written by Devin Osorio

Living the life of a fashion designer is not all about the high fashion glamour and paparazzi annoyance, but it also includes my favorite part, the nitty gritty background work. Background work that can be spent sewing beads to nude organza, or photo copying pattern pieces in order to create “the dress”.

Interning for the world renown fashion designer, Diane von Furstenberg, not only taught me this, but let me experience it hands on.

I started interning in the beginning of July as a design intern. I got to create samples for designers to depict into catwalk pieces. By doing so I learned very helpful and useful sewing techniques. not only can I do things I couldn’t before, but i think in new angles also.  Before my mind was limited to garments made of only fabric.

I also learned about life! by interacting with the other interns I learned to enjoy life more and to open my horizons!

most of the interns were foreign, which within itself is amazing, but they are also older. i got to mature the more i spoke to them.

because they were older, they spent all their time going out and experiencing new york. they saw and did things i’ve never done in new york. they inspired me to do the same.

Because of them i now have friends in London, Israel, San Francisco, France, and the Ukranine!

the next time you go to the UK, you can use their lingo such as:

1. Naf, something which is tacky.
2. Skanky, something which is cheap.
3. Cheers, used instead of thank you
4. Fancy, used when you really like someone or something/ used when you have a crush on someone
5. Fit, someone whom is more than “hot” but “sexually arising”
6. “You Alright?”, casually asking how someone’s day is going, not in a concerned context.

we also spoke about colleges, since i have to apply soon. they told me their experiences in applying, their expectations and if they were fulfilled. now i can say truthfully that Central Saint Martins in London is my number one choice!

after spending so much time with them, we not only created a “dvf family” but now more than ever i yearn for the life of independence, responsibility, but more than that, the life of “new”. moving to a new country in which i make new friends, a life with a new home, in which i develop a “new” family of roommates and neighbors.

i not only spent a lot of time with the interns but with Neil Gilks. He is an AMAZING human being, whom has had a terrific and splendid career in fashion. i hope to be like him when i got older.

i may love the background work. but the glamour is fun as well. their is always something going on! the 2nd week of interning there, Gossip Girl was recording. i got to see some of the stars! lots of movies are being filmed near the DVF Showroom, i have spotted Joseph Gordon- Levitt many times!

looking ahead, i hope to help out during and after fashion week! as a birthday gift from Neil, had gifted me a copy of Diane’s biography. in it she wrote, “enjoy it all + go for it.” after this summer thats exactly what i want to do! my motto now is, “want it, go for it. the worse “they” can say is no!”

It’s been a busy summer at NYCSalt! Working to keep the studio in tippy top shape and organize our ever growing mailing list can be a challenge, but we’ve prevailed, we’ve succeeded. I’ve been working with Alicia and Adam all summer giving the studio some improvements, everything from sweeping to building new walls from scratch. The most interesting thing has been learning the ins and outs of studio lighting and studio photography which has been a blast. I’ve also assisted on location photo shoots from a garage at Orange County Choppers to some high end manhattan apartments.

I’ve not only learned a lot in the studio, but I also experienced the college life at the SPI program at Syracuse University. That’s where the “Salties” and I took the four day intensive advanced photojournalism class. We endured four hour long classes three times a day. NYCSalt made up the majority of the class which was nice because it was like being at home here in New York City. In those classes, we learned about three major parts of photojournalism: composition, how to approach real life situations, and how to document events. Being out of the city for those four days was inspiring, but the most amazing thing was the sky. Upstate there is almost no light pollution, so you can see the milky way. It was like being in space itself.

This summer I also decided it was time to update that list of goals which we all have. The unemployment rate in the United States is at 9.6 % so my number one goal is to find a job. That Nikon D700 isn't going to just get handed to me, unfortunately. Right now I’m working on getting a job at Apple Inc. I’m trying to saddle up to the genius bar where I can learn how to repair computer hardware. My second goal is to have an internship at the photo equipment store “Scheimpflug.” Don’t worry if you can’t pronounce it, I believe its German.

