Ryan Pfluger Photography

Model Citizen - Max

2009-11-06T11:13:00.000-08:00

It's that time of week again. Another Model Citizen has gone up on the OUT.COM website. Please go check it out, make comments or send your friends. It's a project with them I want to continue, so go and support it. Also, Max is incredibly dreamy. A dreamboat even. I've gotten in trouble before for calling someone a dreamboat... isn't that kind of ridiculous?

MODEL CITIZEN MAX

Oh and Max is with Basic Models.

say nothing.

2009-11-05T21:12:00.000-08:00

today was a really good day.

take a chance.

2009-11-03T22:59:00.000-08:00

I always say it, but I love on this blog that I can show all different versions of photographs from various shoots. On my website, in my portfolio book, and even in shows - it's usually just the one image from a shoot that I end up showing. I really need to shoot Josh again.... while I don't shoot people numerous times unless they are someone I am very close with, sometimes someone hits a nerve with me. Where I feel unfinished and a need to cultivate and accumulate more images of someone. I know it's weird to phrase it that way, but as I've stated that's how photography is for me. A cultivation of a relationship. I love the color palette in this image... not that it's much different than the usual colors I'm drawn to, it seems to work especially well here.

Dan Dan Dan. Dan Felton how I wish you lived in New York. He is a model who has gained a lot of momentum and visibility, who I shot before anyone knew who he was. There has been a few like him in the last few years. Just like celebrities and musicians, I like when I get to someone before they really become something grander. It makes the time spent a little bit more special I think. Also, dan is probably one of the nicest guys I've ever met... which I know I've said before. Really though, he is just an awesome guy and is very funny. I love the shot on the right by the way.

Finally we have Graydon. Oh how I have been such a shitty friend to him, but not on purpose at all. Life has been so busy and our schedules just have not meshed. I love this kid to death though. He has an aura to him that just makes me smile. In my more recent work I've really been playing with how I use natural light. When I use actual lighting I mostly use soft-boxes because of how they mimic that of natural light. I think that Graydon's pose here and how his hands are placed just work so perfectly. I'm one of those people that really concentrates on the small details of body stance and things of that nature. I don't like when my images look completely posed or unnatural. It's just not my thing.

p.s. I think V is going to be pretty incredible. While I'm not a fan of how they are only doing 4 episodes and then re-visiting the show in the spring. I think its a poor move on ABC's part as things of that nature never really go well, and the show usually gets cancelled. At least the majority of the time.

p.p.s. I'm doing a guest lecture on Thursday at Parsons and I'm a little nervous about it. It's been awhile since I've talked about my work in that setting. It will be good prep though since I'm doing another lecture at SUNY New Paltz next week. I'm really hoping by either next semester or next year I will be teaching a class or two. I think my perspective on photography, sexuality, and the role of photography is new and interesting. At least that's what I tell myself.

SLEEPYTIME

- IMPORTANT - So, this is a little incentive for me to get feedback on things I post, questions and critique. I want this blog to be more of a collective effort in order to facilitate more interesting and thought provoking posts - The first person to make 25 comments, on 25 different posts will get a free print from me of my choosing.

sheer exhaustion.

2009-11-02T18:37:00.000-08:00

I don't know what it has been with the last few weeks, but I am completely exhausted. Emotionally and physically. i've been having a hard time getting my spirits up and my body to follow. I think that's also why I've been slightly less diligent with blog-land. ANYWAYS. So I haven't posted a picture of Chet (James) in a very long time. I also haven't seen him in quite some time. As sad as it is, I only know this through facebook, but he is moving out of new york this coming weekend. I had some damn good times with this kid. Drinks, coffee, hangouts, partying, photo shoots. Everything. I remember on this day we snuck into some lot that was under construction in my neighborhood. The area was littered with needles, used condoms and other assorted grossness. He is one of those people who just doesn't give a damn and we made the best of it anyway. James, if you are reading this I miss your face. A whole lot.

Yet another person I have not seen since my photo session with him. I think this was in like 2007 or so. Colin had that sexy bod though that I couldn't resist and needed to photograph back when all I wanted to do was photograph scantily clad boys. Now, not so much. While I do enjoy it every once in awhile. My intentions and inspirations have definitely shifted since then. One thing that hasn't however, is my need to connect. Every subject for me is like a mini-therapy session or something of that nature. I latch on in any way I can to pull out some sort of emotional connection. Even if it's something as small as a slight grin or a hug at an end of a session, in some way, it makes me feel complete. I always feel slightly odd when I talk about stuff like this because it really is intensely personal. While not necessarily visually pronounced in my images, it is 100% part of my process. Like today for instance, I was on a job and something just clicked with that woman I was photographing. I wanted to know her life story in the half hour I had with her. In the end, we parted ways with a hug, and it just put a smile on my face. Makes what I do that much more worthwhile.

