Hi, I'm Hazel.
So, who are you?
Hazel's Hands, 22 years old, July 9th 2016
?
That's who I am, but not yet; I need more rings. Those don't cover the significance of everything I am, I'm still collecting.
The idea is that I am wearing almost everything I am on my fingertips, which are corporeal, taking photos and making my art, which is who I am spiritually. Ideally, I'd also be holding my camera in this picture. But I'd need another camera and I can't afford one right now.
?
Okay, words...so, if you mixed Radiohead's Creep specifically as sung by Amanda Palmer, with the Temper Trap's Sweet Disposition, that's me!
I'd like to grow up to be Janis Joplin's rendition of Summertime mashed up with The Beauty and The Beast Opening Theme but I am not there yet.
Someday though!
?
!!!Okay. For the unimaginative: My name is Hazel Renee Rivkin. I am 22 years old. I attended Brown for one year before dropping out to pursue life as a photographer. I take photos of buildings and people and the subcultures in New York. Mostly I take pictures of light, how it falls on and changes things. If you've seen anything of mine it's probably my pictures of the same buildings at different times of day. I do better with buildings than people, so far. But I haven't defined my style yet. I don't know what makes a 'Hazel Renee Rivkin' a 'Hazel Renee Rivkin', or if I should just change my name.
Phoenix and Stained Glass,
in Saint John's Cathedral NYC, October 26th 2014
(Phoenix by Xu Bing, photograph by Hazel Renee)
Fairylight-Twilight Flatiron,
Madison Square Park NYC, December 2010
The Neon Detour,
taken on Broadway in The Village, Fall 2012
On the daily, I have a cup of hibiscus tea every morning, bubble tea when I can afford it - and oh my God! Hibiscus Bubble Tea Would. Be. Heaven! My favorite treat is cinnamon raisin peanut butter for dinner. All my clothes have holes in them - I honestly don't see why Mum makes such a fuss about it. "Hazel Renee, you look like such a ragamuffin!" She's such a snob about it, and I'm like "Mum, tights still work with holes. Think of it like my knees and thighs are so excited to see you, they popped out to say 'hi!'" I mean, they're a part of this whole 'starving-artist' 'adventure-is-the-moment-that's-happening-right-now' thing.
See, they're actually very Romantic.
What about the people in your life?
Todd is a sculptor. I'd love to photograph him because he's covered in tattoos from toes to neck - purple, orange and turquoise dragons! - except his hands. Lisa's a blogger writing her first novel that's Love Actually but with a lot more sex. She'd be awesome to photograph too cause of her facial expressions. And Mimi's a tarot reader who's also a screenwriter. We met at Temple.
If my Dad were a song he'd be Lullaby (Goodnight my Angel) by Billy Joel. Definitely. We grew up with him in NJ. Mum split/peaced out/left when I was little so Dad raised me. He's a movie buff and environmental lawyer. We watch Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Lord of the Rings together. And he is totally supportive of my photography. Dad is Dad. He's:
What about romantically? Are you in a relationship?
With my art.
...And he's sooooo handsome!
Where do you see yourself in five years?
KEEP IT UP with Silver Balloons in Cow Paper, taken during the Warhol Factory Party, Metropolitan Museum of Art NYC , Spring 2013
That doesn't mean anything. Unless you want it to. Just thought it was cool.
I don't know where I'm gonna be in five minutes time, let alone five years and I like it that way. Live for the moment. Be spontaneous. Seize the day! Trip the light fantastic!
Magnolia-Veiled Cathedral,
taken on Broadway in The Village, Early Spring 2013
Colorful Homeless Man Celebrating the Lunar New Year
China Town NYC, Year of the Rabbit
Turquoise Tsfat Door,
Tsaft Israel, August 2015
That's where I'll be in five years.
In ten years?
My dream is to make art like a raw nerve ending. Art that matters. That speaks to people and captures everything that is both vibrant and transient in this world.
And I want to live a true artist's life. I want to roam from New Orleans to Cairo to the Taj Mahal! I aspire to have the kind of impact on photography that Diane Arbus did, but I don't want to commit suicide in a bathtub. I want to be artistic but work for National Geographic and be happy.
What's your favorite quote?
"I tend to think of the act of photographing, generally speaking, as an adventure. My favorite thing is to go where I've never been." ~Diane Arbus
Though, I've always been a fan of: "Once Upon a Time..."