Through Glass Eyes

Quick Update

2012-01-30T12:57:00.001-05:00

It's been a few months since my previous blog post, but you can rest assured that it was not my final blog. With my recent website update, I decided to post links to all of the photos sets I've posted to Flickr since my New York Comic Con blog. This should hopefully bring everyone up to speed.

Steampunk Fashions @ the DUMBO Steampunk Festival
Held in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn, this yearly festival pays tribute to the many aspects of Steampunk culture. While the show itself was a bit downplayed from previous years, the fashion show, featuring designs from 4 different designers, impressed all in attendance.

Brooklyn Ironhide at Brooklyn Bridge Park
In early Novermber, the weather was still mild enough and we were able to catch up with Brooklyn Ironhide for a photo shoot. Ironhide is the more recent Autobot creation of Brooklyn Robotworks.

Midnight Mob @ Europa in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

In November, modeling group Sugar and Spikes held a tattoo fashion pageant which featured band Midnight Mob as the opening act. The show served as my introduction to this talented punk and rock infused band.

Japan Day 2011 @ Central Park
I truly enjoyed attending Japan Day despite the unseasonably cold weather we had that day. The event showcased Japanese musicians, artist, and dancers. Run DMC's Darryl McDaniels made a guest appearance on stage, and Hello Kitty was on hand for the kids. Proceeds from the t-shirt sales made that day were donated to the japan earthquake relief fund.

Of course, stay tuned to this spot for more photography gallery posts and related announcements. If you're in the New York City area and are looking for an Event, Model, or Cosplay photographer, please note that I'm available for hire. Feel free to contact me regarding your next Photography project. My photography portfolio, as well as my Graphic Design portfolio, are available for review at www.negativepop.com

New York Comic Con Day 4 Photo Highlights

2011-10-16T23:12:00.000-04:00

Lot's to talk about from Day 4, but I'm so exhausted that I'll just wait until I do a more in depth blog eventually. I have hundreds of photos to post to Flickr. I'll probably start doing so next weekend. In the meanwhile, enjoy the top 10 photos from today.

New York Comic Con Day 3 Photo Highlights

2011-10-15T23:46:00.002-04:00

NYCC Day 3 was a lot more fun than Day 2. As the crowd swelled to a "Fire Hazard" limit, the this day was certainly a lot more fun and eventful than the second day. I was able to meet Roman Dirge the creator of Lenore today. He had mentioned at an earlier panel that he and Neil Gaiman are working on trying to bring a Lenore animated movie to the big screen. I also met Ti West, the Director of House of the Devil. We also ran into comedian Grace Helbig (G4) who was awesome to talk with. Apparently she's never met Chris Hardwick and neither have I. He eluded us as his Nerdist booth was well hidden. Hopefully we can track him down tomorrow morning before he leaves. I need Chris to sign my House of 1000 Corpses DVD.

New York Comic Con Day 2 Photo Highlights

2011-10-15T00:19:00.001-04:00

Day 2 of Comic Con was highlighted by the Marvel costume contest. Marvel has a huge presence this year and they're going all out in promoting the Avengers film. I was also able to see highlights from Final Fantasy XIII-2. My only gripe today was the lack of info on Celebes. I didn't meet any because I couldn't find any of the ones I wanted to meet! NYCC has done a poor job with their app and website, and in updating the locations of the guest. I know the program books are printed a week sooner, but I had no idea Debbie Mazar was even at the show until it was pointed out to me today! There's no info on where and when she's signing!

New York Comic Con Day 1

2011-10-14T00:37:00.002-04:00

I signed myself up for 4 days of Comic Con. Even though NYCC started at 4PM today, I did get a taste of what I'm in for. It should be fun, very memorable, yet tiring. I promised myself that I would do a photo blog at the end of each day and show off the top photos for that day. Not much going on for Day 1 as people were still setting up and getting their act together. I plan to have a more extensive NYCC blog next week, but in the meanwhile, enjoy some of the sites observed today at NYCC.

Finally... A Design Blog!

2011-09-12T15:50:00.003-04:00

I'd like to invite everyone who reads this blog to like Negative Pop's business page on Facebook. It acts as a frequently update journal of all of my past, present, and future design and photography projects. It can be reached through this link - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Negative-Pop/143403655751465

I'll admit it. I've been a little too obsessed with photography of late, and I've neglected the fact that I'm still a graphic designer by trade. Sure, being a graphic designer is my day job, but I still enjoy flexing my creative skills on the outside. While I'm in love with photography, my passion will always be for graphic design. However, it's through my photography that I draw the inspiration for my various design projects. And it's through my design work that my photography thrives. Rightfully so, one compliments the other.

