TPJ Interview
Lou Noble recently interviewed me for The Photographic Journal and it’s unique for it’s level of candor. I’m not sure what he did, but I say things here that I usually keep to myself.
Steal This Lighting
This shot would be great for one of those websites that obsess over lighting set-ups.
Lena Dunham Goes Commando
Lena Dunham arrived promptly for our Guardian Weekend shoot at a Brooklyn studio. And then she announced that she’d be needing some underwear.
Pledge Of Allegiance
Did my oath of allegiance this morning! I’m finally an American citizen after living in New York for 24 years.
Montreal, Not Just For Bagels
My wife and I went to Montreal last weekend to compare bagels from different shops; while there I also had an exhibition open.
Harry Dean Stanton
This was our second set-up and as Harry was standing there he blurted out, “How long is this going to f**king take?”
Andrew Dice Clay Reimagined
“Typestache on Andrew Dice Clay on photo by Chris Buck.”
Here’s to the Ladies Who Lunch
Like seasoned pros the staff of the Jewish Deli soon brought out a coloring book for our four-year-old. But this one was different, it featured line drawing illustrations of fashionable older New Yorkers; called Advanced Style.
Louisiana in “New York”
After our last set-up I told him that I recognized how boring it is being the photo subject. He paused, looked at me with a hint of a smile, “I’m not a virgin, I’ve been had before.”
24 Years in New York
Here I am at work in my Williamsburg apt about eight months in - instead of a computer monitor to look at I have two Dutch artist self-portraits.
FEMA PSA is OK
This campaign has got some legs. It was shot with Deutsch NY and the Ad Council last July and I’m still seeing new placements of it going up.
Runner’s World Streak
Ultimately this is one of my favorite kinds of assignments – being sent me out to spend a few days with a keen and willing subject with the marching orders of “bring me back some weird ‘Chris Buck pictures.’”
Ladies and Gentlemen Mr. Drew Friedman
I’m known to say that I appreciate fine art but my heart belongs with the commercial art world, and Drew Friedman is one of the reasons this is so.
The New Yorker Goes Broad (City)
People often ask whether a shoot was fun, or what the vibe was like on set and my response inevitably is, “It doesn’t matter, just look at the pictures.”
Would You Like An Olive With That?
It struck me that background talent would help bring this picture of 50 Cent alive, and re-enforce the context for the narrative at the same time.
Pyro Re-Post
I asked the home-made pyro master Bill Gurstelle, “Are you sure that your neighbors are cool with you setting up a flamethrower in front of their homes at 6 AM?” “Oh sure,” he says, “They’re used to it.”
10th Anniversary Wedding Album
I thought that I was clever when I declined our wedding photographer’s invitation to make us a nice album. “I’ll make my own.” I thought.
On W.G. Sebald
This is what I wrote about meeting him shortly after our sitting. Two months later he suffer from a fatal aneurysm while driving, causing his car to lose control and collide with an on-coming truck.
Google Sonos Ads
My latest advertising work is particularly fun for me as they feel like a cross between my traditional witty ads and my Presence project photos.
Duane Michals: Empty New York
Michals currently has a show up featuring 30 of his early sixties cityscapes, Empty New York, which has an eerily similar feel to my Presence series.