ars magna studio - photography blog» compelling scenes from history

dies caniculares

allana — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 21:50:36 +0000

Last day of August. Students moving in. Lacie, one of our favorite dog neighbors is moving out. Yankees are in town for a critical series. The neighborhood is energized with the promise of a new semester, a possible post season. Perfect summer night.

Boston Harbor Islands | Peddocks Island

allana — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:36:17 +0000

My summer 2011 bucket list is a mix of the reasonably achievable and the pretty ridiculous (the likelihood I get to have a make out dance party with Mayer Hawthorne possibly being the most remote). Having worked all weekend, and moved the studio to it’s new swanky address-impressive location, I decided to give myself Monday off to check one thing off my list: seeing Peddocks Island.

Like every kid funneled through the Boston Public Schools, I toured George’s Island a class field trip. That memory of elementary school, Shutter Island and Wickett’s Remedy (a book that uses marginalia written by ghosts!) were about the only things I knew about the Boston Harbor Islands.

Park ranger, islander, and new friend Suzanne, gave me and my parents a fascinatingly detailed history while walking us through most of the island’s five drumlins. I took a ton of photographs. Clearly, I’m ever obsessed with the New Topographics landscapes. Some things just don’t change.

Others wilt away. It was not a little heartbreaking to see so many little cottages silently breaking down in the elements. Stunning to see the remaining military buildings, batteries and housing camped along the edge of the island. It was the perfect Monday vacation. We even took a little swim, with a view of the city as a backdrop. Bliss achieved.

FERshop!

allana — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 18:47:53 +0000

A few weeks ago, Ad Hoc hosted a workshop by Mexican photographer Fer Juaristi. Fer’s work has been in my reader for the past few years, and I was delighted to host him at the studio. He is charming and earnest and an incredible photographer. We worked with a great couple, who are getting married in Mexico next year.

Bring on the hard light! I say. Bring it!

where have I been all my life?

allana — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:30:23 +0000

Apparently I am spending way too much computer time reading this blog, or that blog and consuming various McSweeney’s columns, than than blogging my own work. It’s not as though I haven’t been shooting my ass off (tangentally I wish that photography actually did burn calories, specifically summer beer drinking calories).

But really. Really!

Big movement impending. For the best, I am dreaming big. Feeling for the first time a while creatively and spiritually engaged (yes, I have noticed that those two like tend to hang out together).

Sometimes I am a dreamer. Sometimes the pragmatic, snarky facade cracks and I am wild-eyed with possibility.

in case you forgot what spring should look like

allana — Wed, 18 May 2011 15:29:18 +0000

Portraits | Boston Derby Dames | Boston Massacre’s Shellby Shattered

allana — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:01:05 +0000

Shellby Shattered

Portraits | Boston Derby Dames | Boston Massacre’s Lil’ Paine

allana — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:07:10 +0000

Lil’ Paine

Portraits | Boston Derby Dames | Boston Massacre’s KrushPuppy

allana — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 17:01:32 +0000

KrushPuppy

Portraits | Boston Derby Dames | Boston Massacre’s Ivanna Shankabitch

allana — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 17:05:32 +0000

Ivanna Shankabitch

Portraits | Boston Derby Dames | Boston Massacre’s Harlot Fevah

allana — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:04:52 +0000

Harlot Fevah