Recently, I created the 5 design concepts below for the NKFs 2012 Spring Clinical Meetings. Unlike last year when our event was held in Las Vegas, our goal this year was not to promote the event location, but to focus on less localized design. While my previous year's concepts featured Las Vegas Show Girls and the easily recognizable Las Vegas Skyline, this year i gave approached my design with more subtlety. The gambit of designs below vary style from a simple typography to more elaborately rendered designs While all 5 designs were in contention, Design D was chosen for the overall look and feel on this years promotional materials. I was quite happy with the final results, and it will become the basis for the future evolution of this brand.

All designs below are a © of the National Kidney Foundation.

Design A

Design B

Design C

Design D

Design E

Torrid, Tight, and Sexy - A Fashion and Concert Show in NYC

2011-08-06T13:35:00.008-04:00

On July 27, legendary punk fashion designer Natasha held her Torrid, Tight, and Sexy Fashion Event at Santo's Party House in Manhattan. The show featured a showing of Natasha's new anti-fashion swimwear for 2012. The show was supported by musical performances from Transgendered Jesus, Luigi and the Babes featuring Dai Burger, and God's Green Earth.

The first band to take the stage was Transgendered Jesus, fronted by Anne Hanavan. I didn't know much about the band going in, but they gave a great performance, fusing punk and metal into their unique sound. Anne's husband, Paul, is the bands saxophonist, and their politically infused music was a great show opener to motivate the crowd. The band even did a dedication to "Serial killer" Aileen Wuornos. Anne Hanavan is obviously no stranger to fashion herself, having owned a small boutique in Manhattan's lower east side for several years.

Dai Burger Rocking out

Up next was NatashaNYC's swimsuit fashion show. Luigi and the Babes we re joined on stage by singer. Dai Burger. They provided the music as the models took to the venue floor to present a great collection of swimwear for the 2012 summer season. The band played a small tribute to the late Amy Winehouse, whom singer Dai Burger calls an inspiration. The fashion show, while top notch and professional, maintained a fun and sensual vibe throughout.

After the fashion show, God's Green Earth, took the stage. With their sludgy metal sound and their energetic stage presence, the band played quite an impressive set. I was actually saddened to hear that the band was playing a more subdued set that night without any of their "special props." Props or not, they killed it on stage that night and I definitely have a reason to see them perform again! Their cover of Billy Idol's "Rebel Yell" was nothing short of awesome! Singer Kore Rozzick jumped on stage to assist with vocals on the song. Their cover of the "King of the Hill" theme song was another unexpected surprise.

Presented below are a few select Snapshots from the event. I have a full set of photographs from the show posted on Flickr - http://flic.kr/s/aHsjvLvXLA

Anne Hanavan

Punk fashion creator Natasha, surrounded by her swimsuit creations.

The lead sing of God's Green Earth's with dancer Forest of Gotham.

New York Tattoo Convention article published in Hungarian Tattoo Magazine

2011-08-02T22:34:00.001-04:00

I'm proud to Announce my NY Tattoo Convention Photos have been published by Tattoo Mania's Hungarian Tattoo Publication. I'm quite excited as it's my first time being printed, and hopefully not my last. I had a great photographing the event. A few familiar faces can be seen in the spread, including Mei Hoshi. For all of my photos from the Convention, please visit my Flickr gallery at http://flic.kr/s/aHsjuNKhE9

My friend @mastergio did a recent interview with me on his blog, "Words from the Master." He's a good writer. You can read the interview at this link - http://themastergio.blogspot.com/2011/08/interview-with-photog-graphic-designer.html

A Day at Coney Island / Luna Park

2011-07-27T12:16:00.001-04:00

Recently, I had the pleasure of taking my camera to Coney Island for a Sunday afternoon visit. The beach peninsula, which includes the Luna Park amusement rides, always offers a great experience. The beach attracts a diverse crowd of New Yorkers looking for a convenient getaway to beat the summer heat. Visiting Coney Island as a photographer has become a yearly experience for me. Coney Island's rich celebrated history dates all the way back to the 1830s. While the attractions alongside Surf Avenue has undergone many changes over the generations, the essence that makes Coney Island enjoyable will always be available to it's patrons.

Presented below are a few of the recent photos I took on my recent outing to Coney Island. I recommend it as a must see destination for anyone visiting New York City, especially those looking for a unique photographic experience. I'll be a full set of Coney Island photos to my Flickr account this weekend.

A Re-Designed and Re-Launched NegativePop.Com

2011-07-21T23:12:00.000-04:00

My apologies for the lack of blog posts in the last month. I have been hard at work trying to complete a major update to my website. NegativePop.Com, my portfolio website, has finally been re-designed and re-launched. I have been a Graphic Designer, Photographer, and Web Designer for over the past 11 years. Digital Art has been my passion, and the time has come for me to take my creativity to a higher level. I invite everyone to please visit and review my works. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did in creating them.

