Max Noy Jolts You With Captivating Reality

By artefuse On 08/28/2012 · Leave a Comment · In New York

The City in Motion as Captured by Max Noy

When Night Falls on Chelsea, The Art Crowd Comes Out

“The photography itself doesn’t interest me. I want only to capture a minute part of reality”. – Henri Cartier Bresson

If you have been visiting this blog website since June then you would have taken note of the name Max Noy. Event Photos by Max Noy are what you have enjoyed from the past art coverage done by yours truly. My meeting with Max began at the Entourage Group Show at Dino Eli Gallery earlier this year. His photo of Dino Eli bleeding on a beautiful azure and gray toned background was amazing. Plus I loved the whole concept of a gallerist dying for art’s sake! This was my first introduction to the art photography of Max Noy and I’ve been hooked ever since.

Cafe Society in Chelsea which fits nicely at Joe's

For this particular show, Max decided to exhibit selected works at Joe – The Art of Coffee in their Chelsea branch. When he used to live in the West Village and hang out at Joe’s outpost in that neighborhood, it was a means to catch up and meet with other artists. Max is a New York based photographer and his love affair with the city is pretty evident with the set of images he picked for Max and Joe(‘s). The film photography showcased his range in color to black and white images evoking the character of Chelsea.

Everyone Came to Joe's for Max

The subject of the photos are in keeping with the neighborhood itself. Stark faced city characters in profile, the backdrop of the streets, the juxtaposition of a garbage heap in front of a high real estate priced apartment building, café society, and of course, dogs – man’s best friend as ubiquitous as the trendily dressed people that walk them. These are facets of life captured by Max’s camera. And then I hear, “Oh I can do that with my camera.” That comment coming from a casual shutterbug and wannabe Richard Avedon irks me to no end. I don’t mean to be dismissive but “No, not really. You can’t do what Max and his other contemporaries in art photography are doing.” Point and click with your digital camera or iPhone does not instantly make you an auteur of the lens. Not even Photoshop or Instagram can hide less than practiced skills and no eye for composition. Max does film photography and he waits for the right moment, that fraction of time or fleeting magic nano-second, and the depth that emanates from the subject he focuses on. He takes photos that lock in that tiny morsel of reality amidst a fantasy backdrop. In a sense, urban fairy tales where the truth is laid bare. The soul of the picture is what matters and comes through.

Lots of Spirited or Caffeinated Discussion at the opening

Max Noy expertly captures that minute part of reality but does it ever so masterfully where you can’t help but fantasize in whatever backdrop you please.