pix crime scene

slideshow 20 images
http://picasaweb.google.com/stefanog/Crimescene/photo#s5229252064356135458


a long day
i had to shoot a homicide crime scene at prospectpark.
maybe homeless fight - possibly gay sex and drugs or something like that.
there are some remote spots in prospect part with all sort of illegal
exchanges
-
rushed to the park then had to shoot a clinic and some dj s etc...
some neighborhood kids by the projects wanted me to take their picture -
mostly puertoricans and so young - they spoke gang lingo and they would
call me serial killah.

so weird i feel almost that som ehispanic kids are those that get less
education and less parent supervision,
they are too young to be in the street and wear no shirt and talk like
that -

the have no fear n a group and no sense of boundaries -

manhattan ave @ broadway.
one said some of them dont go to school

and after reading about all these gang related homicides in williamsburg
in the past few weeks

social services? social workers?

pix - awesome color | cop car crash | block parties | rara marching band |

50 image slideshow

http://picasaweb.google.com/stefanog/AwesomecolorFlatbush/photo#s5228466328361282050

sometimes I shoot for local brooklyn papers for quick cash and bike exercise.
politicians / get togethers / news stuff.
-
during the summer block parties are the thing happening in brooklyn on sunny weekends -

i once attended a lecture by this photographer Bill Owens that made an amazing book called "suburbia"
from his newspaper work in the 70s
http://www.billowens.com/#a=0&at=0&mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=0&p=4

these assignments remind me of that book.
-----
this saturday my itinerary included ft greene , prospect heights, canarsie, flatbush.

the more you get closer to the ocean the nicer the streets look.
green blocks - neatly trimmed hedges, yards with flowers and plants.

middle class gatherings that are more about sharing food, sitting in the yards, letting the kids play in the street.

the parties closer to the heart of flatbush
where people live in apartment buildings on narrower blocks
the music is louder - people drink beer -
the street basketball is intense
and i can see some of these kids eventually playing in a pro team in a few years.

- it is a good training for me sometimes to try to make something look exciting even if it is bland -
but i need always to get some shots for myself - the papers have not so much use for close ups / details or pictures where people don't look happy / smiling/ having a good time.
but i am always drawn to the details of the faces -
something that would look good full page maybe.
--
an undercover police car was speeding and crashed into a red car driven by an older man.
red and green gas spilled on the street -
no one was really hurt -
it could have been worse.
a cop had a taser gun on his belt -
and a regular gun too.
quietly the NYPD started carrying these yellow plastic electric shock stun gun
meant to disable people but sometimes produced lethal consequence.

---
there is an old dutch cemetery and victorian houses off east 21st st / church ave / flatbush ave -
looks like somewhere in northern europe - somewhere a few centuries old

--

i quickly rode to the knitting factory to catch awesome color -
was tired -
had to drink a late night coffee
and the show was tight and loud
a pixieish girl backstage was wearing some home made earplugs that looked like some fashion accessory
--
stopped by prospect park
the rara bands playing as usual -
now it is easier to take photos
people are not so suspicious of me anymore -
so i can focus on getting new shots - just find different ways - perspectives - approaches.

--
[here is a clip i shot]
http://www.vimeo.com/1418684



--
bye
stefano

Lil Rich RIP - victim of gang violence. Prospect Park Rara - Coney Island

click here for a slideshow. 36-something images

report related to photos
http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/31/28/31_28_bm_blotter_breakout.html
aftermath
http://www.pixxiestails.com/archives/2008/07/shooting_in_williamsburg_brooklyn_7122008.html

-----
unexpected -
biking to Manhattan
i make a different turn on

south 3rd street @ Havemeyer -

artist Kat is finishing a mural -
a few nights earlier Lil-Rich age 22 was shot in the face
for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

a fight between 2 groups started at the Giglio fest and the commotion
moved south.
Lil Rich walked to see what was happening
and got hit by a bullet shot by a 15 / 16 year old kid.
when he was on the ground they also tried to stab him.

His grieving neighbors said he was a good kid. not a gang kid - not a
drug dealer.

Ernesto a long time resident of South 3rd st told me there is still some
gang activity.

But nothing like 20 years ago when the whole neighborhood was divided
into Puerto Rican, Dominican , Black gangs and you could not go on the
wrong block.

