Only met Davis Ayer the one time, when I interviewed him for TPJ. Real decent interaction, I can say that about the man.
Beyond that, I only have the body of work. The guy could fucking shoot, sheesh. The way he could both treat the film in ways both fantastic and aesthetically pleasing, while paying equal attention to his subjects...epic talent.
Found out last week he'd passed away...I'd lost track of him, past few years, that's the nature of things, right? We'd followed each other here, on Tumblr, on Instagram, but after awhile interests shift, life happens. Hadn't corresponded with him in years.
I know a few photographers talk about legacy, what they want to leave behind...and he certainly left behind an incredible body of photography. But he's still gone, can't enjoy how people think of him, now. Can't appreciate the outpouring of grief from family and friends. Can't appreciate this post.
I used to see a good deal of death at work, inured me to it in some ways...but I haven't driven in an ambulance in a good many years. These days, death hits different. From a celebrity committing suicide, to a guy from a show I watched decades ago passing away at 92, to Davis at 38.
It stays with me, hangs around in the air. Gets me thinking about...well, all of it. How we're living our lives, what we mean to each other, have we said what we needed to say, are we doing what we need to do.
His pictures are great, but I'd rather he was still around.
Tags: 1.11.15 Davis Ayer portrait
© All Rights Reserved
NEW AND DIFFERENT IMAGES ON INSTAGRAM
Tags: 1.23.15 digital sash suicide Sima LED lights wall of polaroids los angeles lou o' bedlam portrait
© All Rights Reserved
Oh it was a challenge shooting these two...see, they want to be photographed together, they're pals, but I don't like shooting people together as much as I like shooting people on their own, where do I put my focus, where do I direct Your focus?
A challenge.
But...I mean, these two are stars, so it wasn't a chore or anything. Very easy time actually taking pictures with them, even back in that tiny apartment.
It's funny, looking back, every Other visit, Tita would bring a friend. She loved being photographed with her friends, always visiting LA from another town, probably made sense to mash together several things she wanted to do, hang out with friends, take some pictures, catch up with folks. It'd be a shoot with Tita and Sash, and the next time just brunch with Tita, and the next time a shoot with Tita and Bridget, and then a shoot all on our own. Always wanted her friends to meet each other, but also valued getting quality time with folks.
The balance of having friends and traveling!
Tags: 1.23.15 digital tita cupcakedujour sash suicide Sima LED lights wall of polaroids los angeles lou o' bedlam portrait
© All Rights Reserved