Included in my list of priorities is to keep helping at the studio and NYCSalt. The upcoming school year is my senior year so this means that by next year at this time I will be in a college. My plan is to get into a great four year program. My top choices are Syracuse University and The New School here in New York City. The list may grow by the summer. I’m super excited about an upcoming collaboration that NYCSalt will be having in October, we’ll be working with NPR! National Public Radio and the Radio Rookies. We’ll be learning about audio and some software like Protools. We’ll also be broadcasting and making slideshows with our still images. I am super duper excited about learning a totally new form of media. We’ll be sure to keep you guys updated on the development of that new part of NYCSalt. As we get ready for the fall and the ruff New York City winter I leave everyone with some of my images from this summer!  I’ll close with the Vulcan salute, Live long and Prosper!

]]> http://www.nycsalt-blog.org/?feed=rss2&p=357 0 http://www.nycsalt-blog.org/?p=342 http://www.nycsalt-blog.org/?p=342#comments Fri, 28 May 2010 17:35:01 +0000 Alicia http://www.nycsalt-blog.org/?p=342 Last night, Devin, Kedwien & Lenice came to my place for dinner + to edit their images for the upcoming June 9 + 10th show.

Check out the images at:
http://woodandwine.blogspot.com/2010/05/classic-bbq-baby-back-ribs.html

Here are some of his words of wisdom:

"Shoot with a consistent style - It's like writing. You wouldn't change writing styles in the middle of a story"

"If you get  nervous, do it. If you  don't, it'll become harder, if you do, it'll become easier"  (This particularly applies to photographing people on the street or anywhere that it might be somewhat challenging).

"We, as people have radar. You can usually tell who's good or who's bad"

"Learn to have the courage to be calm and look people in the eye" - don't look away after you make a photo of someone.

"We all like to be flattered, admired, honored. You have to charm people, seduce them [with your camera]"

"The First Amendment of our Constitution (Freedom of Speech) protects your right as a photographer to make photos in a public place. This is particularly good to know if someone challenges you.

"If someone doesn't want me to make their picture, I don't do it."

"Let people organize themselves the way they want to be seen. You don't always need to tell them how to pose. Oftentimes, just letting happen naturally creates the most interesting images."

....and the best advice of all, told to Peter, when he was a shy teenager, by one of his teachers:

"Every time you find yourself looking down at the ground, lift your head."

Peter obviously has a wonderful love of life and appreciation for all the different kind of life that exists in this world. The NYCSalt students listened in complete silence, totally drawn in by Peter's images and words.

It was a great day.

Here are a couple pictures from the show....see a gallery of pictures on facebook:Facebook | Your Photos - Annie, starring my students, Ydalmi and Kedwein!

]]> http://www.nycsalt-blog.org/?feed=rss2&p=294 0 http://www.nycsalt-blog.org/?p=283 http://www.nycsalt-blog.org/?p=283#comments Tue, 30 Mar 2010 18:20:31 +0000 Alicia http://www.nycsalt-blog.org/?p=283 My inspiration for this photo actually came from a conversation about xray glasses at my brothers house, it didn't hit me right away but my brother has a good amount of canvas all around his apartment with drawings he did, so i thought to myself, wouldn't it be cool to like see threw a canvas and what ever's behind it comes out as a drawing. At first i just took a test shot see if the idea looked cool at all. Once i did, i showed my brother and he thought the idea was great so i set up a black backdrop with a little light and got to work=], i was pleased with the final result, the D.M on the top right was the cherry on top lol. I CALL THIS ONE PICASSO ..Mainly because it incorporates a photo (PIC) with art, and a very famous artist was named Pablo Picasso.

WWD Fashion Shoot 032510

Thanks to my amazing editor, Erin Fitzgerald, Devin Osorio and I were able to observe a fashion shoot this Thursday with photographer Kyle Ericksen. It was there that I learned that Devin wanted to assist the stylist rather than the photographer! Devin enjoys photography, but his biggest passion is for fashion. I'm so excited for him. He is so talented and already has serious taste. He will be interning at Diane Von Furstenberg this summer! Another Karl Lagerfeld in the making...
-KSW