Marisa Matluck Photo Blog

I never cared much for futbol (soccer for you Americans) until this year. Being in an office full of fanatics makes it that much more fun. I watched these boys in the office trade “monitas” (stickers) like 5 year olds trade SillyBandz. Every game was on in the office, I don’t think I missed one. I have to say, that although those vuvuzuela’s put me to sleep with their monotonous tone, I will miss them and the excitement that was the World Cup for the past month.

Yesterday I went to a super cool world cup celebration block party on Brickell. I wasn’t really cheering for any team in particular, I was there for the photo opportunities. I was really excited when I was allowed on stage and managed to snag a few shots of the Mayor of Miami!

Man was it a good time ! I think that 95% of the crowd was ready for Spain to win and when they did… it was mayhem.

I love this city and the energy that it comes with when crowds like this one gather.

A few months ago I invested in a Canon G11. I just wanted something I could carry around in my purse at all times that would not weigh me down but would take great photos.

My friend Joanne lives downtown. Downtown Miami.

I dont know if it is the smartest thing to disclose her residence but for photography sake, I need to. Last week, I spent a lovely afternoon going through her closet and drinking wine on the balcony with Joanne. I got snap happy, pulled out the G11 and the following blog post is the result of that wonderful afternoon.

Oh, did I mention that she is a fabulous Interior Designer!

Second Saturday is something I look forward to at the beginning of every month. For me it is a time of rejuvenating my creative expression. This month I started off on my own, just me and the camera, in my friend Karina’s art gallery. I was actually super impressed with this months exhibition (as well as all her past exhibitions). Her gallery featured instillation art by Yucef Merhi entitled “Words”. It was a myriad of lights and screens and projectors all used to evoke emotion in “Words”. Truly brilliant. It also made interesting photos for me as it was different to the other Tungsten lit galleries.

After roaming the streets and going from gallery to gallery, I was joined by a first time gallery walker. I love it when people are “devirginized” to the Wynwood gallery world. It is a great thing to do on a Saturday night and there is always something cool to see!

I hope you enjoy viewing the photos from Artwalk. If you would like to see more, you can check out my weekly photo gallery on NBC Miami. (woooohooooo!!)

I have to mention one last thing… While stepping into Butter Gallery, I noticed the bartender had a nice sign on his bar that said “Women of Wynwood.” Now, while driving to the studio on many a morning, I have noticed women wearing bright pink uniforms that dawn the logo “WOW”. So I asked said bartender what it was and he explained to me that it was a way to get women out of the homeless shelter and give them jobs taking care of the Wynwood neighborhood that so many love. I found it to be a great initiative and I look forward to lending my services to this cause. If you would like to help or for more information, please visit their website by clicking here.

This was my second year attending the Gay Pride Parade. Granted it was the second year that the parade actually went on. This time I made it in time for the parade so I could photograph it but I had a memory card mishap and the first 500 pics I took disappeared. Yes, I took 500 pictures of the actual parade.

Most of the time, when I go to different events in Miami, I find a great mix of people. Each event has its own style, music, feel, and energy. This event was no different. It seemed to be a bunch of super confident people. I mean, you have to be confident in your own skin to be “out of the closet”. At least that is how I feel. The vibe was a good one. There was music, dancing, drinking, men dressed as women, women dressed as men… there was nothing I didn’t see!

Yesterday, April 11, 2010, marked Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Day of Remembrance. For me, it was an important day and a day of reflection and memories. In 2000, I went with my classmates (in high school at the time) to Poland and Israel on a trip called the March of the Living. This trip takes students from all over the world on a tour through Poland during Yom HaShoah and then to Israel for Israel’s Independence Day.

On this trip to Poland, I was taken to many different locations where this terrible genocide took place. I visited death camps like Majdanek, Auschwitz, and Birkenau as well as landmarks like destroyed Jewish cemeteries and the Warsaw Ghetto. It was very hard to stand in a gas chamber where so many of my ancestors were murdered (as well as POW’s and any non-arian person). Walking through Majdanek, a camp that can be up and running in 15 minutes, was an eerie peak into the past. There were so many apartments overlooking the camp that I couldn’t help but wonder what the inhabitants of those apartments must have thought of their view. In a place where so many were beaten and starved, little kids now played and kicked around a soccer ball. I have to give credit to the survivors that joined us on this journey. It must have been really difficult to return to these memories.

