Oh Face

Oh Face, originally uploaded by margotwood.

Took this at my office one morning. Thought I would try and see if I could make the little dudes "come alive".

For those that are interested to know, no external flash was used on this. Natural lighting only with some tweaks in the post production.

Family Portrait

Family Portrait, originally uploaded by margotwood.

Jason & the Scream mask modeled by Sean Willis and Corey Huntington. Available now at fine retailers.

Post Process: Oh man, so much was done to this photo. So many little things. Still not completely satisfied with it. Perhaps an alternate version will appear soon.

Oh Captain, My Captain

Oh Captain, My Captain, originally uploaded by margotwood.

My roommate is obsessed with Captain America, so this was my gift to him. Taken at some Comic book store in Midtown. Anyone else got a favorite superhero I should pay homage to? Let me know in the comments section.

Post Process: Cross Processing; slight blur; increased brightness.

T Minus Wha?

T Minus Wha?, originally uploaded by margotwood.

Looks like they are missing a "T". They can have mine, I don't use it.

This photo was taken while out on an excursion in the West Village. Any guesses as to what this was? Since I'm in the middle of my photographic slump, I don't think this is my finest work. But someone once told me that you have to wade through the mud to get to the good stuff. Just keep taking pics - eventually, you'll get you're groove back.

Post Process: Increased levels (to bring out the vivid colors); slight gaussian blur, slight vignette; slight unsharpen mask

The Grass Is Always Greener....

The Grass Is Always Greener...., originally uploaded by margotwood.

This photo holds a special place in my heart for 2 reasons:

1. My grandfather took this photograph in 1956 in Nagoya, Japan.
2. Of the three white children on the fence (facing away from the photographer), the one of the right is my mother.

While I did not take this photo, I did restore it. Before I restored it, it was dark, scratched and lacked decent lighting. I will try to post the original soon but thought you might enjoy this photo anyways. I am proud to say that I definitely inherited my photographic gene from my grandfather.

You Are On Camera

You Are On Camera, originally uploaded by margotwood.

Behind some ghetto building in East Walnut Hills. I found the message to be quite ironic. This photo was selected to be on the cover of American University's Folio Literary mag winter issue. Once I get a copy of the mag, I'll take some pics to show you!

Post Process: Cross Process

I've Been Diagnosed....With Photographer's Block

It's winter. There's barely any sunlight. It is negative one million degrees outside. I, my friends, am in the middle of my first photography "writer's block". I attribute this affliction to various causes:

• New job is demanding more attention and time.
• New York City's self-proclaimed "concrete jungle" isn't as inspiring as one would think
• Winter months lack quality lighting - I can't get out and snap a few pics after work anymore because its too dark.
• Lack of inspiration.

People have told me to just start browsing through other photographer's portfolios for inspiration, but I am firm believer in NEVER doing that. The problem with doing that for inspiration, is I end up just taking a photograph that is a modified version of what someone else did.

Yes, I am aware that most great photographs have already been thought up, but if I don't look at other people's work, I at least feel my own work is organic.

That being said, I am asking for your help. I need ideas people! I need inspiration!! So, if you're a fan of my work and have any thoughts for me or if you live in NYC and know of some good, non-concrete locales I can go to, please leave your comments here. I appreciate it.

Sesame Street Walker

Sesame Street Walker, originally uploaded by margotwood.

Elmo is busy working the streets.

Post Process: I've been told to stop telling you all what I do to each photo. It has been compared to a magician giving away his secrets.

What do you think? Do you like knowing what I do or would prefer it to remain a mystery?

[Because of the reponse, I'll give some more detail about this photo. I took this as a candid. I only took one shot of him as I was walking by because there were way too many people around (being right next to Rockefeller Center and all). In post process I just did some simple stuff, no cross processing. Just a little fixed exposure, increased levels and used unsharpen mask to to sharpen it up a bit and voila!]

Power Girl

Power Girl, originally uploaded by margotwood.

Taken at a comic book store in Midtown.

Post Process: Vignette, increased levels, omni slight yellow lighting.

Holiday Card Request

Hello my lovely readers. In the spirit of the season, I am going to be sending holiday cards to all of my readers who want one. This is my way of showing my appreciation for your continued support and acknowledgement that I totally rock (JK!). But seriously, thank you thank thank you!

If you'd like a holiday card from moi, please email me your name and address to margotwood@gmail.com.

Happy Holidays!

Eat Santa

Eat Santa, originally uploaded by margotwood.

Santa never tasted so good until Kinder made him just way a Santa should be: dark and delicious. Mmmm, break me off a piece of that.

Post Process: Cross process (I'm addicted to it, I need help) and that's it!

Ps- Those who live in New York, head on over to Economy Candy in the LES where this was taken.