Please stay tuned! I have a lot more photography and designs to come in the near future. Currently I'm entertaining all related employment and business inquiries. Opportunities for Event, Cosplay, and Modeling Photography Shoots are welcomed.

I leave you with a poster I recently created for the Brooklyn RobotWorks. It features my photography, and a pretty cool looking Autobot symbol I created from scratch. Please take a look at the creations of the Brooklyn RobotWorks. They're quite amazing!

Robots, Creativity, and Imagination: Brooklyn RobotWorks

2011-06-16T22:13:00.004-04:00

It was 11:45am on a late Saturday morning in Manhattan. Outside of the famed Pennsylvania Hotel, where Wizard World New York was just underway, foot traffic came to a grinding halt in anticipation of an unusual sight. It was on that day that 7th Avenue was graced by an appearance from Bumblebee, one of the most popular Autobots on the Transformers' roster. The yellow and silver robot zipped around on foot as he greeted his fans and brought smiles to the faces of curious children. Everyone scrambled for their cameras to capture a shot of the most realistic Transformer Cosplay costumes ever seen to date.

In reality, Bumblebee, is the brain child of robot exoskeleton creator, Peter Kokis and his company, Brooklyn RobotWorks. Nearly two years ago, Peter, began to explore his love for intricate costume making by conceptualizing his first creation, Brooklyn Optimus Prime. The positive reaction of his first masterpiece led to the inspiration and desire to turn his craft into a full time job. Soon enough, a second robot, Brooklyn Bumblebee appeared on the seen, which set the bar for exoskeleton costume design even higher.

Made from manipulated plastics and household items, the effort Peter Kokis puts into his creations can truly be appreciated. Peter label's himself as a perfectionist, and sets a high standard for his work. For example, a plastic water bottle can be molded into a blaster cannon, but it must be molded in such a way that it will not be easily identifiable as a water bottle. Under developing the character's exoskeleton can ruin it'mystique.

While at Wizard World New York, I managed to catch up with Bumblebee for a quick interview as he took a break from his mission of protecting the citizens of our great city:

When and Where did you first make contact with human life here on Earth?

It was at the June 2009 Mermaid Parade in Coney Island, Brooklyn. The evil Developercons were gaining ground in their efforts to take over Coney Island, and Brooklyn Optimus Prime dispatched me to Earth to watch; over the parade...To Protect. The Mermaid Parade is an art parade - and quite colorful - so I fit right in. B-Prime instilled in us the need to set a good example - to always seek to improve ourselves - and so I recently upgraded myself. Humans are a young species, but what we see in them makes us want to stay awhile. Things also seem to be a bit weird right now, so perhaps we can help.

What is Bumblebee's mission?

To Protect ALL life - human or otherwise - as well as all forms of artistic expression. I support freedom and democracy worldwide, and seek to inspire others.

Who are some of Bumblebees closest friends?

Brooklyn Optimus Prime, more of a commander than a friend, but still a friend. My comrade Brooklyn Ironhide also, despite his rough manner...he means well. He's on his way to Earth; joining us. Of course, all of the humans that I've encountered during my missions here I now consider my friends.

Volkswagen Beetle or Chevy Camaro? Which car does Bumblebee prefer?

Well, I did like those horns I had as a Beetle, but the superior performance and handling qualities of the Camaro win out...hey, It's an American muscle-car! I really like my chest, too!

What advice does Bumblebee have for his younger fans?

Be good to your parents, siblings, friends, and teachers: they mean you well. Keep an open mind. Don't rush to judgement. The question is never CAN you do something, but SHOULD you... And if you should see me, please offer me water.

What scares Bumblebee most?

Nothing on your world scares me. With more missions, I am becoming comfortable with stairs Escalators are of concern, however, so I try to avoid them.

What is Bumblebees opinion of Megan Fox?

I have ready-access to worldwide databases, and have never seen a bad photo of Ms. Fox. I miss her and wish her well. She always treated me well. I do like Brits, so I will give this new young lady a chance.

Where will Bumblebee be appearing next?

Brooklyn Bumblebee is returning to Coney Island To Protect the 2011 Mermaid Parade on June 18th, fate-willing and sunshine-only. It is the most fun summer event in NYC, and certainly worth a trip across the planet. All humans seeking entertainment should attend. After that, I am not sure. Brooklyn Optimus Prime is sensing an evil presence - a malevolence that is robotic, so we are looking into that.