Rambling I know.

p.s. A Serious Man was probably one of my, I don't know top 10 movies of all time. Maybe that will change a few weeks from now after it settles in a bit more and I can really examine that statement. However, the movie is absolutely incredible and if you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and go to theater. It's incredible.

p.p.s. Shooting for a new client in the am tomorrow. This is one I've wanted to work for since I knew I wanted to do editorial work, so I'm looking forward to it. I'll let you all know how it goes.

night.

cutest boy ever.

2009-10-30T15:55:00.001-07:00

Oh little greg how you are too cute. I ran into him on the train today and it made my day.

where did these come from.

2009-10-28T14:04:00.001-07:00

So so so so. I photographed Owen Pallett last week, and he is one of my favorite people ever. I can't officially show any of the photographs yet, as they are being used for publicity and what not, but this is a complete out-take so I'm going to put it up here because I ended up really liking it. I have two RZ cameras. My original and my new one I purchased a few months back while the old one was in the shop. The old camera still gets stuck on the last frame every once and awhile and won't wind until I pull the shutter again. SO, knowing that now, sometimes I try and make it work, at least just for fun. Thus, we arrived at this image of Owen that I surprisingly enjoy despite it not looking like my work at all. Owen is awesome, and if you don't know about Final Fantasy and all the other things he does, you should learn about it. That's what the internet is for.

As I stated before, it's major organizing time as I'm getting things together to revamp my portfolio and start the transition to agency land and having someone else have images of mine on file as well. I'm kind of working from both sides and meeting at the middle (early work and new work and just working back and forward). I know it makes no sense but its just how I'm doing it. I really enjoy these out-takes from the Tiny Masters shoot. As much as I don't like being in the studio per-say I do really enjoy what I do in it sometimes. And speaking of studio......

Another piece from my Memento series. Phallus palace? It's actually another kaleidoscope but I'm not an idiot and I do know it looks like a dildo in some carnation or another. Which is fine by me. It's really wonderful seeing these objects as almost mini monuments to my past. They become as important as they should be instead of just in boxes in storage. It will be sad to see them all leave me eventually but it needs to happen. I'll have the photographs to hold on to. As with a lot of my life, that's kind of all I end up with besides memories. I'm fine with that.

Work wise, I have two new clients that I'm shooting for next week that I'm rather excited about. One which is a magazine I've wanted to work with for awhile so I'm glad it has finally come to fruition. Other than that, still playing catch up for some reason. Maybe I'm just a procrastinator when it comes to things I'm really not looking forward to doing anyway.

p.s. The new Tegan and Sara record is pretty sweet. I do have to say.

what a crazy time.

2009-10-26T23:37:00.000-07:00

So life has been ridiculously hectic and at the same time, mostly a transition. While I haven't been shooting that much for work the last few weeks, I have been shooting for myself and re-working my portfolio, personal work and getting things together for Glasshouse. I'm really excited for this new step in my career, and working with someone else for my professional work has been something I've been looking forward to for the last year or so. Doing everything on your own can grow quite tiresome and the actual time spent shooting becomes less enjoyable. During this re-evaluation I've been going through old shoots, work and personal, seeing if there is anything I've missed along the way. I found this photo of James that I really love. He is moving to New York permanently this January I believe. James makes me smile. I wish when he was here this summer I saw him more, but we were both very busy with completely conflicting schedules. The light was so beautiful this day.

Then I found this gem of my lady friend Haddix. I have not seen her in quite some time. I think I shot this back in 2006 or so. I had some really great time with this girl. Time gets away from us sometimes I guess.

I was away this weekend AGAIN. Upstate this time for another wedding, another wedding which I photographed. When it's friends I have a really hard time saying no even if it's something I'm not so excited to be doing. It's nice to be involved in someone's special day though, so I can't complain that much. I came back Sunday morning and was pretty much comatose for most of the day.

I will have some new exciting images to show tomorrow!

I do need my slumbers though at the moment, have an early start tomorrow.

Any new avid readers out there? I know people feel weird commenting on blogs sometimes, but I always like to know who people are.

Glasshouse Assignment.

