Sean Gilligan PDN Faces Contest Winner!

PDN Contest Winning Images

I'm writing to share the exciting news that I am one of the winners of the PDN (Photo District News) 2011 Faces Contest. Two of of my portraits are featured on page 54 of the 2011 August issue.

This is the fourth annual PDN Faces Contest, and I chose to enter this year because I felt it was the perfect place to showcase work of some of my current projects.  The first is a project about New York Artists. The second, is a book I am currently producing and shooting, about life, art, business and community in Harlem, New York.

The portraits featured in PDN are a sampling of a much larger body of work.   The first image, of Floyd Brian Davis, is part of my Harlem Book Project, which will be on-shelves soon, where I am photographing musicians, activists, politicians, business-owners and artists who are active contributing members of the Harlem community.  The second image is of an ongoing artist portrait series, which is currently focused on New York artists, but will soon be international.  My intention in photographing artists is that through understanding and learning about them, I would foster collaborations between my own work and methodology and theirs. 

I wish to thank PDN for recognizing my work.  Please visit my website http://www.seangilligan.com/ to view more portraits of both series.  

Here is the official announcement by PDN of the winners for each category.  http://www.facesphotocontest.com/ 

Lou Vega at Paris Blues

Lou's Guitar

Lou Vega at Paris Blues

Lou Vega at Paris Blues

Lou Vega at Paris Blues

Solomon Hicks warming up outside The Cotton Club Harlem

Solomon Hicks warming up outside The Cotton Club Harlem

Billie Holiday Jr. ... AKA Princess Billie at Paris Blues

Billie Holiday Jr. / Princess Billie @ Lester Goodson's Open Mic. Night Wednesday's at Paris Blues, Harlem

Billie Holiday Jr.   ...  AKA- Princess Billie

Billie Holiday Jr.   ...  AKA- Princess Billie

Repost from the New York Times.... "Keeping Billie Holiday Alive at the Cotton Club" By COREY KILGANNON 

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/24/keeping-billie-holiday-alive-at-the-cotton-club/

Video: http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/05/24/nyregion/100000000832182/a-spiritual-connection-with-lady-day.html

Solomon Hicks Practicing before a gig @ The Cotton Club

The Sublime Miss Kosi (Repost)

The Sublime Miss Kosi

The Sublime Miss Kosi: "I first met Kosi at an open mic at Paris Blues. I was taking pictures of the Les Goodson Quartet for Paula to send out to the Harlem Blogs. I asked Kosi if I could take a picture of her and she asked me "What's it for? I told here that I was an admirer of feminine beauty. She laughed and permission was granted.

Later when I heard her sing I was impressed not only by the quality of her voice but also by the intelligence she brought to the lyrics. I asked her if she wanted to do a duet of a new piece I was introducing called "Love". It went well and we have slowly incorporated her into The Goddess Lakshmi.

"What's a band with no chicks in it doing called The Goddess Lakshmi anyways?" she recently stated to me.

I felt odd introducing her as just "Kosi" so I invented The Sublime Miss Kosi. It was a play on Lady Day and The Divine Miss M. Then Les picked it up and began using it too. The other night Paula told me she wanted to make T-shirts with The Sublime Miss Kosi on it. So it appears to be sticking."

Originally Posted by bugpowder The Goddess Lakshmi: @ http://thegoddesslakshmi.blogspot.com/2011/06/sublime-miss-kosi.html

Photography by Sean Gilligan www.seangilligan.com

Mr. Blues at Paris Blues

Samuel Hargress Jr. is the owner of Paris Blues bar in Harlem, New York. While experiencing dramatic changes around him, Sam created a timeless place where regulars wear godfather hats, snakeskin leather shoes, and 1940's styled zoot suits. See the project at http://mediastorm.com/training/mr-blues

Portrait of Floyd Bryan Davis ... The Eloquent Elocutionist

Artist Project / Harlem Artist - Floyd Bryan Davis ... The Eloquent Elocutionist

I wish to thank PDN for recognizing my work.  Please visit my website to view more portraits of this series.  

Here is the official announcement by PDN of the winners for each category.  http://www.facesphotocontest.com/   

Floyd Bryan Davis The Eloquent Elocutionist @ Shrine Harlem

"Sunday Jazz Brunch" at the Shrine Music Club Harlem 2011

Floyd Bryan Davis The Eloquent Elocutionist (spoken Word)

Rakiem Walker -Sax 

LESTER GOODSON'S MILESTONE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION.

Two weeks ago I had the good fortune to photograph a great musical event in Harlem. It was Lester Goodson's (Legendary New York Street Musician) Birthday Celebration. Many of his friends came out to perform with Les on this special occasion. To name a few Miles Griffith- Vocals- Les Goodson- Tenor/Alto Sax- Marcus Perciani -KeyBoard- John Cooksey -Drums - Don Pate- Bass - Rakiem Walker - Sax -Lou Vega - Guitar - Floyd Byran Davis - Spoken Word .... and many other special guests! 


Special Thanks to the Musicians, Sam, and the Paris Blues Family!

Lester Goodson

Miles Griffith

Lester Goodson & Rakiem Walker

Lester Goodson & Miles Griffith

Miles Griffith

Lou Vega

The Sublime Miss Kosi

Floyd

Floyd Bryan Davis

The Goddess Lakshmi: Apocalypse Sunday Live at Paris Blues

The Goddess Lakshmi: Apocalypse Sunday Live at Paris Blues: "Last Sunday, despite dire predictions of apocalypse (or perhaps because of) The Goddess Lakshmi (band) performed on stage at ..."

Mr. Blues! Samuel Hargress Jr. is the owner of Paris Blues bar in Harlem, New York.

Samuel Hargress Jr. is the owner of Paris Blues bar in Harlem, New York.

Samuel Hargress Jr.

Samuel Hargress Jr.

Samuel Hargress Jr.