Now there is tension between the kids of South 3rd and those of South 9th.

---

Prospect Park

I am tired after having rode all day in the heat to coney island -
Manhattan and so on and having shot the Siren festival for the Voice -

3 Rara bands are playing

The trumpet are made with sheet metal -
each trumped has only one note -
so some musicians old 3 or 4 in different length.

they have some sort of formation when they march.

a lady with a white headbands lights candles and incense
while a band is playing a Petro vodou tune.


---
coney island -

siren festival -
it took me longer than expected the stop at the canal street post office.

i have 50 minutes to get to coney island -
it is maybe 95 degrees -
and i get to the siren festival 5 minutes early
i rode as fast as i could in the scorching heat
sometimes i had to look down to let more air flow into my helmet.

i drink half a bottle of water and i pour half of it on my head and neck -
and i am up on stage shooting
the L-Carnitine has been a wonder -
i recuperate fast
i just wish i was wearing swim trunks rather than jeans
and i keep alternating Gatorades and beer
the music
it is better than last year
but Stephen Malkmus is so loud that i cant hear the music.

-
after the show -
wish someone could watch my stuff - and swim in the ocean -
but after all
coney island
the beach
looks like a dump
people leave all sort of trash.
i wonder how can they leave the beach like that.

4th of july - sonic youth / rara band

click here for 99 photo slideshow on picasa

http://picasaweb.google.com/stefanog/July4thSonicYouthRara/photo?authkey=bKTqlQMLtxo#s5219743772306463042
4th of july 2008
between prospect park brooklyn
and battery park in lower manhattan

the radio predicted rain
and possibly storms

in prospect park
i was invited by the haitian rara band people for a barbecue -
it is early
i see trays with marinated chicken -
take a few shots

at 2 45 i start riding to manhattan to catch the feelies the opening band -

riding over the brooklyn bridge is insane with all the distracted
pedestrian tourists invading the bike lane

I get a crew pass from sonic youth's tour manager -
there are some issues with the passes -

the "artists" can't go to the VIP / guest section that has slight;y
better free food -
pulled pork and mac and cheese -
and with the crew pass I can go just everywhere!

the feelies look aged after all these years but they sound just the same.
after all they disappeared for 20 years or so.

sonic youth sound great
i like these summer open air loose and fun shows -
like a picnic in the park with old friends -
hanging out outside rather than in a cramped windowless room backstage
with too much bread and cold cuts.

at 8 I ride back to brooklyn hoping i can make it across the bridge
before they close it for the fireworks / safety.

I see cops and yellow tape at the entrance of the brooklyn bridge.
"i have to ride to brooklyn" i tell a cop -
he asks me for ID to prove i live there and
i am free to go.

the bridge is deserted and i see the macy's fireworks barge being pushed
by a tugboat.

I ask 3 cops if i can take their photo at the roadblock
but the captain tells me photography is not allowed on the brooklyn
bridge "because of 9/11].
he looks around for a sign to confirm what he is saying
but I can only see one that states "NYPD video surveillance on the bridge".
I tell him that probably every year the tourists that visit the bridge
take millions of photos and if i were a terrorist i would probably use a
concealed video camera instead.

I see a girl walking up on the bridge pushing a stroller with her kid to
see the fireworks.

I ask her how did she get thru
"my boyfriend is a cop!"
she replies with a smile.

prospect park
there are 2 big rara bands playing near parkside and flatbush avenue -
by the pond -

this vodou lady introduces me to some musicologist that is studying
haitian drumming -

there is a guy playing melodies on a regular trumpet -
sounds like a vocal part.
it gives some sort of jazz flavor -

--
i go to rehab - the new old club on avenue b and
3rd st

thurston moore is playing with 3 kids from northhampton mass -
2 guitars
2 drum kits

symmetric on the stage -
sometimes furious

feels like 2 channels of a stereo
competing and blending in

--
have to weed thru 12 GB of stuff 1300 images
down to 450 now -

been taking L-Carnitine supplement for a month
helps me focus -
helps me ride miles and miles with less fatigue
makes it all easier -
and i feel i dont need coffee as much anymore
energy without the nervousness and the crash of starbucks cups