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Outtake from a series.

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Wishing outside- to be, no more speculation in outright irritation. The wall looked a blight; washed in the permanent white.  She noticed herself scratching herself with the pencil she uses at her desk. "Who uses a genuine old school pencil these days anyway", she self consciously derided herself.  Snapping out of that thought suddenly, she turned and glimpsed. "Oh, gosh", she wrote the words in her mind. "Oh it's so hard for such as this girl's generation." "I'll peek", she proclaimed- still in utter selfish silence.  "I'll peek to the bright outdoors, even if only through a manufactured plastic slit." No one uses a #1 pencil at the office.  Sigh.

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Do you know what a Zymurgist is? Zymurgy is the applied science of fermentation.  In the context of this casual series, however, it is focused on the art and passion about dedicated home (custom) beer brewers. Like many photographic projects I undertake, it starts when I become curious. And that curiosity was definite when I came across the science, art, and passion of Zymurgy. 

The first thing to do was get in touch with the right sources. And the only group who were receptive to me was the Backyard Obsessive Brewers. A collective of home brewers, specializing in beer. So, the schedule was made and met up with the crew and its director Jim.  

I met up with BYOB Homebrew Club on a regularly scheduled gathering of home brewing enthusiasts, which took place at the event's HQ, Cricket Hill Brewery (located in Fairfield, NJ) which is a very popular micro-brewery.

I learned much about what such passions were all about.  And at the end of it all, it was more than a hobby for many of the folks I interviewed.  So much so that, many of the participants had been perfecting their personal art of bespoke brewing techniques for close to a decade or more. 

If you think you can build a better and tasteful beer, while hanging out with like minded 'chemists', connect with the club.  

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Justin is a student. He's taking classes across the Hudson in Manhattan. He's a smoker. And a generally cool guy. 

I'd approached him as I screened people at the Journal Square station. 

"Yea sure!" as he was very enthusiastic about me taking a photo of him. "I'm always into art projects like yours."

It was freezing in that particular February day, but he was all gung ho. And when I happen to come across persons like Justin, I'm always pumped, a bit more. If one thinks about it, a total stranger is asking for a photo of you, out of the blue. I always respect that. 

I ended up taking four frames on my medium format, which is two more than usually budget for in these kinds of projects.

I'll be sending him a copy of the finished photo soon. 

Cheers Justin!

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During my work I get to meet some great persons.  I sometimes get to hear their stories, anecdotes, and passing notes on life, etc.  And sometimes I do get to have the opportunity to document (albeit a minute part) of their lives. 

I always am in awe of persons who voluntarily invite me into some part of their private lives, and let me have free hand in documenting them.  I guess it's something that I am jealous of, sometimes.  

Kate White Morris is an actress, a producer, a successful executive, and a fabulous mother & wife.  

With her husband and partner-in-crime, Patrick Morris, they run couple of movie & theater oriented production & distribution companies (one of which being 57th & Irving Productions).

Along with several other partners and her husband, Patrick Morris, recently launched Believe Theatrical, a NYC based theater company helping to cultivate and develop emerging pieces.

Kate invited me to her TriBeca loft apartment (which was being renovated then).  

She was ever humble, un-necessarily apologized for the construction mess.  But to me it was a great space to take some photos.  

The final product from the interview and production story, I'll put it in the printed version of Savem magazine.

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Let me interview.

Interested in inviting me for an interview and photo session? Just let me know.  

Qualifications? Nothing really. Even if you think you or your life is mundane, you would be great for this. Try me and contact me. Lets get some coffee.

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2013 Grant Harris.

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2013 Georgette.

"I have been a waitress for the past 25 years. Been living here for the last 15," said Georgette. 

Georgette is in a way a part of the town's transitional story, like many of her peers in the part of the city.  She's a grandmother two times over, and visits them couple of times each month. 

When she talks she exudes a humble but attentive maneuver, which invites calm and but most of the time, nervousness.  She's the quintessential skeptic, with a ripe aura of cynicism, parlayed and sliced with a dash of happiness & content. 

"I told that guy, with the red car, to move his car from the parking lot," she said.  "He's going to get his car towed, if he's not careful."

"I tried to get in touch with the guy, but I just put a letter on his windshield." 

"Hope he listens."

Splaying a "victory" sign with her fingers, she said good-bye.

"Have a glorious day!"