Change is Inevitable: Here’s To New Beginnings
Rainbow to the Sea, Treasure Coast, Florida 2019
CHANGE IS INEVITABLE. Decide what you want. Believe you can have it. Believe you deserve it and believe it’s possible for you. And then close your eyes and every day for several minutes, and visualize having what you already want, feeling the feelings of already having it. Come out of that and focus on what you’re grateful for already, and really enjoy it. Then go into your day and release it to the Universe and trust that the Universe will figure out how to manifest it.” Jack Canfield (Who wrote “Chicken Soup for the Soul).
I choose to believe that I deserve happiness and additional success with my work and that it is possible for me. Universe, here I come…
Happy Holidays from Barry Steven Greff Photography 2019
Magnificent Christmas Lights at the Eustace Mansion, Hutchinson Island, FL 2019
On beautiful Hutchinson Island is a $8 Million mansion built on 50,000 square feet of oceanfront property. To the delight of families driving by each holiday season owners Robert and Elsa Eustace have the property adorned in the most spectacular Christmas light display one can imagine.
Creating holiday memories for generations to come, this display is clearly second to none and should be experienced by anyone that finds themselves on the Treasure Coast during the holiday season. These are just some of the images that are my take on this overwhelming sight….
All images © Barry Steven Greff / All Rights Reserved
Lensculture Posts BSG’s Niagara from Thousands of Worldwide Images
Niagara, Barry Steven Greff
is one of the largest destinations for curated, contemporary photography from around the world. Will Coldwell, writing in The Independent in 2013, described LensCulture as one of the ten best photography websites, calling it a “definitive resource for anyone who wants to keep up with the latest trends and debates in contemporary photography.”[4] Critic Sean O’Hagan, writing in The Guardian in 2012, listed it among the eight best photography websites or online publications, calling it “one of the most authoritative and wide-ranging sites.”[5]
Barry Steven Greff’s Niagara has been selected by Lenscultures’ editors to be featured in their Black & White Photography Awards 2019 Competition Gallery, visible to everyone who visits the website. “The Competition Gallery is a highly curated group of images selected by our editors to showcase only the best photos from entrants who are creating very strong work among our global community of photographers. This is an impressive accomplishment considering we get thousands of submissions from 160 countries.”
– WTC TRILOGY – WE SHALL NEVER FORGET – NEW YORK CITY –
WTC Trilogy
Usually a Straight Shooter, Sometimes, my Imagination Runs Wild.
Fantasy Island, Many Locations, Over Many Years
I am primarily a straight shooter, I try to capture what I see. There is often some type of post-production required, but again, with my subjects being natural, I try to keep them that way.
Every once in a while, I have been known to create something that I saw, but only in my mind’s eye. Case in point, Fantasy Island. A composite image of various portions of many different images I have created that come together in an M.C. Escher..esque type fantasy. Taken over many years in places from Niagara Falls to Carlsbad, California, an Oregon lake to a waterfall in Boulder, Colorado and many more. Following the image around, water flows down then up again, there is a full moon, yet lightning strikes in the distance. Horseback riders on a Washington State beach, mystic lake boaters and even a Roseate Spoonbill from the Florida Everglades flying across the scene.
Taken together, this an example of how the overly creative side of my mind works. The black and white helps produce the seamless nature of the composition, the rest of it, I can’t really explain…it just happens.
Here’s to the New Year: 2019
Having had several rough years, I have not been posting nearly as much as I should. This image reminds me of better days, driving up the California Coast and stopping to shoot every beautiful scene I came across. 
Surfers, Carlsbad, CA 2008
Taken some ten years ago in front of the magical cliffs of Carlsbad, California, it captured several surfers waiting for the next big wave to pick them up and carry them forward. Although their small silhouettes are dwarfed by the grandeur of the overall scene, when the image is enlarged, you can almost see the contentment on their faces.
I post it for two reasons.
First, the early morning quest of the surfers symbolizes the hope of a New Year.
Secondly, having come full circle, ironically, my son now lives a short drive up the coast and surfs these waters himself.
So, taking a deep breath here’s looking to 2019…
New Bern and the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Pre-Hurricane
Lightning, OBX, North Carolina, 2005
Thinking about all those in the path of Hurricane Florence, the Outer Banks (known locally as OBX), New Bern and much of the rest of the states of North and South Carolina.
While staying in the historic city of New Bern, a two and a half hour road trip north to the Outer Banks resulted in the image above. Having forgotten my tripod in New Bern, I rested my camera on a towel on the railing of the hotel room’s terrace during a lightning storm and timed the opening of the shutter just right to capture the largest strike I have ever seen. It shook the building and the composition of the bolt and the lifeguard stand in the flowing sea oats made the image.
These are images of the Tryon Palace and New Bern Grand Marina, North Carolina, created in 2005. These are images from beautiful New Bern which is now already under water because it is located at the confluence of the Neuse and the Trent rivers. It is a historic city much of which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Many of the buildings, residences, stores and churches date back to the early eighteenth century.
