No Answer Is Still An Answer

Friday, April 23, 2010

Nyle x Naysayers @ Santos Party House

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

WCG: Ultimate Gamer Season 2

I have a lot to say about competitive gamers, gaming culture and the gaming industry. Perceptions of what is real, what is valuable and what is sellable are obviously subjective. But this weekend, I got a strong confirmation that my perceptions and beliefs are not only valid and evident, but also that they are shared.

World Cyber Games held open call auditions for their second season of Ultimate Gamer this weekend, and I went to shoot some portraits. I was excited to see so many people I already knew. And thrilled to meet even more for the first time. Different than a tournament, this gathering was more like a convention. Many people knew each other already, or had a friend in common. Some even met people they'd only watched, heard about, played against or talked to online. And there was a genuine sweetness to the thrill they got from actually getting to wait around in the same room as someone with in-circuit notoriety.

And yet, these connections were totally accessible. There was no autograph signing. No crowds. Just like minded individuals hanging out. In fact, the great equalizer, is that they all were trying, hoping (some with better chances than others) to make it onto this show. A show that, with all it's debatable shortcomings, or canny networkiness, has the best chance of pinning its thumb down on the beginning of a new era for pro gaming and the gamer-as-celebrity-athlete.

That chance rests less in big name sponsorships and high-profile brand exclusivity than it does in the fostering and presentation of gamers as a community. Not a union, yet. Not a demographic. And certainly not a stereotype. But an intelligent, fun loving and semi-serious group of diverse human beings. Relatable and with personal drive and feelings beneath the base coat of "ass kicking". There are interesting stories there.

Okay, I could go on and on. Please look for upcoming video vignettes that I also shot this weekend. I think they can speak better than I can.

Many thanks to all the excellent people who sat for portraits and interviews this weekend. I look forward to seeing you all again soon.

hatperson

shidosha

robskii

rivington

scan

seltzer

royallance

laxkeeno

shift

jorel

paola

kaze angel

stryfe

wizard

paul santoro

phire

hotboy

xyanyde

rip

witwix

rxy

hatperson

commando

Friday, December 11, 2009

RUMPUS VIDEO, COTN

So it's finally done. And boy, did I do a lot of learning on this one. But I'm pleased with it.

Please enjoy the debut VIDEO for Children of the Night , as well as the debut video for- me. Do I need to come up with a director's pseudonym now?

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

The Yes Men

The Yes Men are hard to explain. If you don't already know them, you can check out some of their exploits here. But when I heard they were staging another event, I decided to get involved. And I figured, if I was going to get involved, I'd go whole hog, and show up at my designated meet up point at 4am, rather than waiting it out till later in the morning.

Our task was to hand out newspapers that had compelling information about global warming. The papers happened to look a lot like The New York Post. We ran into a little bit of resistance in front of the Time Warner building. But with a little classic passive resistance and conscientious objection one of my new "delivery buddies", Dakin Hart, gave me a good lesson in a type of activism that I felt like I had missed by decades. That, if nothing else, made the whole day worth it.

And also the fat cat with the pipe who threw away the paper, and then proceeded to try to talk shop with me about my camera.

Dakin Hart

We explained that this was different than the Post he was already carrying. A supplement.

Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival

After my boys Children of the Night qualified at Brooklyn Bodega's "Show and Prove" to perform at the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival, I decided to join them to document their experience. I saw some of my favorite artists, and made a few new ones as well.