This trip was a harsh reminder of what hate can do. It taught me respect for my fellow man, regardless of our differences.

I have been fortunate in my life not to experience anti-semitism and hate. I chose to go back to the photos I took many years ago and share them on my blog. I was taught to tell the stories of what I had seen and NEVER FORGET!

As we sit in front of our computers, there is a genocide in Darfur. To learn how you coud help prevent genocide, please visit Help Darfur Now.

I also have a friend, Michael Pertnoy, who directed an incredible film about genocide and its survivors. He is currently trying to get it into schools throughout the US to help teach children. Please watch the trailer; The Last Survivor

Last night I witnessed vocal perfection! I went to see Erykah Badu in concert. I had never seen her live before and all I can say, is, her vibe was magnetizing. The minute she walked on the stage, my annoyance at her late start (10:00 pm) had disappeared.

She sang an amazing medley of songs ranging from “Love of My Life” to her very controversial “Window Seat”. I was quite surprised to realize that I knew most of the songs due to the fact that I have never purchased one of her CD’s in my life.

I had to post these photos today while the energy of the concert was still flowing through my veins. I took as many photos as I could given my seat and the security there. The minute an usher saw me taking a photo (towards the end), he flashed me with a light and my camera battery died. Its funny how that works out!

Hope you enjoy the photos of Erykah Badu as much as I enjoyed the concert

Sorry I missed my usual post date yesterday… I was so sick this past weekend and had so much work to catch up on that I did not have a minute to do blog work!

But today (although I am squeezing this in) I found some time.

A few weeks ago, it was bring your best friend to work day. So I brought Maria. After many hours of editing I became quite restless and noticed the amazing sunset going on outside my window. I said to myself, “Self, what a great opportunity for a quick little photoshoot!”

So I took Maria upstairs to the roof of the building and we had ourselves a little fashion photo shoot. I should mention that Maria is no stranger to modeling as this has been her passion since I have known her (and thats a loooooonnnnggggg time).

To see more of Maria’s modeling and acting, check her out on Facebook by clicking here. There are links to her online portfolio on her Facebook page but you should pop in and say hello!

My last post was so well received I just had to put some more!

Let me start by saying WOW. My first Ultra experience was absolutely mind blowing!

Once a year, during Winter Music Conference in Miami, we get all of the best DJ’s in the whole world playing all over Miami. It is a music lovers dream.

This year was my first time going to Ultra, My friend invited me with these really cool production pass wristbands (Courtesy of Jeremiah & Carla – Gastropod) that got us access to pretty much everything! It was insane. Right when we arrived, we walked right up on stage with Nas and Damian Marley! Good thing I brought all of my memory cards and plenty of backup battery power because I was snapping away from 3pm to 1am.

By the end of the night, I had memory cards filled with photos of concert go-ers, ecstasy takers (optional but i think most of the crowd was on drugs) and Dj’s…

I dont want to write to much because I included a TON of photos in this blog post, I hope you flip through them all (about 60)

For Blog purposes and bragging rights, here is a list of artists I shared the stage with and photographed:

Deadmau5
Paul Oakenfold
Crookers
Nas
Damian Marley
Sasha & John Digweed
Afrobeta
Jerome Isma-ae
Benny Benassi
Faithless Sound System

Enjoy!

We got a black background in the Studio and I LOVE it!

Last week I was hired to take some head shots of up and coming actor Paul Karsko (The Green Zone). So he came to the studio, I had my friend Neta do his hair and camera makeup and away I snapped! Paul was really fun to work with and was up for anything. I had him twist and turn, and pose in fun ways.

The best part (for me ) was when we brought out the black backdrop… my first time using it ever!

So here are the Portraits I took of Mr. Karsko… watch out for him… he will be famous one day!