My Four Eyed Fantasy

The Avengers Cast for People Magazine

Emily — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:07:43 +0000

Technically no, this is not the whole cast of The Avengers. There is no Scarlett, no Gwyneth, nor Tom Hiddleston, but all the others babes are in fact in this photo (Sam Jackson, I’m looking at you.) From left to right we have Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, and Samuel L. Jackson. I shot this during the most dreaded of photographic assignments – the press junket. Fifteen minutes with six guys, and of course everyone involved is hoping for a natural moment. So, you do the best you can in a back room at the restaurant at the Four Seasons, and you get to meet Robert Downey Jr. who you may or may not have had a crush on since you were twelve.

Lena Dunham for Bust Magazine

Emily — Tue, 08 May 2012 06:06:18 +0000

All Images © Emily Shur

I have much catching up to do blog-wise. So, I’ll go chronologically. Here’s a shoot that recently came out in Bust Magazine of the super talented Lena Dunham. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying Girls, and like most girls I know, I can relate in a big way to Lena’s point of view. I myself lived in New York at the time of life that is portrayed on the show. I was single and unsure of my path and scared and all that stuff. It’s inspiring and slightly depressing to meet girls like Lena. Young, ridiculously smart, nice, cool. Her success is well deserved (from what I can tell), and it’s refreshing to watch tv and not feel alienated. Good for her, and definitely check out Tiny Furniture if you haven’t already.

On the topic of inspiring, I’d be remiss not to mention the death of Adam Yauch. Not much to say that hasn’t been said already, but The Beastie Boys were huge for me. Their music really did change my life. The first time I saw them was when my parents took me to see Madonna on her Like A Virgin tour. I was probably 8 or 9 years old. They were the opener and were booed off the stage. Soon after Licensed to Ill came out and that was that. There was a huge chunk of time where everything they did was a game changer. When everything they did redefined the idea of cool or took what already existed to a new level. Most of all (for me), they were fun, and it’s the complete opposite of fun to accept MCA dying at age 47 from cancer. My sincere condolences go out to his family and all of his many friends. I guess you never know what life is gonna throw at you so don’t waste your time. Make a contribution.

My Work in SeeSaw Magazine Issue #15

Emily — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:48 +0000

My landscape work is featured in the new issue of SeeSaw Magazine! I’ve been a reader and fan for a long time and also quite impressed by my old college buddy (SeeSaw editor, founder, acclaimed photographer, curator, etc.) Aaron Schuman‘s career. I’m honored to be in such great company in terms of the other work in this issue and issues past. Check out my piece of the action here. Thank you, Aaron!

APA Lecture in San Francisco on Friday 4/20

Emily — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:34:54 +0000

San Francisco! Excited to come talk to you! Really hope to see lots of friendly faces there. Details below:

APA SF & AAU proudly present:

EMILY SHUR

Friday, April 20, 2012
7:30 to 9:00 PM
Doors open at 6:30
AAU Morgan Auditorium, 491 Post, San Francisco

APA Members: $5 in advance or $10 at the door

General Admission: $10 in advance or $15 at the door

Academy of Art Students/Staff with current AAU ID: Free (no need to pre-register)

PRE-REGISTER EASILY ONLINE HERE

You can conveniently pre-register (purchase tickets) online for an additional nominal EventBrite fee by clicking the link above. Please print out and bring your EventBrite ticket. EventBrite ticket sales end one hour before the doors open.

PURCHASING TICKETS AT THE DOOR
Prices increase by $5 at the door IF space is available.
Cash or checks only at the door (sorry, no credit cards accepted at the door)

APA SF has an event admission no-refund policy.

If you have any questions, please email us at : info@apasf.com

Doggie Style for Paper Magazine

Emily — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 05:49:13 +0000

Ignacio

Willie

Bunny

Lola

Ernie

Levi

Freddie

Emmylou

Drake

Jasper

Sadie

Mitzi

All Images © Emily Shur

Ok so I was a bad blogger while away. I got back from Japan this morning and feel like I’ve been gone for weeks, not to mention totally out of it. Our trip took us to multiple cities. We went almost as far East and West as one can go on the main island. I did a shoot for Vogue Japan in Tokyo. I got sick. I went to a Red Cross Hospital in Kobe and then got better. We stayed the night on a small island off the coast of Hiroshima and forced down some of the least appealing Japanese food I’ve ever had the displeasure of trying. I’ll get more detailed when I have some images to show. Until then, I present a little piece of my own doggie heaven in the form of a Spring fashion story I shot for the current issue of Paper Magazine. This shoot was presented to me with this image of my husband and The Baroness as the impetus and inspiration. A lot of these dogs belong to friends. Some I found via friends. All in all it was such a funny day and shoot. I loved it…even when one dog, who will remain unnamed, peed on my softbox. Thems the brakes. The jet lag is now setting in and I will say adieu. I promise no more dogs for a little while at least.

