Summer is here and shit’s hot.
Between the beach, the rooftop parties and my boyfriend’s backyard BBQs — this year, for me, has topped all others, as far as summers go. There seems to be a buzz in the air this time of year. Whether it’s the sun or the heat and humidity, everyone seems to be, collectively, stripped down and hitting the hot pavement. It’s part of what makes this city so unique when the temperature rises.
I’ve always been inspired by black and white photography — a medium that, like the people of New York during summer, also seems stripped down — and wanted to capture a little bit of the goodness that happens here on the East Coast this quarter with the Black and White issue.
We worked with some incredible artists that blew me away with their talent and enthusiasm for working in the black and white medium. Photographer Blessing Marie pushed her creative boundaries with her story, “WXYZ,” while my mentor and art legend AA Bronson offered up some of his original self portrait work from 1969 in “Dark Matters.” I also had the opportunity to shoot a fashion story, with the talented and adorable photographer Victoria Stevens who shot the cover story “Summer Local,” for this issue.
It was fun to explore working strictly in black and white this time around. There is a distinct feeling to images and artwork when all color is removed, leaving only shades of grey for your mind to process. I enjoyed it so much that you may just see it again next year, because who doesn’t love a little black and white.
Okrrrr?!
Marcel
Click here to check out the new ish!
