metroblog

Please bear with us as we undergo blog changes!!

Christmas came early for Metrodaylight North this year….

Daylight North just received a shipment of BRAND NEW APPLIANCES which have been installed & are ready to use!

Boiling will be a breeze with the brand new RANGE

Cakes will be rising in a flash in the  brand new DUAL OVENS  (oh, & that makes it 3x OVENS if you were counting)

Lettuce will be crisp in the brand new REFRIGERATOR

Ice cream will chill out in the brand new FREEZER

Popcorn will burst with a quickness in the brand new MICROWAVE

Interested in cooking with us?  Drop us a line:  bookings@daylightstudio.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last week, Metromotion was in Vieques, Puerto Rico shooting with Erez Sabag for L’Bel…

Weather was a sunny 85 degrees each day, as the team hit the beach and open seas in an 85′ sailboat in Vieques Sound.  Metromotion provided local production support  in the form of accommodations, locations, flights, catering and the fancy-shmancy chartered sailboat (see below) for the crew of 12.  Luis Rios, senior producer with Metromotion, oversaw the project locally–where his spanish-speaking skills came in quite handy.

Check out some behind the scenes photos:

 

 

And no, no one brought any Jello unfortunately.

Twenty-five years later,  The Cosby Show’s strong moral values still holds true with Americans, and Essence Magazine chose to celebrate that in its current issue.  The Cosby Show, debuting in 1984, was a step in the right direction for racial equality in television.  It brought a successful and loving family to the airwaves, showing everyone that African-American families could be affluent, well-educated, caring  and go through the same issues as any other family of any color.

Members of the original show came together in  May for Essence Magazine’s  cultural section shot by photographer Garth Aikens. 

 In attendance were Cosby himself, Phylicia Rashad ( “Claire”), Keisha Knight-Pulliam ( “Rudy”), Raven-Symone (“Olivia”) and Malcolm-Jamal Warner (“Theo”).  At the studio, laughter resonated through the walls, as the cast reminisced about their time together on the award-winning sitcom.  Cosby, in rare-form entertained the staff with antics.  “We were definitely a little bit starstruck,” notes Taylor Hingston, Equipment Manager.  “I mean come on, it’s Bill Cosby.  We grew up at home with him and his family!”

As Bill Cosby left the studio you couldn’t help but think, “What happened to all of those sweaters?” 

Just when you thought that digital photography couldn’t progress any further, some brainiacs at Stanford bust out some new technology.

Introducing the open-source camera, dubbed “Frankencamera“, a piece of technology where programmers can fine-tune a camera’s response to light and motion–outside of Photoshop.  Without getting too technical (algorithms, blah blah blah), this means that multiple images of a particular scene can be taken, processed to a particular exposure level and then recombined into a composite image. 

But wait, can’t you already do this on a computer?  Yeah, sure.  But in a camera… on-site?  That’s what Marc Levoy, a professor of Computer and Electrical Engineering  at Stanford University is looking to do with Frankencamera.

“Some cameras have software development kits that let you hook up a camera with a USB cable and tell it to set the exposure to this, the shutter speed to that, and take a picture, but that’s not what we’re talking about,” says Levoy. “What we’re talking about is, tell it what to do on the next microsecond  …  or fire the flash, focus a little differently and then fire the flash again — things you can’t program a commercial camera to do.”

He’s aiming to make this platform available to computational photography researchers first.  As for the rest of us normal consumers, we’ll have to wait a bit.  Essentially this technology leaves the photographer with the freedom to be completely experimental.  We’re only a couple of steps closer to making the perfect photograph in-camera.

 Hey nerds, want to know more?  See a little video of what we’re talking about?
Read the full article here:  http://news.stanford.edu/news/2009/august31/levoy-opensource-camera-090109.html

Check out this piece we helped produced for Redbook Magazine;  a special about practical, yet stylish camping products! 

We are especially super fond of the hand-crank blender margarita-maker.

Shot in Prospect Park by Andrew McCaul.  

 

 

 

 

There’s nothing we love more than impeccable style…

Check out the work of Alvaro Salazar;  fashion stylist from the SEDA shoots.  For more than ten years, Alvaro has dressed top models and celebrities alike—most prominently working with Men’s Vogue magazine.  With his knack for trends and eye for detail, he could make a potato sack look like a million bucks.

His work can be found here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We heard that Peter Cincotti is was in town last week, playing at the Highline Ballroom.
Cincotti’s music is a blend of pop, rock, jazz, blues and funk — his album East of Angel Town is like a good read, with each song a unique short story.

