Living in New York City

I have been visiting NYC back and forth since February 2012 when I was accredited at my first Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Since that time I've throughly enjoyed shooting the cityscapes, architecture, graffiti, the Subway and generally anything that has taken my interest in the city. I've put together a collection of new images from my last trip to New York City from August to October 2014. Previous trips to the city I have mostly focused on the more touristy destinations, however at the start of this trip I moved to Bushwick in Brooklyn we gave me an opportunity to shoot more of the the non touristy parts of the city. 

Moody sky view of the Empire State Building

My trip started assisting very talented fashion photographer Alex Covo who was shooting a 4 x 5 large format fashion story on a Manhattan rooftop. This is a shot of one of the assistants over looking the model.

Historic Brownstone buildings, Manhattan

I've been meaning to visit the Ghostbusters Firehouse for some time and finally remembered. The filming location is situated at Hook & Ladder Company #8, 14 N. Moore Street, New York 10013. A perfect location to practice some slow exposure motion blur on the cars passing to give it that kind of a ghostly effect.

Astor Place and Broadway, Manhattan

Street Art in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Downtown Manhattan

Brooklyn in the fall

Midtown Manhattan, New York

I loved shooting classic American cars and producing an image to match the feel of that particular era.

Graffiti, Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn, New York

Classic American car action shot in Brooklyn. 

Moody red Manhattan sunset shot against One World Trade Center. 

Manhattan skyline at dusk

Lower East Side, Manhattan

Graffiti, East Village, Manhattan 

Motion blur NYPD, Lower East Side, Manhattan

Traffic signals in Lower East Side

Macy's, Manhattan, New York

Broadway Junction, New York City Subway, Brooklyn

Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York

E 26th St leading to the Empire State Building

Williamsburg signs to Williamsburg Bridge

Architecture at Columbus Circle, Manhattan

Coca Cola truck, Midtown Manhattan

Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York

NYPD outside Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center, Manhattan

Subway in Brooklyn

Williamsburg Bridge at night

Architecture in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Columbus Circle, Manhattan

Broadway Junction, Brookyln

2nd Avenue, NYC Subway

14th Street Union Square on a rainy Autumn day

Columbus Circle, Manhattan, New York

Williamsburg, Brooklyn

One World Trade Center, Manhattan

9/11 Memorial Lights on September 11th 2014

Williamsburg, Brookyln

The view from Williamsburg Bridge

Brooklyn, New York

Meatpacking District, Manhattan

14th St, Manhattan, New York

14th St, Manhattan, New York

Meatpacking District, Manhattan

One World Trade Center

One World Trade Center

Times Square, NYC

Manhattan skyline with Empire State Building

Williamsburg Bridge night shot

Broadway Junction, Brooklyn

City Hall, Manhattan

Manhattan skyline

Canon Power Shot advertising with an pretty amazing sky behind. Manhattan, NYC

Taxi motion blur and NYPD

Financial District, Manhattan

9/11 Memorial Lights behind a firehouse, Brooklyn, New York

One World Trade Center

Lower Manhattan architecture

Tompkins Square Park, the heart of New York City, East Village, Manhattan

Essex & Delancey sunset, Manhattan

Williamsburg Bridge and dusk

Bowery, Manhattan

Motion blur shot from Williamsburg Bridge

Williamsburg Bridge at night

Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn

Endless Motions

Perhaps it’s a delicate set of features shielded by a sharp, tailored suit, or a gesture so feminine at heart that it is nearly impossible to lose in a masculine translation; as it may be all about an inborn gentleness that gets toughened up by bits and pieces of menswear inspiration, or a severe attitude tamed by the most beautiful expression. Endless motions get to be rewritten with Simon Ackerman behind the camera, as he appears ready to use powerful contrasts in order to fully disclose hidden emotions.

Cinematic in all of its confined sense of luxury, the reimagining of the dandy girl is never to be done without the imminent collision of past and present. Her timeless portrait, impeccably styled by Tracy Michael, talks just as much about today’s modern aesthetic, as it does about the brave women of yesterday, who understood men’s clothing better than men themselves.

With hair by Debbie Hancock and make-up by Jemma Venables, check the complete photo shoot by Simon Ackerman (www.simonackerman.co.uk) at the gallery.

© Simon Ackerman Photography 2014 - www.simonackerman.co.uk 

Fashion editorial with James Pitt

I had a afternoon out shooting at the gas works in Poole and around Bournemouth beach in England for my first male model shoot in some time. Model James was full of ideas and not afraid to jump over walls for the sake of creativity! Here are the first retouches from the shoot. 

© Simon Ackerman 2014 - All Rights Reserved

www.simonackerman.co.uk 

A portrait of edginess - Sartorial Anagrams

With an easy sense of seduction photographer Simon Ackerman takes model Samara Martins and turns her into a fiery creature of beauty and allure. Combined with Martins’ soulful stare and exotic look, the punk infused styling by Andrew Clancy transforms her into a force to be reckoned with.

The fashion in this shoot has a modern patchwork style to it; focusing upon this and the contemporary jewelry accessories. The hair and make-up is worth calling attention upon: both are done in an exotic and sensual style. Make-up (done by Jen Evans) is heavy on the eyes and lips- jumping between looks of sexual seduction and playful innocence. Eye make-up is innovative in both the shades of colours used and the outlines created around the eyes. Hair (done by Jill Schanpp) goes from wild and tousled to smooth and elegant, defining each look as we move through the fashion shoot.

Written by Chevaun Roux.

© Simon Ackerman 2013 - All Rights Reserved

www.simonackerman.co.uk 

Black & white portraits of beauty in emotion: Empty Spaces

Photographer Simon Ackerman creates black and white portraits of fashion and form with these six fundamental depictions of beauty, sensuality, magnificence and compassion. Each image focuses on the natural glow and radiance that is given forth by model Shelby Benson.

Make-up, done by Jen Evans, is simple and refined – focusing on the organic outlines and feminine forms of Benson’s facial features: ample and sensuous lips compliment Benson’s dark and powerful eyes. Small touches of ring accessories add to the shoot’s femininity and delicacy. Ackerman uses his fashion shoots to focus on the detail and emotion of his subject matter, bringing out the not only the natural beauty that resides within, but also creating a platform for simple loveliness that has true and honest representation.

Written by Chevaun Roux.

© Simon Ackerman 2013 - All Rights Reserved

www.simonackerman.co.uk 

Backstage at Gregory Parkinson Spring / Summer 2014

Here's a collection of images I shot behind the scenes at Gregory Parkinson during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. These beauty head shots were shot using the Profoto Softbox RFi 5' Octa (150cm) with a Profoto Acute 2-D4 Flash Head set to continuous light. It was a quick and effective method to shoot the many models who were to model in the presentation and produced some beautiful results.

The last two seasons at New York Fashion Week complimentary e-cigarettes were being handed out both backstage and to the arriving guests. This made for lots of fun shots of models taking a puff and posing for the cameras. This model was particularly good fun backstage.

© Simon Ackerman 2013 - All Rights Reserved

www.simonackerman.co.uk