WIESBADEN, GERMANY

Exploring Wiesbaden before the new year I crossed underground to the train station. I walked into an underworld that exploded with commuters every few minutes. I felt like a fish in the dark blue sea.

PRAIRIES OF NORTHERN MONTANA

Flyfishing for trout is a passion of mine. October found me in Northern Montana driving through the prairies in Lewis and Clark County through the towns of Craig, Augusta, Chester and Wolf Creek with a few good friends. We were able to fish the Smith River, The Marias River, The Sun River and of course the Missouri River (better known as the misery, for tricky fishing). The prairies of Montana are breathtaking in the fall. The fields of wheat have been harvested but the stalks that remain meet at the horizon in a chorus of blues, tans and amber that fill your heart with joy. Cracked open, the fields yield to rivers of all sizes. These river valleys are pictured below. The weather changed from 70's to the 40's and nighttime bringing snow and 20's. Camping out under the full moon with a roaring fire a little libations and many layers of clothes, your soul is warmed by the sounds of the wilderness and a day spent enjoying nature to the fullest.

SHANA FARR - OUT OF THE SHADOWS

Meet Shana Farr, cabaret singer and jewelry designer. We had a great time playing with images that showed shadows and emerging light, for her album "Out of the Shadows".  You can see her in performance at the Rose Theater on October 17th. It's all part of the New York Cabaret Convention. To sample a selection of her singing go to http://shanafarr.com. In addition to performing Shana has been busy launching a sterling silver jewelry line called "Pure Imagination" based on the lyrics of the song.

NOLAN ON THE STATE OF THE UNION

I would like to introduce you to my new friend, Nolan. We got a chance to spend some time last Friday talking about the political scene today in our nation. He was quite demonstrative about the lack of cooperation in congress. In the near future he would like to see the parties get down to business on the big issues of today. He is also concerned that people get out and vote in November. 

"Just remember it's up to each and everyone to do their part."

Have a great Holiday!

ANDREW GLOVER YOUTH PROGRAM 2012

The Andrew Glover Youth Program is an alternate sentencing program that works with the courts intervening on behalf of first time juvenile offenders. This organization is so needed in our city to help steer kids away from a life of crime.

Last week I spent a day at the East Harlem Center and one at the Lower East Side Center. I had decided to shoot tight intimate portraits to capture the personality and faces of the kids. They are an amazing group of New Yorkers, who given a chance to explore and learn will blossom. Check out the website for more information, http://www.agyp.org/.

PETER de SEVE IN HIS STUDIO

You might have seen Peter's illustrations on the cover of The New Yorker or in the previous

"Ice Age" movies. There is another movie coming out this month, "Ice Age Continental Drift". Peter is an amazing artist, his imaginative characters take on the personality of the people or animals in his real world.  I have had the pleasure of photographing Peter before when he drew himself into the illustration below as a contribution to my "Illustration Project". His characters are uniquely an extension of his wonderful and creative personality.

http://www.peterdeseve.com/

JOEL VOISARD LIGHT SCULPTURES ENTERTAIN

Joel's sculptures are whimsical and animated.These characters are crafted from found objects into living "light" beings. Most days you can find Joel in his studio in LIC or on Sundays at the Brooklyn Flea selling hand crafted furniture. http://voisard3d.com/

"WHAT DRIVES YOU?"

How has your your upbringing contributed to what you have achieved? Were the experiences you had as a teenager, something you now regret or cherish? How have those experiences contributed to who you  are now in the world? Do you sometimes come up with new answers for these questions? I know that at different points in my life the answers changed but throughout my years, the questions have stayed the same. I think questioning is the answer.

HOW DO YOU REACT WHEN SOMEONE PAYS YOU A COMPLIMENT?

Do you blush? Do you smile? Do you question their motives? Do you deny it, or embrace it, or do you simply say thank you?  Celebrate who you are! There is no one exactly like you.  Happy New Year!
Postcard #5 Interpose.

