Between Frames - July 2024
I hope these frames are as hot as your summer has been.
Welcome back!
July came and went so quickly. I truly feel like I barely had any time to create art this month. A quick reminder before I get started:
My paid subscribers are about to receive their first print this month. If you want to help support my art, all for the price of a coffee each month, you’ll be able to receive a print (the one below is for July) each month.
New York City
Now that we are living (*temporarily*) in Northern NJ, we have been making trips into NYC every few days. It’s been nice, but hard. Nice because we get to spend extended time in our favorite city, but hard because it’s not permanent.
We deeply miss New York City, even though (and because) we live 30min away.
This month, I’ve approached shooting in the city differently. I believe that the images I’ve made more closely align with the story the city tells. Often, the images I have made only show a fraction of the true story. Hopefully, these frames are getting closer to the true feeling of NYC. Here’s a few:
My friend (that I’ve known on social media for a while), Heechan, came to NYC this month and we hung out in the city for a few days.
Part of our adventures was our trip on the Staten Island Ferry, a first for me (shocking lol). Truly, it’s the one of the best free things to do in NYC.
Here’s a portrait of Heechan, plus a portrait of a man on the Staten Island Ferry that we loved.
All in all, the work that I am starting to create of New York feels more real to me. New York is a haven for photographers, where it’s very easy to shoot the same things day after day or to shoot the same things as the next person.
Telling the story of the city through my eyes is my goal and I finally feel like I am breaking into that. I think part of it is having New York be a more regular part of my life. We are there every Sunday at least (not to mention the 1-2x other times we usually are there per week), providing me with regular opportunities to document it.
I don’t know what will come of these photos. Maybe one day I’ll create a book or maybe I’ll release them in some collection. Until then, I’m going to be faithful in the shooting and story-telling, seeking to grow and to learn throughout the process.
If something from these images really stood out to you, I’d love to hear about it. Let me know in the comments!
Ocean City, New Jersey
Paloma and I took a few days and went down to Ocean City, NJ (OCNJ) to visit our friend, Paige. It was my first time on the famed Jersey Shore and truthfully, it wasn’t at all like what has been portrayed on TV/social media. The Jersey shore does have it’s parts of glitz and glamour (looking at you, AC), but it’s also full of quiet ocean towns.
To build up my “By the Water” project (check out the last issue if you don’t know what this is), I shot a lot of images here in OCNJ to fill in some gaps. Here are some of my favorites:
I’ve been really inspired by the work of Jason Kummerfeldt, more commonly known as Grainy Days on YouTube. Check out his work here:
Jason heavily utilizes people in his images (especially in the project linked above), not as subjects but as tools to show scale, scenery, or atmosphere. I am not a portrait photographer, that’s not me. The method that Jason uses is one that I am starting to implement in my story-telling. It’s a method that plays well with my strengths (landscape work) without forcing me into my weaknesses (portrait work), while also providing more life & humanity to my images.
Here are some more frames:
As with the work I’ve made in NYC, I’d love to hear your thoughts & what speaks to you in the comments below or via email/text. Always feel free to reach out!
I’m heading to Cape Cod this week to visit a super talented friend, Robert von Thaden. He creates some beautiful work in the Cape, and is an inspiration for my “By the Water” project. I can’t wait to share the images that I make with you.
In the meantime, I hope that each of you has a beautiful next few weeks!
Peace & blessings,
-Chase
Wow, I love it all, Chase. Upper West Side with it's repeating lines, B&W and the rain and lone umbrella has a very soothing vibe for me. I like all of the water pics and the crowded beach scene is just fun. Lots to stare at for a while in these. Love hearing about your fun outings past and future. Thankful. Can't wait to get my print!