Japan, Tumblr, Instagram, and Shopping

Emily — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 08:27:01 +0000

Tomorrow morning I’ll be leaving for yet one more excursion to Japan. This trip we’ll be hitting up Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe, Osaka, and a small island called Miyajima. I’m sure I’ll blog a bit while there, but thought I could use this time to introduce my Tumblr which I have been minimally posting images to for the past month or so. It’s linked to my Instagram account which has surely become my favorite social networking picture sharing thingy. So, check that guy out from time to time and see some photos with very little writing accompanying them. Also on my Tumblr, you will find a link to a store site where I’m currently selling the last of my swan tote bags and t-shirts. Right now I only have XL t-shirts left, but can make more of other sizes if there is a demand. I’m hoping to add to this store in the future so we’ll see what happens with that. Just trying stuff out here, people. Surely no one human needs this many means of communication. Eventually only the fittest will survive.

I always have a lot of anxiety about traveling, and this trip is no exception. Not sure why that is, but I am sure my husband is convinced that I’m crazy. Sayounara for now.

Two Shows During MOPLA

Emily — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:50:06 +0000

I’m excited to be showing work in two great shows this coming week. One is the Pro’jekt LA show happening during the MOPLA opening night festivities. Both fliers above. There’s all types of stuff happening at Bergamot Station, and Pro’jekt LA is just one of many awesome things. That’s this Saturday night the 31st way over there in Santa Monica.

The second show (below) is next Saturday April 7th, and it’s downtown. The show is called Play As It Lays and is curated by Audrey Landreth. You don’t want to miss either of these openings. Such great photographers and friends in both shows. You can head to the MOPLA site for more info on both of these shows and everything else MOPLA.

New Studio Work

Emily — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 17:05:21 +0000

Angela Kinsey for People Magazine

Michael B. Jordan (and The Baroness) for Uptown Magazine

Tracee Ellis Ross for Uptown Magazine

Lots of recent shoots in studio with no bells and whistles. Meaning, no props, no sets, not even any backgrounds. This is how I prefer my studio shoots – stripped down and all about the moment between subject and photographer. Luckily, these were all great subjects so a lot of the hard work was done for me. Check out some behind the scenes video of my shoot with Tracee Ellis Ross below, and you’ll see what I mean.

The New Yorker. Yes.

Emily — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 08:29:35 +0000

Very very exciting. My first shoot for The New Yorker is out in the March 26th issue, and it’s not of dogs or people holding dogs, but of cats! Yes cats. Five cats. Way to switch it up. I have wanted to shoot for The New Yorker since I began taking pictures. Sometimes the call comes when you least expect it, and sometimes the subject matter is also unexpected. In this case it was a whole lotta cats. In case you’re wondering, this is not a composite. All of the cats are there doing exactly what they appear to be doing. This was a lengthy game of waiting for something exciting and spontaneous to happen. Instead of exciting and spontaneous I got quiet and calculated. I accepted the cats for who they were and just tried to be ready when they were.

Sometimes challenging shoots are challenging in all the wrong ways. The ways that make it pretty much impossible to produce a good picture. Other times the challenge is presented in all the right ways, and it makes you want to rise to the occassion that much more.

New Nature Calls Images – Part One

Emily — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 07:59:57 +0000

A couple weeks ago, the husband and I rented a huge truck like this in efforts to make serious progress on and/or conclude this project that I’ve been working on (on and off) for about two years. There were several factors working against me here. One being that I really have issue with putting the final stamp of conclusion on anything. I always wonder about what else is out there, what other pictures are waiting for me to take them and make my project that much better. If I say something is complete, I worry that I can never go back and revisit it. It pretty much dies, and while fulfilling a goal is happy, something dying is always sad to me. This project has become way more to me than driving around searching for something to shoot when I’m bored and bummed about not working (“Gotta stay busy! Always busy! Always taking pictures all the time every second of every day!” Shut up.) It has become a true collaboration between my husband and myself and one of the many ways that my husband has proven himself to be the guy for me.

One night I came home, probably from yoga, and he told me he had an idea. That idea was to rent this crazy truck complete with cherry picker for one week and just jam it out. So, we did. Revisiting the first paragraph, another factor working against me is that I’ve always been very irrationally afraid of heights my entire life. I’ve gone outside of my comfort zone before, but mostly for work related stuff where I felt I had no choice. This was elective danger. Something I don’t do too well. I agreed though, knowing this was the kick in the ass I needed. We both took a week off and piled 2 cameras, some clothes, a dog bed and a bulldog into the truck and took off. At first I tried to rig the 4×5 up on the side of the bucket. That was clearly not working after going up above the 101 trying to focus, cock the shutter, and load film with what felt like hurricane winds laughing in my face. Then, I gave in and decided to use my Mamiya 7 for the shots in the bucket and the 4×5 for the shots on the ground or taken from the platform of the truck. The above 13 shots are all 4×5. Here are a couple pictures of me attempting to look like I know what I’m doing:

First attempt with the 4×5 up high in the sky.

Slightly more at ease with the Mamiya 7. Slightly.

Obligatory shot of The Baroness and me setting the camera.

So, this is just the first round of scans. I will be going back in with some shots from the Mamiya 7, and I’m hoping they hold up quality-wise compared to the 4×5. You can see my current edit of about 40 images here. This was a really fun and productive week. We (husband and I) both worked really hard and were a good team. I owe him something real nice for this. Suggestions?