WHAT DID YOU "ALWAYS WANT TO BE" WHEN YOU WERE A KID?

I never dreamed I'd be a photographer as a youngster. Doctor and fireman were always high on my list.  I've always excelled in math and sciences, so being a doctor's path had been somewhat implied. Photography was a sideline in school that became a more serious desire three years into college. I realized the life I was pursuing was not the life I wanted. After a brief bar tending stint in New Orleans, I came to New York City and found a job as a photographer's assistant. The rest is my history.  
I have traveled the world capturing images of people. This is my passion. What's yours?
This is Jasper, she is one of my warriors from the American Heart Association Campaign. Luckily she has many years to dream about what she wants from her life.

"blank" IS THE NEW COOL!

What do you think is the new cool? I think Estelle is....Not only is she passionate about music, but also acting and writing.  And she's still the same small town southern girl with big city coolness.  Polymath is Estelle's word for cool. Check out what she has been up to at her website; http://estellebajou.com

SUBMIT YOUR CAPTION FOR OUR POSTCARD IMAGE (Hint: make it playful!)

Meet Drew Dernavich, cartoonist extraordinaire. His humor and irreverence can be experienced weekly on the pages of The New Yorker.

Have you ever tried to come up with a line for the cartoon on the back page of the New Yorker. About a recent cartoon Drew created, I asked him what his caption was... His answer was completely different from the winning caption. As a matter of fact, Drew thought the winning line was better!

What's your caption for our postcard image? Comments are open.

Andrew Glover Gala on October 25th

Building Brighter Futures for New York Youth  http://www.agyp.org/ 
Tickets are still available for the gala Dinner and Auction at the Lighthouse in Chelsea Piers.
Hope to see you there.

Q&A: WHO'S ON YOUR A-TEAM?

Hint: You can include friends, mentors, or anyone who is influential in your life.


For many years I have been doing portraits of the kids associated with the Andrew Glover Youth Program. These are kids growing up in the housing projects on the lower east side. They are wonderful spirited New Yorkers who need attention, support, and mentors. They flourish in front of the camera. The Glover Program helps these kids complete their education and find jobs. Who might these kids be without the Glover Program as their A-Team?  The Andrew Glover Youth Program

 Subscribe to my blog to see the whole campaign unfold regularly through March 2012.

RED HOOK, BROOKLYN

It was a hot Saturday in Brooklyn and the locals were enjoying the water.  The dares were being exchanged but all in jest.
Louis Valentino Junior Park on Coffey St. has the best view of Lady Liberty and a great pier for fishing, kyacking and jumping off.

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee Jones was at City Winery last night. Time has been hard on her but the voice is amazingly the same. The show was great with renditions of all of the old songs from Pirates and of course Chuck E's in Love. I can remember driving to Cape Cod from NYC with headphones and a "walkman" singing along with Chuck E around 1980ish.

David Sipress created a dream today...

David a Brooklyn neighbor and New Yorker cartoonist visited the studio today. Even though his cartooning can be dark he is a wonderful spirit and full of life. We had a great time collaborating and I am honored to have him be part of my project.

American Heart Association

The crew from CDM and our client from this weeks shoot. The theme was warriors. Great team, amazing warriors and a wonderful project. Thank you all!

Fulton Ferry Wedding Party

The sun came out and so did the wedding limo carrying this party. The children were having a grand time in their special wardrobe and the young couple were all ready for the photo op.
It had been raining all day before the sun was able to shine through and brighten everyone's day at sunset.  I congratulated the couple and had fun with the kids. Spring weddings with the Brooklyn Bridge as a background is a prime location for wedding party photos.

SPRING IS HERE

Our doves have flown back from their winter break. This is a true sign that spring is back even though for the last week it has been hard to believe. The ivy plant has found use as the nest, again. Mom has settled in. We have been watching for the past 2 weeks for the egg(s). Fred and Myrtle have been taking turns. Yesterday was the big day. Rain or shine life goes on. Next the trees will blossom and our courtyard will be filled with green and some more doves.