-----------------------------------------

The creations of Brooklyn RobotWorks are available for parties, events, and conventions. For more information, please visit the official company website at brooklynrobotworks.com

Be sure to take a look at the official homepages of Bumblebee and friends

Brooklyn Optimus Prime - brooklynoptimusprime.com

Brooklyn Bumblebee - brooklynbumblebee.com

COMING SOON! Brooklyn Terminator - brooklynterminator.com

2011 New York Tattoo Convention

2011-05-16T22:48:00.001-04:00

On Friday the 13th, 2011, the 14th Annual New York Tattoo Convention kicked off at the Roseland Ballroom in Manhattan. This 3 day affair showcased over 70 tattoo studios and vendors from around the world. It is regarded by some as the biggest convention of it's kind in the United States. The convention often has a large attendance, and there's never a shortage of tattoo art to be seen. Ironically, the 14th anniversary of the convention marks the 14th year that tattooing once again became legal by law in New York. It had been banned by law from 1961-1997.

Over the past 60 years, tattooing has evolved from an anti-social cultural status to a widely accepted form of art expression. While tattoos have been around for ages, spanning back to the to the days of the Egyptian pharos, it wasn't until the late 80's that modern cultures began to regard them as stylish fashion statements. Today, tattoo's are enjoyed by almost anyone who can appreciate art. The human body has become a living canvas for the skillful tattoo artist. For some, a handful of tattoos are quite enough, yet others will keep having artwork added as long as there's blank skin to be tattooed upon.

This was my first attendance at the NY Tattoo Convention. It quite exceeded my expectations. I knew going in that I would see amazing art, and I was far from disappointed when I left. Everyone in attendance had tattoos to show, and there wasn't a shy person in the crowd. Thankfully, I had my camera on hand and was able to chronicle some of the fantastic art I had witnessed that day. My friend Giovanni, who is writing an article on tattoos, had the pleasure of interviewing several artists as well as tattooed attendees. We learned a little more about the tattoo culture that day, for certain, everyone has a story to tell behind each of their tattoos. From deep personal meaning to unprecedented mistakes, it is still a fact that tattoos represent life. I hope you enjoy the selection of photographs below from the convention. The full set is available on flickr

Irezumi - Japanese for the "insertion of ink". Here a tattoo artist applies ink using the traditional, more painful method

A Family Affair - Punk Singer Tibbie X at The NY Tattoo Convention

Marilyn Monroe surrounded by the Mexican actresses from the same era.

Chiller Theater Expo April 30, 2011

2011-05-08T22:37:00.004-04:00

Zahcerle, "The Cool Ghoul" and Master of Ceremony for
the Chiller Theater Expo.

On April 30th, I attended the Chiller Theater Toy, Model, and Film Expo in Parsippany, NJ. It's a Horror Convention for fans alike to converge and celebrate the historic local television show of the same name. For those unfamiliar with Chiller Theater, it first aired locally in the New York tri-state area on Saturday nights during the Early 50's as a vehicle for showcasing classic horror movies. It was hosted by Zacherle, "The Cool Ghoul", a character who became synonymous with the show through it's 50 years of broadcasts and many revivals. This Convention (Chiller as most refer to it) offers a stroll down memory lane for all fanboys and fangirls of the horror genre. There are guests abundant for people to meet, and Kevin Clemet, AKA Mr. Chiller, never disappoints the fans by always booking high demand and obscure celebes. Some of the great guests in attendance that weekend included Loni Anderson, Gary Busey, Ernest Borgnine and Dean Stockwell to name a few.

Dean Stockwell and myself.

As a huge fan of Battlestar Galactica, and an avid watcher of Quantum Leap, I was looking forward most to meeting Dean Stockwell. Dean signed my Battlestar Galactica mini-series DVD, which I already had autographed by fellow BSG star and director Edward James Olmos at a previous Chiller. Also on my list of celebrities to meet was Maud Adams of James Bond fame. She's notorious for being the only Bond Girl to appear in 2 films, The Man with the Golden Gun and the infamous Octopussy. Maud Adams is still quite the sophisticated woman, just as her on screen characters would lead you to believe. She was appearing at the show with fellow Bond girl Britt Ekland.

Matt with Maud Adams and Britt Ekland
(Because 2 Bond girls are better than 1!)

Radio personality and co-host of the VH1 Classic's "That Metal Show", Eddie Trunk, was also in attendance at Chiller. My friend Giovanni and I picked up signed copies of his new book Eddie Trunk's Essential Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. Eddie's co-host Don Jamieson was also scheduled to appear at Chiller, but didn't make it for one reason or another.. Filling in for Don was Eddie's other co-host, Jim Florintine who put on a great comedic display at Eddie Trunk's expense.

After visiting Eddie Trunk, we ran into the wonderful, and as her nickname implies, Gorgeous George Frankenstein. George is best known for her run in WCW (World Championship Wrestling) in the 90s as Randy "Macho Man" Savage's valet and real life girlfriend. She was appearing at Chiller with her husband Doyle Von Wolfgang Frankenstein of Misfists fame. George was allowing fans to taste test samples of her new Hot Sauce. Unfortunately I was unable to procure information about where and when it'll be available for sale.