The Governor’s Palace, New Bern (also known as Tryon Palace, above), served as the capital of North Carolina from 1770 until the state government relocated to Raleigh in 1792. George Washington actually slept in New Bern. Visiting the room in which he stayed, was an eerie and historically moving experience.
Here’s hoping that both survive the Hurricane and can re-build as soon as possible.
Not just Pretty Pictures / Vetted Artwork for Display
I greatly appreciate all of the positive comments on the images I post via social media. Today’s post is a gentle reminder that the work, which has been widely published, exhibited, awarded and collected, is available as framed (or behind acrylic) prints for residential, corporate, healthcare
and even yacht display. Working with Interior Designers, Art Buyers and sometimes clients themselves, I have developed a process by which the images can be viewed in any space first by virtual reality (adding several choices onto a photo of a blank wall to see how it would eventually look). This has also allowed me to do projects around the U.S. from my base in South Florida.
I have enclosed a few samples of installations, some of which have been accomplished as mentioned above, others which contain work that has been chosen directly from my website: https://www.barrystevengreff.com 
So for future reference, whenever you come across a blank wall, imagine the possibilities of hanging an iconic image there and what it can ultimately do to create a beautiful, impactful space.
That being said, here’s to hanging with you someday:)
The Unpredictability of Mother Nature / Unexpected Snow
Wikipedia defines snow as “forms of ice crystals that precipitate from the atmosphere (usually from clouds) and undergo changes on the Earth’s surface. It pertains to frozen crystalline water throughout its life cycle, starting when, under suitable conditions, the ice crystals form in 
Row Boat in Snow Storm, Colorado 2010
the atmosphere, increase to millimeter size, precipitate and accumulate on surfaces, then metamorphose in place, and ultimately melt, slide or sublimate away.” To me, it’s magical from a photographic point of view. The scene above occurred in June after an unexpected, instantaneous snow storm that began and ended within an hour on an otherwise sunny spring day, a couple of weeks before summer. I used a tripod held camera from under a covered tree so as not to get everything wet.
- Momentary Blizzard, OH 2013
The scene above also took place without a moments notice. One minute it was clear as day, the next minute brought blizzard conditions, and then it was clear again. Due to the instantaneous nature of the event, this was shot through a car window that had to be opened and closed quickly due to the power of the momentary storm.
Prone Grey Wolf in Snow, West Yellowstone, MT 2010
Finally, a few years back I was shooting wolves in West Yellowstone just outside the National Park. I had spent a good part of the day trying to capture iconic images of these beautiful animals. As luck would have it, just before i packed up my gear, it began to snow. Clearly not concerned by the sudden change in weather, this Grey Wolf laid down in the wide open for a rest, always mindful of his surroundings and I captured this image as he peaked out through the falling snowflakes. Again, a tripod mounted camera with a 400mm lens, shot from under cover and protected from the subject.
Just goes to show that you should always expect the unexpected and that anything worthwhile…. is worth waiting for.
Cityscapes – Lights, Camera, Action…
Although the majority of my work tends to be of the natural world, I also have an affinity for creating images in urban spaces, particularly big cities such as New York and Chicago. The combination of architecture, artificial lighting and constant movement creates a multitude of 
Times Square Cab and Kiss, NYC, New York, 2013
photographic opportunities. The image above was one that I first formulated in my mind’s eye. Dodging rain drops, once the traffic light changed allowing cabs to pass in front of me in the middle of Times Square, I moved my tripod out from under cover. A slightly slower shutter speed caught the cab’s motion while still being fast enough to freeze the surrounding people and constantly changing, brightly lit signs. An extra bonus in this image is in the lower left corner, just behind the cab’s rear window, a couple kissing under an umbrella waiting for the light to change.
Rush Hour, Grand Central Station, NYC, New York, 2009
Again, pre-conceiving the image, I set my tripod up on the upper level concourse of Grand Central Station. Using a slow shutter speed I captured the rush of people heading to and from their trains while others stand and wait for theirs. The classic architecture and subject called for a Black and White image here. 400 year old Fine Art paper maker, Hahnemuhle must have agreed when they used it to show off their product at the Photo Expo Plus in New York City.
Don’t Let the Lights Go Out on Broadway, NYC, 2012
This image was the result of an opportunity that arose while I was shooting in Times Square with a tripod fixated on the usual nightly action. Upon spotting this scene I quickly swung my camera around and caught this image of an electrician maintaining the antique street light posts that run up and down Broadway and 7th Avenue. Juxtaposed against the massive, modern, brightly lit digital video screens, these small, classic covered lights, atop antique poles, maintain the charm of old New York amongst the city’s modern-day extreme urban brilliance. The trick with shooting in Times Square is catching a pleasing composition of the quickly and constantly changing imagery on the screens.
(With a nod to the Billy Joel song) this worker (who, when the image is enlarged, can be seen on his cell phone), is extended high up and perched inside an electrician’s crane basket making sure the lights (no matter how small)…don’t go out on Broadway.
