KARIN + RAOUL EXCLUSIVE {GARY BRECKHEIMER}
Posted by lyle | Filed under Art + Design, News + Events, Photography
Photography and words by Lyle Shanahan
Breckheimer at Paul Brown’s “The Space” Photography studio in the Chelsea Market building.
Gary Breckheimer can be a little intimidating upon first glance (he admittedly says he can “look scary”). But much like “The Dude” from The Big Lebowski (he does resemble Jeff Bridges) he comes off as a foul-mouthed but kind man whom you’d be proud to say is your friend. He relies on keeping his “edge” sharp to maintain the aesthetic for which he has become known, almost exclusively photographing nude women. But the emotion he evokes with each of his images is always fresh and unique. Breckheimer takes “90%” of his photos in the street – but does not solely rely on the unknown variables that come with street photography. Instead, Breckheimer calculates and plans every element of a shoot possible before executing an image – visiting a location numerous times to factor in potential hiccups: lighting situations, shadows, security issues, traffic, the demographic of an area at certain times, and so on. However, As one can imagine, once a naked woman is thrown into a public setting there are bound to be some results and consequences that one can simply not foresee . Breckheimer has dealt with a number of instances where the neanderthalic behaviors of men have become an issue while he is working with a female model in public. The severity of these scenarios vary from being followed in cars, to creeps masturbating from across the street (the latter didn’t seem to bother him). In one instance at on on-ramp in L.A, Breckheimer had to use the intimidation of his own bodily mass, and the mass of his Nikon F3 (approximately a 25lb camera) to ask some douche-bag in a Porsche to leave the scene of a shoot, kindly telling the persistent pervert “I think it’s time for you to leave”.
A duplicate of “Fresh meat” and “Numbers” shown side by side. You can find these (hopefully they’re still up) also at Washington between 13th and 14th st.
Tags: Gary Breckheimer, Nudes, Photography, street art
THE NAKED CITY by {GARY BRECKHEIMER}
Posted by Raoul | Filed under *G A L L E R Y
Photography by Gary Breckheimer - The View
Gary Breckheimer’s exhibit provides a sample of his work and a selection of the photographs from his new book “The Naked City”. Gary’s book designed by John Lin contains over 80 of the photographs that were taken in New York over the last 15 years from graffiti covered mailboxes in front of the Channel store to the taxi stand at Grand Central Station.
As an artist, Gary’s goal is to create a photograph where the story, the meaning is not immediately obvious, but photos that lure viewers back for deeper consideration. Hence, shooting on location allows him to capture a provocative perspective of reality, capturing an unexpected, uninhibited moment of man in his environment. This is why there is an element of the unexpected, mixed with an overtone of solitude yet erotica.
Tags: Blurb, Book, Exhibit, Gary Breckheimer, Photography, The Naked City