My friends and I had a blast during the concert and after party. The show got off to a bang with Zacherle himself kicking us off with a singing of the famed "Monster Mash". Shortly after the Dead Elvi took to the stage. Invited on stage to perform with the Dead Elvi were Undead and former Misfits band member Bobby Steele, Jane Wieldlin of the Go-Go's fame, and Chinese born actress Bai Ling. Earlier that day, in a private ceremony at the convention, singer Bobby Steele and Jill Kethel (known as the dancing girl's in Danzig's Mother video) were married. In place of a traditional wedding gown, Kethel wore a Supergirl costume.

Blue Coupe, comprised of founding Blue Oyster Cult members Albert and Joe Bouchard and former Alice Cooper band mate Dennis Dunaway, took the stage for one of the better performances ever given by a band at Chiller. They rocked the crowed with classics including Alice Cooper's "Eighteen" and the Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reeper", which caused the crowd to erupt in cheers!

Matt, Tony Clifton, and myself in one of the more
surreal moments of the evening

The big highlight of my night came when legendary comedian Tony Clifton surprised everyone with an onstage performance. After announcing the death of Glen Campbell (witch we later discovered to be false), Tony went on to perform a 15 minute version of Rhinestone Cowboy! He played all of his classics such as "I will Survive" and "Volare". My night was made!

Later in the evening we caught up with Tony at the bar and had a great discussion with him as he kindly posed for a picture with us. We promised Tony we'd visit him soon in Las Vegas. He proceeded to tell us about his act and how it features 5 of the most beautiful burlesque dancers in the country. Also hanging out at the bar was Larry B. Scott, known for singing the winning talent show song in Revenge of the Nerds. My friend Rollie was hoping that Larry would reprise the song for us on stage, but it sadly did not happen. We also ran into film actor Akihiro Kiramura, known for his role in the cult classic Human Centipede.

All in all, Chiller delivered a great time and a lot of memorable moments. As always we ended our weekend with breakfast at the Original Pancake House in Whippany, NJ. The next Chiller Theater Expo will be held in Parsippany on the weekend of October, 2011. It'll feature their annual Halloween costume contest.

Bobby Steele

Me with George Frankenstein

Bai Ling sings!

Part on stage with the Dead Elvi and friends!

No Chiller is complete without a visit from

Doctor Satan!

Vinnie Vlado Interviews Eddie Trunk and Jim Florentine

Jane Weiland of the Go Go's

Jill Kethel (The Mother Chick) happily married.

Links:

Chiller Theater Expo homepage
Sci-Fi Ninja Theater - Homepage of Vinny Vlado's Public Access show for which I did a promo for that night.
My Additional Photographs on flickr

A visit to the Baseball Hall of Fame

2011-04-26T00:15:00.001-04:00

Situated in Cooperstown, New York, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum stands as the ultimate monument dedicated to America's favorite pastime. As its motto suggests, the Hall of Fame strives to "Preserve History, Honor Excellence, and Connect Generations." Earlier this month, I took a road trip, or a pilgrimage, as some die hard baseball fans might say, to visit Cooperstown for the first time. It was truly a memorable trip as I got to experience the historic culture of baseball as preserved by the Hall of Fame.

Since the age of ten, baseball has been a recreational part of my life. As a child, I would sit in front of the TV cheering on my favorite team through thick and thin. Most of my summer vacation days in the city were comprised of playing stick ball with the neighborhood kids from morning until dark. Outings to the stadium to catch a game were always a treat for me, especially wen I would have the opportunity to cheer on my distant cousin, Frank Catalanotto who played ball in the majors for 14 seasons. Not only did I collect baseball cards in my youth, I would go on to eventually design them in my adulthood as a professional graphic designer.

Honus Wager's Uniform and Bats

You're probably thinking that my visit to the Hall of Fame was long overdue. Perhaps it was, but I can assure you it was well worth the wait and an experience that I will cherish. Walking through the memorabilia-filled halls of baseball's historical institution made me feel like a kid again. I was very excited to see the artifacts of the game’s greatest players-- the legends of yesterday and more recent greats, some of whom I have seen play first hand. I was most appreciative that the Hall of Fame honored all the diverse aspects of baseball's history.

The Hall of Fame presents a historical recount of the sport, from its sport infancy through modern times, including its most frowned upon moments. Yes, even Peter Edward Rose, a man forever banned from the sport amid gambling allegations, has a glass case in the Hall of Fame which pays homage to his record of 4,192 hits. If it happened in baseball, you can be sure it is documented within these hallowed halls. The Hall of Fame contains 295 inductees-- a roster that includes Negro League players, managers, corporate executives and baseball pioneers in addition to major league players.

