I carry my camera everywhere. Sometimes it’s awkward, but I become a walking advertisement for my work. I’ve gained several clients just by chance meeting “so you’re a photographer…” Anyway, last week I went through a little boot camp and shot only monochrome; mainly during a brunch with the ever lovely Mandy. Why shoot B&W? Composition. Where motion picture deviates most from still is composition. There are so many tricks you can get away with in still (gallery above of last week’s practice, lots of examples of “getting away with things”). So back to normal street shots: Finally I kinda get why musicians practice scales.

[ps-gal-flash height=390 width=590]http://www.photoshelter.com/c/benjaminchertoff/gallery/An-Evening-at-the-Lantern:-Bleeker-Street-at-Night/G00004my03.95yBM[/ps-gal-flash]

Alphabet city, where even your shadow is a cartoon.

P.S.: When I need a merchandising deal, I know exactly who I’m going with.

Ryan Keely, October 2009 Penthouse Pet of the Month, models custom-fit latex haut-couture. Photographed December 9, 2009 at the Jacqueline Marie Couture studio in New York City.

Many thanks to Lainie Speiser for letting me tag along for a wild day of fittings, radio shows and lots of frantic cab rides. Click through the image for more of Ryan Keely and Victoria Zdrok.

Dr. Victoria Zdrok; clinical psychologist, sex therapist and Penthouse Pet of the Year, 2004. Photographed in New York City, December 9, 2009, during a fitting at the Jacqueline Marie Couture studio. Click through the image for more of Victoria. 

Sometimes the best shots happen on the way to the main event or, in these cases, while walking home. 

The East Village is full of surprises (click through for more), including a some Hopper-esque holiday charm. Make your holidays a little, ahem, Hoppier, with these custom designed holiday cards exclusively available at my online store in both a glossy and matte finish. And in the spirit of giving, prices start at just $3.29! 

The only thing I did to this image (out of the ordinary) is push the exposure one stop just to get the light spilling onto the street; to burn it in. This image has me pretty much convinced that the Canon EF 24-70mm 1:2.8 L USM is basically the best lens I’ve ever shot with. This is straight from the camera (ok, I added the border, duh). Crisp, soaked with color and just the right contrast. Follow the jump for more images from my 20-minute photo safari up Avenue A. 

This is going in my personal faves collection – any photo with irony deserves a little notice. This one is filled with it. 

This next image I shot inside of Key Bar on 13th between 1st and A. Go there. Atilla, the owner, shot all the artwork himself, and he’s a genius mixologist. Rumor has it Michel Gondry pops in from time to time. (Again, this is straight from the camera.)

I had lots of fun today with the new lens: Canon EF 24-70mm 1:2.8 L USM. It’s purty.

These are always fun shoots. And it fulfills my need for animal companionship without the poop.

Click through to flickr to view in the "original" size (actually 1/2 the original file size, which is a whopping 18K x 4K pixels). 

Custom, limited-run prints available directly from me in a variety of enlargement sizes. Contact me for pricing and availability. 

Custom, limited-run prints are available directly from me in a variety of enlargement sizes. Contact me for pricing and availability.

Copyright 2009, Benjamin Chertoff

The great thing about the wee hours of the morning is that you have the whole city to yourself. 30" exposure alongside the FDR.