2009-10-23T10:09:00.001-07:00

It is with great pleasure to announce my signing with Glasshouse Assignment. Over the next few weeks my website is going to be reworked a bit, and I will be added to Glasshouse site. For now, please check the link below for more information at the Glasshouse blog.

STONE THROWER BLOG

I'm gonna stick it in your eye.

2009-10-22T19:28:00.001-07:00

As a photographer, I probably should be more careful with my eyes. Yet, somehow I seem to scratch my cornea once a year. It just so happens I did it yesterday. I haven't worn glasses in quite some time because Trina ate them over a year ago when I first got her. Thus, the day was spent getting new frames and a prescription in order to be able to see this evening for my opening. It was very nice, with lots of faces I haven't seen in quite some time. So, thanks to everyone who came. And if I missed you, sorry I left early. And if you don't come, you missed out.

always playing catch up.

2009-10-21T21:55:00.000-07:00

Well. First off, let me apologize again for my absence in blog land. I know I haven't been as diligent as I usually am about updating. Anyway, lets get to the meaty stuff, photos. I've had a recent falling out with Christopher and it makes me sad. I know I don't delve to deep into my personal life, but I am very open about it. I care about Christopher tremendously but our relationship needs some reworking and need some time away from hanging out with each other. Things just weren't working. However, I am not one to just forgot about people in my life just because of circumstances that may occur. I also really love this photograph of him.... I worked on old photographs of him because it made things a little easier for me.

So sometimes I do shoots where film is just not an option for the final product. While I try and steer away from that as much as possible, sometimes it's just the way the cookie crumbles. Yet, even in these cases I still take some film photographs for myself for consistency with the rest of my work. I took this one during the fashion shoot I did with The Tiny Masters of Today and really love it. The earrings are fantastic.

Another model citizen is up, well because a week has passed and a new one goes up every week. Not that it's a surprise. But I like to directly link to it on here. This week we get Danny from Q Models. There was something very innocent about him and sweet. Check out the video and full photo gallery at the link below.

MODEL CITIZEN DANNY

So during my time out on the farm sanctuary a few weeks ago, I also photographed Ginnifer's boyfriend. Joey Kern. Joey is an awesome awesome dude. I was totally enamored by him in Cabin Fever, one of my all time favorite movies. I wish I could do all my shoots in forests and fields and beaches. Nature is my perfect and favorite backdrop. Especially when there are trees because you can do so many wonderful things with just natural light. Anyway, I think there is something really timeless about this photo of him. I hope to maybe do some studio stuff with him and ginnifer the next time they are in new york.

Well, you all know I love the photographs I've taken of Josh so I wont even blab about it because it's pointless. But some quick points

- As I said a few posts ago I have an opening at Randall Scott tomorrow night from 6-9. You should totally come if you live in NYC or Brooklyn. There are some really great people involved from Richard Renaldi to Clayton Cotterell who is an alumni of SVA the year after me.

- My big news can't be officially released yet BUT I will say I am going to be announcing my move to being with an agency. I will make the formal announcement in a few days or so.

- Photographing Owen Pallett on Monday was awesome. He's one of my favorite people ever and I'm really excited for the release of his new album. His music is wonderful.

- I'm traveling again, close to home this time, but will be gone upstate for this weekend and then the following weekend I will be in San Francisco for Halloween.

- I just got The Guardian Guide in the mail, because they used one of my images of James Ransone. It was nice to see it printed as it hasn't been before.

- I can't stop playing Borderlands. It's the best game I've bought this year by far.

- The Stepfather was the worst movie I have seen this year or rather, in the last few years.

im here.

2009-10-20T21:11:00.001-07:00

Hey all, I'm here. Just been extremely busy doing catch up/shooting/life. I'll make a real post tomorrow.

I have big news to share tomorrow too!!! very big news.

the block - preview

2009-10-16T05:33:00.000-07:00

Preview of my fashion story in this month's THE BLOCK MAGAZINE from Canada. 10 page fall fashion with The Tiny Masters of Today.

Out Model Citizen - Jemy

2009-10-15T12:19:00.000-07:00

It's so nice to be able to upload this stuff every week now, as I've been waiting a few months to start showing them. This week's OUT Model Citizen is Jemy from Q Models. Boy liked to pose. Check out the video and full gallery below.

MODEL CITIZEN JEMY OF Q MODELS

ginnifer goodwin, alicia silverstone and vegans.

2009-10-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

So I've been excited to talk about this because it's something I'm really proud to have been involved with and at the same time, got some really awesome photographs. When I was in California I was with my buddy Joshua Katcher doing work for Farm Sanctuary with Ginnifer Goodwin. The official press release is below and its best if you read it in completion instead of my words.