For me, one of the more enjoyable aspects of the Hall of Fame was seeing how the game of baseball evolved over the years. Seeing the primitive equipment quite fascinating. It's amazing how primitive the equipment was when compared to modern protective gear. Baseball gloves were simply made of thin leather and offered minimal protection to a hand that would have caught a 90 mile per hour fastball behind the plate. It is also hard to believe that catching the ball in the outfield on a single bounce was considered an out at one time. Also chronicled is these Supreme Court case Flood v. Kuhn. Curt Flood's challenge of baseball's reserve laws eventually led to the free agency system, one of the most important labor advances in of all sports. Baseball has truly come a long way.

Hall of Famer Bill Veeck

Of course the infamous area of the Hall of Fame would be the Plaque Gallery, containing all of the member induction plaques. I made it a point to take photographs of the Hall of Famers for whom I have the most respect. Among them are Ralph Kiner and Bill Veck. I grew up with Kiner as the voice of the New York Mets. In my opinion, no one tells a better baseball story than Ralph Kiner who hit 369 home runs throughout his career. Bill Veeck is probably a name less familiar to fans. I remember reading up on him as a kid. Veeck was well known for the innovations he brought to the game of baseball which include the first ever exploding scoreboard at Comiskey Park. Bill Veeck also was the first to add players surnames to the backs of their uniforms. He was also responsible for sending famed baseball midget Eddie Gaedel to the plate for his only appearance in the major leagues.

Overall, I had a memorable trip to the Hall of Fame. Cooperstown is a nice, quiet Middle New York town, with a lot to offer any baseball fan. The town's hospitality is something can't be matched. Its citizens breathe baseball, and there couldn't have been a better place for Baseball's Hall of Fame to have been constructed. I advise all baseball fans to make it out to the Hall of Fame at least once in their lifetime. You will not be disappointed.

Thurman Munson's uniform and catching gear

Babe Ruth

Hank Aaron's Plaque

Johny Evers' Memorabilia

Please follow this link to view more of my Baseball Hall of Fame Photos on Flickr.

Street Photography: As Inspired by Edward Hopper

2011-04-13T00:27:00.001-04:00

Painter Edward Hopper has always been an inspiration to me. After an in-depth College study of his paintings and artistic styles, I instantly began to idolize the painter and his works. For me, Edward Hopper represented an artist who thought outside the box as he went against the popular modern expressionist art movement of his time. At a time when Modern Art began to flourish, Hopper stuck to painting realistic personal visions of everyday life.

Edward Hopper had the talent for taking the obvious and making it interesting. As a photographer, I try to capture the fleeting moments in life which is taken for granted by the human eye. In street photography, it's all about capturing the obvious in it's natural setting and presenting it in an interesting manner. One can almost say that Edward Hopper's paintings are quite similar to modern Street Photography.

Two weeks ago, I visited the Whitney Museum with my girlfriend and experienced the Edward Hopper exhibit. I was filled with inspiration, and upon leaving the museum, I whipped out my camera and began to snap a series of street photographs. Inspiration also followed me a few days later on a lunch trip to Madison Park in Manhattan. I've posted to this blog, my favorite photos from both outings. Like Hopper himself, I hope you can also see the beauty in the obvious subjects presented below.

Rekindling My Love Affair With Professional Wrestling: WSU's 4th Anniversary Show

2011-03-11T00:22:00.010-05:00

I'll never back down from admitting it — I've been a wrestling fan since I was a child. My on and off again obsession with this male soap opera dates back to the 80s when pro-wrestling began to cross over and explode into mainstream. As a child, I would tune in to see legends like "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Dusty Rhodes, Hulk Hogan, and Ric Flair tell their larger than life stories every week. Catching the weekly wrestling shows became a ritual for me and my friends. We never missed an episode.

In todays world, Pro-wrestling is a lot different than it once was. Gone are the multitude of territorial promotions through out the United States. Sure, WWE is still the main force in "Sports Entertainment". But what exactly is your alternative to Vince McMahon's product? WWE bought out it's competition and there hasn't been a strong challenger to it's brand in the 11 years since. And lets face it, up until this past month, WWE's current direction, had left me disinterested. I was left yearning for old-time wrestling!

Early last year I attended my first ever independent wrestling show (Hard to Believe?), and I began to see where the mystique and excitement of pro-wrestling had been vanished to all along. Curious to experience what a non-WWE show was like, my friends and I drove to a small arena, the Ace Arena, in Union City, New Jersey. In addition to hosting wrestling cards by ACE Wrestling, the arena also housed Women Superstasr Uncensored (WSU), an all-female wrestling promotion which was holding their 3rd anniversary show that day. Unlike WWE, WSU operates on a much smaller scale. This allows the promotion to be a lot more fan friendly and lenient when it comes to booking storylines. This also allows for wrestlers to have a bit more control control over their speaking promos and in-ring characters. While a typical WWE show can fill a 20,000 seat arena, Sold out attendance for a WSU show is about 150.

