There’s definitely something about writing things in light that is super fun. If you have the technology I highly suggest going out and doing this. There are few artist out there saying anyone can go out and do what they do. In this case I am totally saying that anyone can go out and do what I do. All you need is a camera with long exposure settings, darkness, and a hand held light source. There’s a little to learn about ISO, shutter speed, and aperture but most of the editing is done in the camera. Seeing what light situation looks the best. Part of the fun is the anticipation that’s built while creating the image. No matter how many times you write a word, there’s no way to know exactly how it will come out until you preview it. I guess it helps to practice writing words backwards and developing an intuitive understanding of how to space letters but its pretty easy to pick up.

When I was in first grade my teacher would do this thing called sky writing. It’s when you put your finger in the air with your arm stretched out and draw letters and words out. I guess it was a learning technique that was invented to save paper. Beats me. After a while I really got transported back to Mrs. Carters class room. Another nice thing is that there are so many variables taking place and no real way to know if what I’m doing is actually what I’m looking for that I’m able to relax and have fun with it. I look at the shapes that I create and its like the mark making of a child. It is something that I didn’t think I would ever be able to recreate in my own work.

I feel like a cave painter crossed with a graffiti artist. Working in near darkness not fully knowing if what I am creating will turn out as I’ve seen it in my own mind. In the same moment I am working as fast as I can so I can finish before the shutter closes. There are certain settings that definitely allow me some more time but I don’t like taking longer that I need. I find that when I move too slowly some of the life is lost. I think that’s one of the things that makes graffiti so appealing to me. There’s an inherent time limit. The movement has to be instant and instinctual. It’s so refreshing for me to create these things. So often I create things that take days or weeks. I’d like to think I’m present for the creation of those pieces but when I create these photos I have to be present. There’s no other way and I find that I can will myself into the present moment. There’s no other place I’d rather be.

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Some shots from Ka’s most recent show this past Friday at Legion in Williamsburg. If you haven’t heard them play live here’s the next best thing.

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I’ve recently been experimenting with a lot of long exposure shots. Its a fairly new medium for me so I’m trying to learn exactly what I can do with it. I’ve always loved drawing and light so I saw this as a great opportunity to combine the two. This is the beginning of a series of photos but probably not from this angle seeing how a police car drove up to me while I was taking these and told me that I was trespassing and that I would be arrested if I didn’t leave the area. I’m on the lookout for some better/legal locations around the city. The shots are around 20 seconds and there is only so much that one guy can scribble with a bike light in 20 seconds so I imagine that I’ll be working with more people soon to create more elaborate shots. Till then enjoy these pieces. They’re made as intentions to send love and healing to the city in addition to declaring my own love for this city. After coming back from my trip to Mexico it made me really appreciate how awesome it is to live here. It may not be the easiest place to live but there is so much to take advantage of and so many resources that we probably overlook as New Yorkers caught up in our own lives. I still plan on traveling much more in the future but I’m glad to know that the city is my home.

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This is from a series of photos that I took while I was on my recent trip to Mexico. I was taking long exposure photos of the stars which were crystal clear almost every night. Having that view is a privilege I was truly grateful to have. My partner Brooke was taking pictures with her camera as well. I decided to turn the camera away from the heavens to see what she might look like in the starlight. She was viewing photos on her camera and the light illuminated her in a really special way as the stars displayed themselves perfectly behind her. We did a lot of variations until coming to these two shots. They’re about 15 seconds exposure. As the shutter was open I counted out the time as Brooke raised her hands up and down like she was making a snow angel. I really enjoyed the way that it blends her into the rest of the shadows and makes it all the more etherial. Below is another shot from the same series. Many more shots from the trip on the way.

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