People - Photography Insights of Gary Csuk

Monique

Monique is a freelance stylist in for the day at the studio. When I asked if I could take her picture, she said that she hated her makeup. I said that I loved her sweater, so we found a compromise that worked for both of us. We luckily had exactly 5 minutes at the end of the day to set the black background, shoot, and say our goodbyes.

Blown Out x 2

Damn kids don't know how rough we used to have it. If we wanted the knees blown out of our pants, we had to work, play, and destroy those pants for years. Then, when we would FINALLY get them broken in, Mom would throw them out and get us new ones. Nowadays, they are MADE this way! AARRGGHH!!

Now get off my lawn!

Big shout out to my friend Aimee Ventura. She is as great of a person as she is a stylist, and that's saying a lot. And she is always in the best of moods, and makes everyone around her happier. I envy that (but I'm not sure if I trust it).

Red and Blue Shoes

Jae - Think For Yourself

Profile Shadow One

Test for a friend of a friend who also happens to be a purse designer. I had to test for work, she wanted to get some photography done for her new bags... A marriage made in Heaven.

Vapo-Rex

365 days. Some days just HAVE to be fun. And it's good to have co-workers that can go along with the gag. Thanks, buddy!

Calvin Smoking

When I asked Calvin if I could take a portrait, he had no problem having his picture taken, but he hit me with the classic "I hope I don't break your camera. I ain't the most beautiful person."

I replied with "Why do you think I'm on THIS side of the camera? Nobody is asking to take my picture. Besides, you're a hell of a lot nicer than a lot of people I know, and that's more important." And I wasn't just being nice. Calvin is super soft-spoken and ALWAYS grateful for anything I can do.

He asked if he could smoke while I took the picture. Since I'm a nut about people being as natural as possible, I certainly couldn't ask him to put it down.

Nike ACG Look 1 V1

Had an opportunity to do some testing with some Nike All Condition Gear (ACG). A fun day of playing with wind and rain.

Portrait of Lamont

Two Minutes From Tomo

OK, maybe 5. But I like alliteration.

Tucker

I was going to be stupid and sophomoric and make a juvenile "organ joke", but I have too much respect for a couple of things. First, I love the shot, and I'm not going to "cheapen it" like that. Second, I know how seriously Tucker (first name: Chris) takes his music. As far as I know, he's been a pretty serious musician just about his whole life and I don't want to be insulting about something that he has such reverence for. I know he probably would say he didn't care, but I know how I would feel if the tables were turned.

Over the Back

Test for a friend of a friend who also happens to be a purse designer. I had to test for work, she wanted to get some photography done for her new bags... A marriage made in Heaven.

Rhonda

I met Rhonda for the first time today at work. Very sweet, I was pleasantly surprised when she agreed to let me take her picture. When I saw her hair and her profile, I knew exactly how I wanted the picture to look.

This is after an extremely hectic, long, crazy day. 10 minutes to set up, she sat down, and we were done in 5 minutes, tops. In my opinion, I think she should be on this side of the camera more often. I'm always happy when the picture turns out better than I had hoped.

An

No, I did not forget part of the title. Our stylist's name is An (like "on"). Very good at her job, very sweet, and very flattered and understanding when I asked if I could get a picture.

Nike ACG Look 2 V2

Had an opportunity to do some testing with some Nike All Condition Gear (ACG). A fun day of playing with wind and rain.

Nike ACG Look 2 V1

Had an opportunity to do some testing with some Nike All Condition Gear (ACG). A fun day of playing with wind and rain, and since we (me, the art director, and the stylist) had some extra time with the model and make-up artist, we decided to keep shooting.

Trading Places

There is a line in the movie "Trading Places", spoken by Jamie Lee Curtis to Dan Aykroyd. "These hands haven't ever done an honest days work. A manicure, even." (I'm paraphrasing).

I've always prided myself on my work ethic. Suffice to say, I very rarely feel like I didn't give an honest days work for an honest days pay.

Portrait of the Artist and His Art

We all know that the highest compliment one artist can give to another is "I wish I had done that." I find myself saying that a lot when I look at the work of Larry Tuckman.

The piece he is holding is one that he recently displayed at an art show. I had seen it online before, but I absolutely fell in love with it when I saw the print. I told Larry I would NEVER hang another photographers work in my place, but in this case, I would gladly make an exception.

When he came in to work today, he had the picture printed and framed. I wouldn't have the temerity to show the whole piece (in my mind, that reeks of plagiarism), but I felt I had to pay some kind of homage to someone whose work I truly respect.

Projected #1

Shel Profile

Squirrel Portrait

I never realized Squirrel had gone so gray. Then again, I had really never seen him except in Winter, and he was always wearing a knit hat. Even though he still seems very youthful to me, I can imagine that living on the streets is not the easiest life, and can take its toll on a person.

NIKE ACG LOOK 2 V6

Had an opportunity to do some testing with some Nike All Condition Gear (ACG). A fun day of playing with wind and rain.

Projected #5

Green Chair One

Test for a friend of a friend who also happens to be a purse designer. I had to test for work, she wanted to get some photography done for her new bags... A marriage made in Heaven.