2011 WSU Hall of Fame Inductee
April Hunter

The 3rd Anniversary show line-up card featured a mix of up and coming young female wrestling stars, as well as well-known established wrestlers from various major promotions around the world. The show opened up with a meet and greet, followed by a Hall of Fame Ceremony, and concluded with the main wrestling show that provided over 4 hours of action packed entertainment. The day's events were a lot of fun, and we definitely recaptured the excitement we once had for this sport. Flash forward a year later, and my friends and I have become regular attendees at WSU shows. Pro-wrestling, WSU in particular, had once again become the must see spectacle.

On Saturday March 5th, 2011, we were in the crowd as Women Superstars Uncensored held it's 4th Anniversary show in Union City. As always, WSU kicks off it's Anniversary shows by honoring a few of the greats who have paved the way for a younger generation of female wrestlers. This year the honors went to body builder and pro-wrestler April Hunter, former WWE champion Ivory (G.L.O.W.'s Tina Ferrari), and the late great Luna Vachon. Ivory was on hand during the fan fest, and I had the pleasure of meeting her for the first time. Unfortunately, Luna Vachon had passed away at end of last summer, and her memory was honored with an emotional speech from "Prime Time" Amy Lee. At the meet and greet we met up with April Hunter and spent several minutes talking about the business side of wrestling. It's always a pleasure talking to April, and she's always gracious to share fashion advice with her fans, my girlfriend included. The wrestling card which followed proved be the greatest in WSU's 4 year history. The entire roster of female wrestlers put on a solid, and at most times spectacular, performance. Be assured that every in-ring competitor in WSU wears her heart on their sleeve.

Pro-Wrestlers Allysin Kay
and Jessica Havok

There were a lot of memorable moments throughout the night, of which I will never forget the Uncensored Rules Triple Threat match for the WSU Tag Team Titles. The Tag Team Champions, the Belle Saints, were down a member as Tina San Antonio was forced out of the match with an injury. However, all was not lost, and the crowd went ballistic as former WWE Woman's Champion, Jazz announced herself as Marti Belle's replacement tag team partner. The match would be contested under Uncensored Rules, meaning anything goes, anywhere in the arena!

I quickly grabbed my camera equipment and was ready to run for my life. Sure enough, 5 minutes into the match weapons, and wrestlers alike, were flying through the arena. As soon as we were displaced from our seats, Mart Belle and Lucious Latasha (One half of the soul sisters tag team) began brawling on the floor, right in front of us! Their battle didn't last long as "Prime Time" Amy Lee came charging through the crowd with a garbage can hoisted over her head. You can only imagine what happened next as both Latasha and Marti Belle had their heads imprinted into the metal garbage can. The carnage in the crowd ended when Amy Lee delivered a defining shot to Latasha's cranium using a metal baking tray. The craziness was followed by a "Holy Shit" chant that was well deserved! Jazz and her tag team partner Marti Belle eventually pulled off the victory, winning the WSU Tag Team gold in fantastic fashion. I can't wait to purchase the DVD of this event so I can see myself running scared on the outside of the ring.

Other notable matches on the card featured The WSU Spirit Championship changing hands as Sassy Stephanie took the title away from Brittney Savage. The match would eventually see Britney Parting Ways with long time Cosmo Club stable mate, Rick Cataldo. Ohio native, Jessica Havok, defeated Rain in an action-packed back-and-forth match. Jessica later went on to interfere in the post main event title match, causing WSU original, Alicia, her chance at recapturing gold. The main event of the evening featured WSU champion Mercedes Martinez defending the WSU World Championship against former WWE Straight Edge Society member Serena Deeb. This proved to be an excellent match as both women are excellent ring technicians. It was an action packed night, and the entire WSU 4th Anniversary Show results can be seen by clicking this link.

Lexxus, of the Boston Shore, Irish whips Nikki Roxx across the ring.

In closing, we had an absolute blast. Thanks to everyone involved with Womens Superstars Uncensored. if you're a wrestling living the New York City /Northern New Jersey area, definitely make it a point to catch a WSU card in the near future. If not, you should still support your local indy wrestling group. It's an experience that is unmatched.

Links:
The Official WSU Homepage - http://www.declarationofindependents.net/wsu/

My WSU Photographs 4th Anniversary show Photographs on Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/nixed/sets/72157626241488792/

Leva Bates delivers a vicious kick to Athena

Niya flies across the ring at Nikki Roxx

Carnage on the outside of the ring!

Marti Belle, one half of the WSU Tag Team Champions, screams out in pain!

Rain was unsuccessful in pinningJessica Havok

Sereena Deeb gets reay to launch Mercedes Martinez
off the top rope

Jessica Havok applies her boot to the Rain's Throat as
the referee issues a stern warning that
falls on deaf ears.

