All photos © Lilli Albin
This body of work is a combination of photographs taken from three firehouses in New York City between 2008 and 2010. Due to the amount of time spent with these firemen, the series shifted from their constant threat of danger, to what encompasses their lives while "on the job". I have always been fascinated by the commitment these men show to one another and to their line of work, while risking their safety to protect others. This photo documentary turned into a book along with a solo exhibition at the New York City Fire Museum where one of the pieces remains in the Museum as part of their permanent collection.
I would like to give a special thank you to all of the Officers and Members of Engine Co. 16 and Ladder Co. 7, Engine Co. 8 and Ladder Co. 2, Battalion 8, Engine Co. 37 and Ladder Co. 40, Ladder Co. 23 and to everyone at Headquarters that allowed me to pursue this project. Without your cooperation, patience and generosity, ON THE JOB would not have been possible.
All photos © Lilli Albin
In the absence of action, the look on the players' faces and the details of their surroundings, open our eyes to a new side of the game. Sports are more than just running around on the court, kicking as fast and as hard as you can in the pool, tackling your opponent to the ground and scoring enough points to win the match. This is what interested me while working on the series Country Day. Located in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, and spanning over 25 acres of land, Poly Prep Country Day School was the perfect location to explore the unfamiliar.
The New York City prep school athletic scene is an exclusive realm, a very closed off environment to outsiders, which is what initially drew me to the school. Gaining access and their trust as someone unaffiliated with the school was extremely difficult. It took two months of persistent effort to schedule a face-to-face meeting and another two weeks before being allowed to photograph. Once inside their gated community, it was worth the wait; I was able to freely explore the grounds and uncover the structures of prep school athletics.
Growing up, I went to a private school in Louisiana and participated in high school sports, swimming, track and even cheerleading. I know the feeling of stepping onto the track or starting block and the anxiety that rushes over you - you can't help but have the shakes. You try imagining no one is around you, silencing the crowd and focusing on the finish line. I photographed Poly Prep with the same mindset as if I were still in high school about to swim or run a race. I approached everything around me in a sterile, analytical way, with clean lines, bold colors and empty spaces filled with anticipation. The details of the wall marks made by squash balls and cracking chalk lines on the baseball diamond, combined with the portraits, add elements of action, yet everything remains still.
When thinking about this project at the end of last year, I travelled home for spring break and photographed a place where I spent thirteen years growing up: Metairie Park Country Day School. I learned that my school and Poly Prep were once affiliated, sharing fundamental building blocks and school unity. I realized I wanted to incorporate a few familiar elements from my school into the final project, tying them together with the name they both share, Country Day.
All photos © Lilli Albin
Covid-19 Quarantine Porch-trait, 2020
Covid-19 Quarantine Porch-trait, 2020
Covid-19 Quarantine Porch-trait, 2020
Covid-19 Quarantine Porch-trait, 2020
Covid-19 Quarantine Porch-trait, 2020
Covid-19 Quarantine Porch-trait, 2020
Covid-19 Quarantine Porch-trait, 2020
Covid-19 Quarantine Porch-trait, 2020
Covid-19 Quarantine Porch-trait, 2020