Back in 2007, this soulful pianoman shot his music video “Goodbye Philadelphia” here at Daylight Studio.

Since we’re feelin’ a bit nostalgic, we figured we’d show ya the video!

Metromotion is on FACEBOOK. 
Befriend us here. 
Take a gander at the behind the scenes photos, post thoughts on our wall & network with other creative professionals.

Have a great weekend!

Brazilian hair product line SEDA recently teamed up with Brazilian Vogue to create an advertorial.

We were lucky enough to snag some images from photographer Gustavo Zylbersztajn.  Inspired by subdued color and sharp geometrics, Gustavo created some amazing photographs here in NYC. 

Metromotion’s bilingual & Brazilian-born producer Johnny Tybur led the team all over Manhattan to capture an all around city feeling on this 5-day shoot.  We hooked them up with transportation, equipment and permits.  

About the shoot,  Johnny adds  “This team was extremely fun to work with!  We had some difficulties at Giants Stadium trying to work around a huge TV commercial shoot that was going on—and then dealing with rain.  But we found a tunnel for shelter which ended up being a fantastic spot for photographs.”

Zylbersztajn, a native Brazilian, is an architect/engineer turned photographer.  He’s been photographing the past ten years for prominent Brazilian editorial and advertising campaigns.  Saying that Gustavo travels A LOT is an understatement.  You can find him bouncing from Sao Paolo, NYC, London, Amazonia and back again.

Check out Gustavo’s work. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting Burned…

A while back, we gave you a little taste of a shoot we did with Burn Notice star Gabrielle Anwar for Redbook Magazine in Miami.

Here are the tears from the magazine July 2009, shot by Shannon Greer…

 

I know, I know…

We haven’t posted in a good while.  We took a little summer hiatus. 
But don’t worry, we’re back and will be posting a ton of fantastic projects we’ve been working on!

Stay tuned.

Dan Jackson graced us with his presence at Daylight Studio this spring, shooting for Vogue China magazine.  Fabrics flowed freely on Jackson’s simple and elegant backgrounds making for some stunning photos.

 

 

Recently shot! Behind the scenes with Brazilian Vogue & photographer Gustavo Zylbersztajn…

 

 

 

Le Book , one of the most vast sources of information for the fashion, photography and advertising community, just hosted its annual CONNECTIONS trade-show.

This shindig of creatives in different areas of industry were brought together to meet, greet and network. Metromotion helped sponsor the event, and shuttled guests to the Chelsea Art Museum in comfort, style and out of the rain.

While networking we were able to share ideas with both acclaimed and new individuals in the image-creating community.  We were happy to be a part of this resourceful affair and looking forward to the potential CONNECTIONS event in the fall!

Seasons come and go…

Here are some behind-the-scenes images of our last couple of shoots in Miami, before heading back to NYC!
Check out the snapshots from Avon, Lacoste & Redbook Magazine projects.

Artisan Extraordinaire… So very lovely working with Chayo. Her work can be found here…

Jesse Kaufmann – Prop Stylist, Set Design, Zimmermann. His sets are fantasically raw and breathe naturally the air that is abundant during the teamwork that exists in a professional production. Woodchips off the mind that imagines the craftwork.

Jesse Kaufmann is a Production Designer working with the advertising, editorial, commerical and film industries.

His work, along with his contact information, can be found here…

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Behold! The aesthetic barriers have been crossed, the colors have conveyed their love for one another and the geometric shapes have surfaced from the ship-laden sea.

metromotion has launched it’s new website! This ultra-clean design has been actualized with the apical of genius by none other than the New Cruelty.

Be sure to check out the renovated vehicle floor plans on our Fleet section, get a taste of our guns in the Tech and Gear sections, and envy at heaven while perusing over the extra large pics of MetroDaylight studios.

The stars cannot begin to contain their jealousy.

more to come…

I came across an article in the NYT blog The Moment about the opening of the Avedon Fashion exhibit at the International Center of Photography. It started with a simple question: What is the difference between fashion and fine art photography? I pondered on this and headed over to the center last Wednesday to check out for myself the work of Richard Avedon. I was bound to come up with some sort of answer, after all, he is hailed as the man who revolutionized fashion photography and set a precedent for what it is today, even five years after his death.