Adopt-A-Turkey Press Release

Anyway, I'll write it a little more later, as things are still coming together, but Ginnifer was such a complete pleasure to work with. As cheesy as it sounds she just has a great energy to her. She also photographs amazingly. I think the above photograph is really special.

Alicia Silverstone as been doing the press run for her new cookbook/book called the Kind Diet. I think it's great that she is such an activist for animal rights and promoting a healthier lifestyle. It's a shame though how many interviewers are so ill-informed and close-minded when talking about vegan food. Veganism does not mean we don't eat or don't enjoy delicious well made food. Get with the program people. p.s. I would love to photograph her because I've always thought she was incredibly beautiful. AND what she does is awesome.

On that note, lately I've been realizing more and more how not only veganism, but being kinder to the environment is becoming a more guiding force in my life. By no means do I call myself an activist as there are so many amazing people who accomplish things everyday in this light, but my belief system is very important to me. I never am preachy about it as I've had my own ups and downs with my choices (meat eating, drugs, poor decisions yada yada yada), but I definitely have learned and moved on from my choices. I just hope that more people do the same. I've been thinking of finding ways to incorporate my love for photography into more pro-active ways for things that are important to me. Just thinking.

Ok, signing off for the night.

love

back and ready for action.

2009-10-12T00:28:00.001-07:00

Well, I'm finally back in town, at least for a week or two. Sorry for my very sparse blog updates over the last two weeks. I have been without internet during most of my travels because of either being on the road or in locations that just didn't have internet. BUT! I'm back. Anyway, I was in Ohio this past weekend for my wonderful friends Sarah and Steven's part 2 of their wedding celebration. It was absolutely perfect and was sad I couldn't stay longer. There was lots of drinking and laughing and hugs.... maybe I will have a relationship celebration party one day... not necessarily married. I don't really believe in marriage, although I do think the gays should have it! Was kind of ironic being at a wedding when everyone was rallying in D.C.

I have an opening coming up, and if you happen to be in New York you should definitely stop by and say hello. There are some really great people involved from my bud Adam Krause to Richard Renaldi. All the information is on the above image, just click on it to make it larger. Hope to see you there.

Look at that face. I just want to pinch it.

Anyway, I may have some pretty important news to share this week, so I'm crossing my fingers. I'm going to be hanging out with one of my favorite people next week, Owen Pallett, to do some new photographs of him. This makes me happy.

Anyway, I am very tired, but I will be posting all this week. Promise!

OUT - Model Citizen.

2009-10-08T09:43:00.000-07:00

My section for OUT and OUT.COM is finally up and running. I had the idea to reinvigorate their Model Citizen page a few months back because of all the go-sees I do with agencies. I thought it would be a good way to mesh that with actual magazine work. Every week a new model is featured on the site, and starting with the Dec/Jan Issue of the magazine, an image of a featured model will appear on the last page of the magazine as a new section. I'm pretty proud of it. For the first round I photographed 22 boys in one day. Long day nonetheless. Check it out on OUT below

MODEL CITIZEN LIVIO OF Q MODELS

back and ready for action.

2009-10-06T23:13:00.001-07:00

I'm back. Finally. But only for a short moment. I leave again Thursday night for some more travels, this time to Ohio. Anyway, sorry for the lack of photographs last week, it just wasn't very feasible for me during transit. Above is my new favorite from Memento. This is one of about 200 or so cards I have from childhood. All of them will be photographed. Like I said, this will be a very time consuming project. Speaking of, I have a lot of exciting things in the works for my personal work. One of which is a show I am involved with at Randall Scott here in NY that will open at the end of the month. Will post more details closer to the opening.

I photographed Nicholas Weist back in July or around then for the HEEB 100. I shoot things for them because I enjoy the photo editor, my friend Mike Garten... He's a great guy. Also Nicholas is awesome, and I've known of him for a long time as we have a bunch of mutual friends. However we never met until our voyage to Governors Island. Anyway, you should really check him out and what he does

NICHOLAS WEIST WEBBBAGGEE

Sometimes I don't think Mac realizes how much I appreciate all the stuff he does for me. I wish I had more work sometimes or more money because things have become so much easier since he joined me back in January. It's a pretty amazing bonding experience having someone assist your work, and being passionate about it. Anyway, I just wanted to say he's great. And hot.

Anyway, at least you have a bunch of visuals today. Definitely not my most insightful entry but I am working on about 4 hours of sleep. A few quick things of pop culture importance.