Japan Fashion Festa - A Cospay Fashion Show

2011-02-21T11:09:00.081-05:00

On Thursday, February 17, 2011 the Tokyo Fashion Festa, a special sold-out Cosplay fashion show, was held at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). For those unfamiliar with Cosplay, it is the art of dressing in the costumes of popular Japanese manga, video game, and anime characters. In Japan, the phenomena of Cosplay has created a subculture, which has spilled over to Europe and the United States. Cosplayers, or layers as some like to be referred to, see this a a form of recreation which isn't tied down to a single holiday such as Halloween or Mardi Gras.

For some, Cosplay is an escape into an alternate way of life. The Cosplayer not only dons the costume of a character, he or she becomes the character by acting them out precisely. The best Cosplayers emerge themselves into the world and lifestyle of the character. In America over the past 10 years, Cosplay has gained great interest among Anime, Video Game, and comicbook fans. You'll find many American Cosplayers dressed in costumes of popular comicbook heroes.

A Cosplayer posing next to the costume she designed

The Tokyo Fashion Festa, was a tie-in to the Japan Fashion Now exhibit, currently on display at the Museum at FIT. The Cosplay fashion show was largely supported by FIT students, several of which created the costumes they had worn that day. As you will see from my photographs, Cosplay doesn't just involve slipping on a pair tights and a cape. There is a lot of creativity involved, and a great sense of fashion goes a long way in developing your costume. The costumes worn at the fashion show were all well done. They represented the Gothic, Lolita, GothLoli, and Visual-kei styles of cosplay among others. Characters from popular animes such as Black Butler and Cardcaptor Sakura

What made the Fashion show unique this year was the inclusion of a make-up demonstration from famed Japanese make-up and hair artist Akiko Yoshizaw. After her demonstration she was joined on stage by fellow make-up artists Fujiko and Yumiko for a demonstration on Gothic style make-up. While costume creation is quite an important aspect to CosPlaying, make-up design is a highly respected art form within this sub-culture.

Japanese Make-Up Artist Akiko Applies Make-Up to a Cosplayer.

This was my first time shooting photographs at a fashion show, especially one dedicated primarily to Cosplay. While I've managed to capture many America Cosplayers at various comic cons, this was my first time, experiencing the true Asian inspired phenomena first hand. Cosplay has truly moved beyond. For a wider array of Cosplay, be sure to visit the New York Anime Comic Con, held each year at the Jacob Javits Center, and is now part of the New York Comic Con.

Click Here to view additional photography from the

Tokyo Fashion Festa.

Duff's Brooklyn: Great Bar, Same Friends, New Location.

2008-12-14T22:36:00.024-05:00

This is a write up I did 2 years ago about my favorite bar. I'm keeping the article up from my old Blog since it has been linked by Forgotten New York.

About two weeks ago, my favorite watering whole, Duff's Brooklyn, moved to it's new location in South Williamsburg. This past Saturday Night, I stopped in with my friend Gio to grab a few drinks and check out the new place. I was very impressed with the new bar. While the old bar can be described as a hole int he wall, owner Jimmy Duff has truly gone all out to make the new place look great.

The new space is at least 4 times as long as the old bar off North 3rd and Kent. Patrons can sit along the long white bar located up front, or head into the back room where a more casual seating area is available with several tables. The walls of the bar are covered with new and familiar memorabilia. The Juke Box is sporting a wider range of music, with such notable bands as Carcuss and even Rush being featured on it. Any complaints about the lack of top shelf liquor have been heard. Behind the bartender, you'll find a nice stock of familiar brand name alcohol. While the bar still doesn't sport any taps, they still manage to keep the usual stock of bottled beers.

The bartending corp remains the same, and you'll be continued to be served at the new Duff's by Tracy and L.A. I have to admit, it felt a little weird being at the new bar. While I was surrounded by familiar places, all of my Duff's memories are still of the old place. But I'm sure as time goes on, I will have plenty of new stories to tell about the new place. Even though the location has moved, Duff's Brooklyn remains a staple of Metal culture, and a fun place to grab a drink. The former Duff's location on North 3rd and Kent, still owned by Jimmy Duff, has been converted to the Rock 'n Roll Bar and will feature a less metal atmospher as it caters to the crowd of North Williamsburg.

The new Druff's Brooklyn is located at 168 Marcy Avenue between South 5th and Broadway. Conviniently located about 20 feet from the Marcy Avenue JMZ stop. The JMZ connects one stop over the bridge with the F at Delancy Street. In the opposite direction, it gets me home from Duff's in under 20 minutes which is what I like most about the new locale.

Official Home Page - www.duffsbrooklyn.com
MySpace Page - http://www.myspace.com/duffsbrooklyn

Please note that the Rock and Roll bar, the original Duff's location, has closed since this article was written.