The Open Mike

Photographs taken by Michael Lavine over the years

Shot for the Sonic Youth album GOO
Kim Gordon,  January 23 1990

Shot for the Sonic Youth album GOO

Kim Gordon,  January 23 1990

This was the building that got me started on shooting architecture. I shot it in Tijauna Mexico at some point around 10 years ago. 

This was the building that got me started on shooting architecture. I shot it in Tijauna Mexico at some point around 10 years ago. 

Stagediving at the Ritz
NYC 1986

Stagediving at the Ritz

NYC 1986

I scratched the cornea of my eye during this shoot and had to take breaks with my face dunked in a bucket of water. Will was flown to the location in a helicopter.
Will Smith
Somewhere outside of Los Angeles 1997

I scratched the cornea of my eye during this shoot and had to take breaks with my face dunked in a bucket of water. Will was flown to the location in a helicopter.

Will Smith

Somewhere outside of Los Angeles 1997


I shot this for NYLON magazine. The must not of liked it very much because they never hired me again. And of course, they never paid me either.

Tara Reid NYC 2002

I shot this for NYLON magazine. The must not of liked it very much because they never hired me again. And of course, they never paid me either.

Tara Reid NYC 2002

Cosmic Comic Artist Kim Deitch in his upper east side apartment.
NYC 2007

Cosmic Comic Artist Kim Deitch in his upper east side apartment.

NYC 2007

Boy Scout Troop
Battery Park City NY 1986

Boy Scout Troop

Battery Park City NY 1986

Babette, Dylar and White Noise
New Jersey 2000

Babette, Dylar and White Noise

New Jersey 2000

Early Morning Light
Palm Springs 2011

Early Morning Light

Palm Springs 2011

An Excellent Painter
Elizabeth Peyton NYC 1997

An Excellent Painter

Elizabeth Peyton NYC 1997

Sonic Youth April 1993

Sonic Youth April 1993

Cleaning up after a TP bombing.
Dallas 2007

Cleaning up after a TP bombing.

Dallas 2007

This flatbed scan of a contact sheet from a 4x5 polaroid negative was shot for a series of portraits I made for Raygun Magazine called Iconographs. 
Terry Richardson,  January 1999 NYC

This flatbed scan of a contact sheet from a 4x5 polaroid negative was shot for a series of portraits I made for Raygun Magazine called Iconographs. 

Terry Richardson,  January 1999 NYC

They call this a “tableau”
Running Scared,  January 2000

They call this a “tableau”

Running Scared,  January 2000

You never know what the day will bring.
Young Geezy photo shoot
Atlanta GA 2007

You never know what the day will bring.

Young Geezy photo shoot

Atlanta GA 2007