Zombieland - Genius! One of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Bill Murray was outstanding.

Demon's Souls - Best new game on the PS3... Challenging and incredibly beautiful visually.

El Perro Del Mar - Her new CD is the best of fall so far. Check it out.

wonderful at SFMOMA

2009-10-05T18:42:00.000-07:00

CANDICE BREITZ

I had never had the opportunity to see one of Candice's installations and got to see Mother today, honestly, it was mind-blowing. If you live in San Francisco do yourself a favor and go see it, and see the Avedon show at the same time.

best day ever.

2009-10-04T22:19:00.000-07:00

Seriously. Such a good day. I will talk about it when I actually can in a few weeks, but I had the most wonderful time at the Farm Sanctuary in California. Good company both friends and animals.

Memento - Kaleidoscope

2009-10-02T11:14:00.000-07:00

Hey all, so I only have about 10 minutes left of battery on my laptop in the library, so I'm going to make this fast. Above is the second image I'm posting from my Memento series. It's a mini kaleidoscope, and I think the minimalism of this one is incredibly beautiful. I said it before but I'll say it again, this project makes me very excited. There will be a few that aren't on white seamless due to size or actual object, and I'm looking forward to showing those off as well.

Anyway, I'm in Arizona right now for a very hot second, only been here for a day and a half and I'm already leaving. Off to San Francisco to go hang out on a farm with two of my favorite people in the world and a super awesome celebrity for the weekend. Lots of photographing and I'm looking forward to some greener pastures as compared to New York land.

Alright this is really rushed and poorly written but wanted to at least get something up here for the week as I know I've been elusive do to my lack of internet. I'm here and just wanted to let you all know and give a little visual fun for the day.

!

Memento - Monster Party

2009-09-28T23:49:00.000-07:00

So I'm very happy to show my first image for my new project, Memento. This whole project is making me excited about photography again and my personal work. It's kind of taken the back-burner recently, but this is the kind of work that makes me really happy. I love how this old NES game has turned into a sort of tombstone of what it once was. I would get so excited with each new NES game I would get when I was a little kid. Now it's all about bells and whistles and future age graphics. Yet, the simple things are still important to me. Whether it's a video game, a book, or even a friendship. Simplicity always has a place in my heart. MUCH MUCH MUCH more to come, I have about 5 scanned that I'm really happy with. Still debating on whether this project will have the raw negative scan outlines or be perfect white like it is now with no border. We will see. Hope you enjoy the first tasting of my new work.

ryan

out west.

2009-09-28T01:29:00.000-07:00

I can't wait to go out west this week! AND! I really enjoy this photograph of Josh.

Actual writing to commence tomorrow as well as the first image from my new project! Stay tuned.

exciting.

2009-09-26T18:42:00.001-07:00

So this weekend I finally started new work... like an actual body of new work that I'm really really excited to be working on. It's been a long time in coming actually, as I've been wanting to do it for almost a year now and finally am taking the time to do it as it will be a very large body of work, and time consuming. I am photographing every object/drawing/letter/gift and card that I've held onto from childhood. From video games to action figures to lunch-boxes. The series will be called Memento. I very much want this project to be a book. Everything is being photographed on a white seamless and very traditionally as still life's with a few exceptions. I am a total hoarder... always have been and probably always will be. However, I am selling/giving away everything after I photograph it. The photographs will be the thing I can hold onto now. So HOPEFULLY, I'll have scans of the first few I've done before I leave town. Keep an eye out on Monday or Tuesday. Ryan Pfluger is 100% back on doing work for himself instead of just doing work work.

rad person of the day!

2009-09-26T18:38:00.000-07:00

I have been drawn to this image for quite sometime. It was even my background on my computer for a few weeks... I always like to have inspiration on my background. Anyway, Noel's black and white work is really quite wonderful as I am a total sucker for well done black and white photographs. Check out some of the work.

NOEL RODO-VANKEULEN PHOTOGRAPHY

the people I've met...

2009-09-24T22:46:00.001-07:00

I was just thinking this evening about the complete diversity of people I've photographed and how absolutely awesome it is.

A Few Examples -

Keri Hilson - R & B/ POP superstar

Bruce LaBruce - artist and cult art pornographer

Vivek Kundra - CIO of the United States

Juliette Lewis - Oscar nominated actress

Terrence Koh - contemporary art superstar

David Carr - writer and columnist for NYT

A-Track - DJ extraordinaire

Christian Siriano - fashion diva and designer

Johnny Iuzzini - one of the best pastry chefs in the US

My dad - he's just awesome