
I was in NAPOLI (Naples, Italy) in 2005 with Ali from the band CASINO ROYALE and Deemo doing an assignment for Italian ROLLING STONE magazine. They were writing an article about CO'SANG, a local hip-hop band.
Our main focus was SCAMPIA, an area of Naples run by CAMORRA, the Napolitan mafia (also known as THE SYSTEM). Scampia is off limits to police, who usually don't go there without armoured vehicles and machine guns. The guys from CO'SANG grew up a couple of blocks away, and had connections that gain us access. The guys told me I was the first photographer allowed on the rooftop ...
Right before we came to Naples, there was a feud between two families that resulted in over 100 killings.
But it's not all so bad over there - - I ATE THE BEST PIZZA IN THE WORLD, at the legendary Pizzeria de Michele. Simply amazing. Also, the best ESPRESSO EVER.
Oh yeah, we stayed at the HOTEL BOLERO, near Scampia; I can't say it was the worst accommodation ever cause it was worse when I went to Caracas last year, but it was quite bad (ALL ALI'S FAULT). It was one of those 'by-the-hour' places with holes in the walls and ceilings and a weird guy at the reception ...
Bullet holes in the project buildings in Scampia.
These buildings are all occupied but elevators have been out of order for 15 years.
CO'SANG
View from the rooftop in Scampia.
There is a ditch in Scampia where heroin addicts go to shoot up, covered with tens of thousands (maybe millions, no idea) of used syringes. You need tough shoes if you want to go down and shoot.
POLICE ENEMY NUMBER ONE
Alioscia , Luca, ME, Antonio, Deemo. Yep, we look like MINOR THREAT.
Our main focus was SCAMPIA, an area of Naples run by CAMORRA, the Napolitan mafia (also known as THE SYSTEM). Scampia is off limits to police, who usually don't go there without armoured vehicles and machine guns. The guys from CO'SANG grew up a couple of blocks away, and had connections that gain us access. The guys told me I was the first photographer allowed on the rooftop ...
Right before we came to Naples, there was a feud between two families that resulted in over 100 killings.
But it's not all so bad over there - - I ATE THE BEST PIZZA IN THE WORLD, at the legendary Pizzeria de Michele. Simply amazing. Also, the best ESPRESSO EVER.
Oh yeah, we stayed at the HOTEL BOLERO, near Scampia; I can't say it was the worst accommodation ever cause it was worse when I went to Caracas last year, but it was quite bad (ALL ALI'S FAULT). It was one of those 'by-the-hour' places with holes in the walls and ceilings and a weird guy at the reception ...
Bullet holes in the project buildings in Scampia.
These buildings are all occupied but elevators have been out of order for 15 years.
CO'SANG
View from the rooftop in Scampia.
There is a ditch in Scampia where heroin addicts go to shoot up, covered with tens of thousands (maybe millions, no idea) of used syringes. You need tough shoes if you want to go down and shoot.
POLICE ENEMY NUMBER ONE
Alioscia , Luca, ME, Antonio, Deemo. Yep, we look like MINOR THREAT.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
SAO PAULO BOOK SPREADS etc
Here are a couple of spreads from my upcoming SAO PAULO book - it should be out by the end of the month, published by UPPER PLAYGROUND. All photos were taken in one week in June 2007...
also ----> PHOTO magazine mentiones my Paris exhibition ...
also ----> PHOTO magazine mentiones my Paris exhibition ...
Sunday, April 13, 2008
TWO BOOKS BY BRUCE GILDEN
Bruce Gilden is a self taught photographer born in Brooklyn who bought his first camera after seeing the movie BLOW UP by Michelangelo Antonioni, in 1968. He joined MAGNUM in 1998. His signature WIDE ANGLE + FLASH IN YOUR FACE shots are creepy, unique and hard to miss ... here are two of his books that I highly recommend:
GO published by Trebruk, London, 2000. 96 pp., 62 duotone illustrations, 9x13¼ in.
Gilden's work from Tokyo and Osaka - yakuza, tits, scars, stitches, homeless - the darker side of Japanese society (I've been to Tokyo twice so far and have never seen that side of Japan - the surface is very normal, polite and uptight)
This book is out of print but you can get it @ DASHWOOD BOOKS, signed.
A BEAUTIFUL CATASTROPHE published by powerHouse Books, New York, 2005. 140 pp., 86 tritone photographs, 9½x12½ in.
Gilden's NYC street shots - this book is the reason I chose matte paper for my first book, IT'S ALL GOOD. It blew me away, my kind of New York ...
You can get it from POWERHOUSE BOOKS or signed from DASHWOOD BOOKS.
GO published by Trebruk, London, 2000. 96 pp., 62 duotone illustrations, 9x13¼ in.
Gilden's work from Tokyo and Osaka - yakuza, tits, scars, stitches, homeless - the darker side of Japanese society (I've been to Tokyo twice so far and have never seen that side of Japan - the surface is very normal, polite and uptight)
This book is out of print but you can get it @ DASHWOOD BOOKS, signed.
A BEAUTIFUL CATASTROPHE published by powerHouse Books, New York, 2005. 140 pp., 86 tritone photographs, 9½x12½ in.
Gilden's NYC street shots - this book is the reason I chose matte paper for my first book, IT'S ALL GOOD. It blew me away, my kind of New York ...
You can get it from POWERHOUSE BOOKS or signed from DASHWOOD BOOKS.