I'm officially published!! (But don't worry, I'm still Faux)

Greeting ladies and germs, I would like to announce that I am officially published! That's right, there is one of my photographs in an actual, real book. Thanks to the Capture Cincinnati contest, 4 of my babies (aka photos) were selected to be printed in the 2009 book.

The book release party was held this past Wednesday and while I unfortunately couldn't make it to the party, I have some wonderful friends who snapped some pics of my pics in the book. Thanks to Adam Sutherland for taking the photos for me!

The four photos that were chosen are:

• Blues Tubes
• I Haven't Been Working On The Railroad
• One and Two and...
• Cha Ching!

Guest Fauxto: Jeremy Criswell

agfa1, originally uploaded by jay3737.

I just had to include this photo since it won the Arts, Culture & Food category for this years Capture Cincinnati contest! (Don't know what Capture Cincinnati is? It's okay, I'll explain in a later post).

Not only must I post this photo because of its supreme awesomeness, but I almost must post this photo because Jeremy is my Obi-Wan (or should I say Fauxbi-Wan?!? Haha!). Mr. Criswell was my photographic mentor while we worked together in Cincinnati and his photography style is nothing short of stellar.

He and his wife have an awesome photo gig going, seriously, if you live in Cincinnati and want your family portraits, senior photos, baby pictures (whatever!) taken I highly suggest using them. Tell them The Real Fauxtographer referred you and you'll get a 10% discount.

See more of Jeremy's work here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jay3737/show/

Head over to Gabi + Jeremy Photography: http://www.gabiandjeremyphoto.com/

The East Village is Dead!

The East Village is Dead!, originally uploaded by margotwood.

For those of you who were not aware, just wanted to formally let you know that the East Village is dead. Okay, it's not really dead- in fact it is very much alive. This is just another example of my obsession with graffiti & found typography.

Post Process: Increased colors + slight vignette at the bottom.

Fugly 002

Modern Warfare

Modern Warfare, originally uploaded by margotwood.

While on my recycling through old photos kick, I redid this hard hat photo taken in this abandoned building I snuck into last spring. This is one of my earlier photos when I was messing around with various styles, so it is a little different than my normal M.O.

Post Process: Slight color tweat, added gaussian blur (except for a few areas), very minor vignette.

Rock Gods

Rock Gods, originally uploaded by margotwood.

It is a rainy, cold Saturday in New York City and instead of taking new pictures I've decided to recycle through some of my old ones. I never really spent any time with my photos from Spain so I decided to give them the attention they deserve. This photo was Ttaken at Montserrat in Barcelona Spain -- a giant monastery sitting high up on a mountain.

Post Process: Channel mixer to give it those rich black and white tones, added a little extra lighting in the center and a vignette and voila! C'est magnifique!

Fugly 001

The very first in the "Fugly Fridays" series. Check my blog every Friday for a new Fugly portrait. The funny part is, my dad mentioned that my fugly face was great but I needed a better "normal" photo. Ha! That's what happens when you stick a camera 5 inches from your face and you use the crappy flash that comes with your own camera.

Post Process: Vignette, reduced saturation, increased exposure (my face on the right is slightly redder than on the left due to the fact that I couldn't stop giggling when I took this photo and my face was all flushed!)

Fugly Fridays

My latest photography series will be known as "Fugly Fridays". Essentially, I want to take 2 pictures of people. The first is a normal close-up, portrait shot that shows how beautiful they are. The following, adjacent photograph will be one of them making the ugliest face possible. Every Friday I will be posting a new portrait of someone who I can get to pose for me. 

Be on the look out this Friday for a new Fugly portrait. The first one will be my own!!

Guest Photo: Lisa Sullivan

Attack of the Killer Tomato...Soup, originally uploaded by deadbetty.

Lisa Sullivan is one of those annoying photographers that takes great pictures all the time. I mean it, all the time. Every single photo is dripping with awesomeness that many photographers wish they could match but fail to do. She is a total FAUXtographer just like me and she has been a big influence on my work since I met her through the Capture Cincinnati contest. PLEASE check out her work on Flickr, she's kick-ass.

Here's what she writes about this photo:

"Did you know that's one of my VERY FIRST pictures I ever
took as like, a photographer wanna be? versus just taking a
disposable camera out on girls night out? Hahahahahaha..and
one of the first I ever processed. And I took it at Jungle
Jim's in Fairfield and I didn't know you weren't allowed to
take pictures in there. Woops.

Processing wise, since I had just started using flickr when
I uploaded the shot, I just hit the "edit photo" button and
found my way to picnik, which I love.

I switched it over to black and white first, cropped out
the ceiling background, then started messing with the Holga
and Infrared options. Really that's pretty much it."