David Johnson (writes stuff)

Belated Happy New Year

davidjohnsonphoto — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:45:18 +0000

So…. I’m finally getting to catch up with 2012. I wish everyone a Happy New Year! So far, this year is off to a nice start, with the first full week of the year including a shoot for The Oprah Winfrey Network (for the show “Sweetie Pie’s”) and a shoot with the famed artist Damien Hirst. Both should be out soon and I’ll be able to post some images and behind the scenes video when they do come out.

The next several months will also include another short film or two. One I have written and hope to shoot in the next 2 months, the other will shoot in the spring / summer, but it still needs to be written. Right now, it’s just an idea floating around – but a funny one!

So, until the next post…… Have a great 2012!

Tribeca Film Festival: $40 and a prayer

davidjohnsonphoto — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 20:19:22 +0000

Last year, I randomly stated that I had a goal of having a movie shown in the Tribeca Film Festival. What an honor it would be. Well, like all goals, there is that first step that has to be taken. This year, with the help of an amazing cast, crew, and friends that helped out, I directed my first narrative short film, starring Nick Marshall and Melissa Fumero. I just returned from the Post Office dropping it off to be mailed to Tribeca Film Festival for the 2012 festival. Who knows where it will go from here. The mailing label saying Tribeca Film Festival might be the closest to the festival we get, that’s okay. The point of all of this is that a year ago, we set out to do something. And thanks to the combined efforts of many great friends and talent, all GIVING of their resources, those first steps were taken. I know that I learned a lot from doing this, and am already thinking and planning what to do next. If this film goes further than their screening DVD player, great. But if not – Thanks to all involved and I look forward to showing you the next film. And the next. And the next. It’s really just about making little goals, and then meeting them. Again and again. (BTW, for those concerned, postage WAS added after the taking of this photo).

Back in the SilkScreen Lab

davidjohnsonphoto — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:38:31 +0000

After being on the road the last few weeks working and for Thanksgiving, I was able to get back in the print lab and work on a silk screen test that I have been doing the last few weeks. I was actually finishing a few new prints of author James Ellroy then started playing around with a less-structured idea that I really liked…… I think I’m going to use this test as a start point to create a 1 or 2 print series……. I really liked where it was headed. The photos show my work station, the screen (now destroyed, so I will create a new one) and the final test print – sort of a deconstructed version of the original idea. I plan to start the first 3 images from the project “You and Me” ( that is going to be an ongoing project ) in the next couple of weeks. I have shot the first of 3 already. More details soon.

Fox Gallery with Howie Mandel

davidjohnsonphoto — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:45:18 +0000

I got to work with Howie Mandel a couple of months ago at Smashbox Studios in West Hollywood, shooting the marketing and publicity gallery for his new Fox show “Mobbed.” With that show just starting up this past week, those images are just now making it out. We had some really fun ideas to work with and Howie was really great helping with poses and expressions. During the Door shot that is shown here, Simon Cowell wandered in from a shoot he was doing in another studio to chat with Howie, so I got to meet him briefly. The amazing dance choreographers Tablitha and Napoleon D’Umo also joined us for a few sets. As always, thanks to Fox and Jenny Horn – who did a great job on this shooting – and Rob for the collaborations on the marketing set ups.

Mobbed Gallery Shots

Photos of Sting for Time Magazine

davidjohnsonphoto — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:17:33 +0000

The portraits that I photographed of Sting for Time Magazine hit the newsstands today! Sting was really great to work with – and it’s always an honor to get to photograph a legend like that. As always, a big thanks to Marie Tobias and Time Magazine!

Half Empty Screening

davidjohnsonphoto — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 03:15:01 +0000

Last night’s premiere screening of the short film that I directed “Half Empty” went off very well. We had a great turnout at Soho House for the film and a fun time at RDV after for the open bar. Thanks to an amazing cast, crew, and and everyone involved! The film will soon be online for those of you that couldn’t make it!

Time Magazine’s 10 Questions

davidjohnsonphoto — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:44:08 +0000

Out this week in Time Magazine: My portrait of Retired US Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. Thanks Time and Marie Tobias!

Movie Screenings and Silk Screens

davidjohnsonphoto — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:27:27 +0000

Getting close to the November 1 screening of the short film I directed this summer with Nick Marshall (A Long Road Home) and Melissa Fumero (One Life to Live, Gossip Girl). It was a fun project and looking forward to the next one!

Also back in the screen printing labs. I’ve been doing some resolution tests for my screens (along with making a couple of fun T-shirts!) and getting ready to start on a project called “You and Me.” I hope to start that up as an ongoing series in the next few weeks. I’ll post more photos and video about it when it’s up. All this in prep for an art show I plan to have up in the later Winter or early Spring. Details of that to also come later in the year.

Honored to be Selected

davidjohnsonphoto — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:14:04 +0000

I was honored to have two images selected to be included in the current gallery show “Celebrities and other Animals: The Best of Discovery Creative, sponsored by Discovery Creative, curated by Karen Smith, The images are of writer James Ellroy (thanks Melissa Wener, Dan Cavey, Laura Adams) and an ad for “Punkin Chunkin” that ran in several magazines, including Rolling Stone (thanks Greg Stein, Andrew Heckel, Robin Scofidio)

Appearing Before the Supreme Court

davidjohnsonphoto — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:06:48 +0000

Last week I had the chance to photograph retired US Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens in New York. I tried to argue before him, but he denied me. I’m going to appeal. OK. bad joke. He was very nice and at 90 plus years old, one of the sharpest people I’ve heard talk. And very friendly.