The two-floor exhibit holds over 175 photos and some original prints that span Avedon’s career, beginning post WWII up until 2000. But what was especially striking was the content of the photos—the use of space and nature to contrast the clothes on the models.

As I emerged from the cool atmosphere of the Photography Center into the hot Weekday afternoon hustle-and-bustle of the city, I felt as if I’d just experienced an epiphany: Avedon’s work isn’t about the luxurious clothing, it’s about using that Perugia shoe or Dior dress as an essential tool to enhance the picture as a whole. The non-sequitur of associating a model wearing a Dior suit while roller skating at the same time is whimsical and indubitably infuses glamour and excitement into fashion.

The Avedon Fashion: 1944-2000 exhibit is easily a must-see if you’re in the area. No pressure though—the exhibit is on-going until September 6th.

For more information about the exhibit or the ICP, go here…

American Salon at Daylight studios

David Milosevich Casting & Consulting brings over two decades of expertise to the production industry and confers a warm reciprocity like none other.

Along with the accomplished agency experience and countless connections, David Milosevich Casting & Consulting properly equips your production through an attentive collaboration process that envisions and interprets the unique needs of the client. It’s about searching, pursuing, and finally discovering the person with just the right look, attitude and expression to compliment a particular project. They are a full-service casting agency that provides both video and digital casting services for print, television and runway shows worldwide. Their clientele entails those such as Avon, Banana Republic and Perry Ellis.

To contact David Milosevich Casting & Consulting, visit their site here…

British sportswear brand Fred Perry recently opened up their Flagship Store in SoHo!

The line brings affordability and class to a range of preppy basics—from clean-cut cotton polos to argyle wool sweaters—all bearing the label’s signature laurel wreath. And for those of you who are looking for something beyond basics, Fred Perry offers a more expensive Limited Edition line, Laurel, which collaborates with various designers to produce contemporary looks founded on the original sportswear.

Take a gander at the new Spring 2009 collection here….

Fred Perry, 133 Wooster St., between Prince and Houston; 212-260-4770

The second annual New York Photo Festival kicked off yesterday in Brooklyn’s DUMBO neighborhood with a plethora of exhibitions, and, naturally, we went to check out the up and coming contemporary artists and trends in photography.

When we arrived at the powerHouse Arena for check-in we received our festival badges, and then immediately began our journey from building to building. With four main exhibition pavilions and several satellite exhibitions peppering the area, every corner turned had something new to look at and take in.

The main pavilions are dedicated to this year’s curators, each housing pieces by several photographers that work together as a whole under the curator’s theme. Such themes included: I don’t really know what kind of girl I am, curated by Jody Quon—a series of photos that conveyed the obstacles girls encounter on the road to womanhood; and All Over the Place!, curated by William A. Ewing—juxtaposing work from both historical figures and contemporary photographers in order to show that fresh ideas don’t necessarily have to come from contemporary work.

In case our eyes needed to take a break from all the hard work of looking at the kaleidoscope of photography on display (not to mention the exercise we were getting from walking around!), we could sit down and relax while listening to one of the several speakers lined up to talk at the St. Ann’s Warehouse, many of them featured photographers themselves. Or, both aspiring and professional photographers could have their work critiqued by experts at the Review Pavilion for a chance to win the NYPH’09 Portfolio Review Award. Whatever the case, there was something planned for everyone.

Needless to say, hours later our visual appetites were satiated by the time we finished making the rounds to each building. One thing’s for sure—if you’re thinking about hitting up the festival you should definitely invest in the weekend pass so you can make the most of the exhibitions and hear the speakers, or at least to get a cool badge with your picture on it. It ends on Sunday, so go, go, go!

For more info, visit the site here….

Profoto, the world’s leading manufacturer of professional-quality electronic flash lighting systems and light shapers, wants to write you a big fat check.

They have officially opened their claim to fame contest that offers a grand prize of $10,000 in Profoto equipment. Yummy. Photographic assistants are invited to submit their work which, if chosen, will appear in numerous magazines as well as on their website.

Enter now through their site located here…

Metromotion is on Facebook.
Find our group here… and our company page here…

Had a lovely time with Oded Shoshan last week.
Beauty has a way of putting everything into a healthy perspective.

His work can be found here…

The weatherman just told me that the next four days in nyc will be adorned with precipitation. Sometimes the weatherman is a liar, but in case he is not, stylin’ boots are the rage.

Below are by Chooka, Burberry and Kamik…

Bar Refaeli, Metromotion and Fox shoot in Miami