Happy New Year 2017 / 2018
A New Years tradition at the Keystone Resort in Keystone, Colorado is known as the Torch Run. Skiiers, and now snow boarders, snake down the mountain as the clock ticks toward midnight, carrying red flaming flare/torches. The sight is something to behold, as I did in 2007 and I have
Torch Run,Keystone, CO 2007
included a couple of my images here along with a still screenshot from a You Tube video of the event.
Looking back into the archives, I found this image that I hadn’t seen in a very long time, of some of the participants at the bottom of the mountain. Clearly, in the dark, these were difficult images to capture. A tripod, gloves and a great deal of patience helped.
Torch Runners, Keystone, CO 2007
Wishing a Happy New Year to All.
Happy Holiday Season 2017 / Let there be Light… Displays
Wherever you are located in the country, this time of year brings out varying forms of holiday light displays. For generations they have come to represent the spirit of the season. So, whether you are in the city:
Ornaments, New York City, NY 2012
in the suburbs:
Holiday Light Display, Davie, FL 2013
or even in the mountains:
Lit Tree, Winter Park, CO 2007
The tradition will inevitably be handed down for generations to come:
Enlightenment, Davie, FL 2013
Wishing a Happy Holiday season to all.
Varying Techniques used to Photograph Supermoons Over the Years
A supermoon is a full moon (opposite Earth from the sun) that closely coincides with perigee – the moon’s closest point to Earth in its monthly elliptic orbit. When the moon always swings farthest away from Earth once each month; that point is called apogee. These perigee, or
Nuclear Supermoon
supermoons, result in what seems like a larger-than-usual apparent size as viewed from Earth. There are 4-6 supermoons a year on average and can cause real physical effects, such as
Supermoon Reflected
larger-than-usual tides. From a photographic standpoint, supermoons also take on a deep reddish tint as they rise from the horizon, lightening in color to yellow and/or tan and then, eventually
Supermoon and Cruise Ship
to the regular, although a bit brighter, white. Due to the unique nature of this phenomenon, I have tried to capture supermoons in various ways over the years. In order of presentation here:
Supermoon and Distant Bird
(1.) has an effect similar to a nuclear explosion as the moon seems to be exploding from the horizon, (2.) within a second or two after that, the moon has risen above the horizon and
Birds Eye View
leaves a glint of reflection underneath, (3.) a cruise ship’s embarkation timed to pass the supermoonrise, (4.) a dusk supermoon also has a very distant bird silhouetted against the
Clouded Supermoon at Dusk
bottom, left corner,(5.) several birds silhouetted against a blurred, high rising moon offers another take on how to capture the scene. Finally (6.) a clouded moon framed as it rises between the silhouette of two trees at dusk.
Clearly, the phenomenon offers countless possibilities to capture a…super image.
BSG: International Exposure / SILVERSHOTZ Cover & Feature Portfolio
Barry Steven Greff has received significant International exposure, chosen for the COVER and 16 image feature interior portfolio of the SILVERSHOTZ November 2017 issue. Published in Australia and England, Silvershotz, THE CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY MAGAZINE showcases “the best photographic images from around the world. Curatorial selection is made by 
experienced editors to ensure international standards are achieved.” As featured inside:
Barry greatly appreciates the honor, support and exposure as provided by the Editor extraordinaire of SILVERSHOTZ, Clive Waring-Flood. Subscribtions to this gorgeous on-line magazine, including access to all past issues and annual print issue can be purchased at: SILVERSHOTZ.(14 Day Free Trial available).
Barry Steven Greff – USA
OF THE WILD
Of the Wild is a series of intimate, close-up animal portraits in various forms of captivity that are found behind bars or enclosures. They are protected from the viewer and the viewer is protected from them. Greff’s images capture the life force that is simultaneously controlled, yet untamed. He is drawn to animal’s eyes, which is what draws the viewer into the frame. The framing device jolts the viewer from reading the image as a cliché. By abstracting the eye or face from the rest of the body, Greff forces an intimate exchange of energy and focus between the image and the viewer. These images make us confront the dignity, personality and identity of these magnificent creatures and remind us why; they too, so desperately need our protection.
A life in photography
Greff grew up on Long Island, New York and his family travelled often, and always had cameras with them. In addition to snapshots of the family, the photo albums contained landscape images depicting the locations visited. This immersion into photography at an early age continued with his first camera; a Kodak Instamatic with flash cubes. Eventually he moved to Miami, Florida for college and began renting underwater photo equipment to shoot in the Florida Keys. He graduated to Minolta film cameras and began shooting sea, land, cityscapes and wildlife images. Eventually, his love for photography caused him to enter into magazine competitions. After winning his first competition and seeing the images published, he was hooked.
Fine art and commercial
Greff has managed to combine his love for photography to produce fine art prints, of what he calls the ethereal sea, plus intimate portraits of animals and jellyfish. His work has been published in many of the reputable Fine Art magazines. He uses the strong work ethic of honesty and professionalism he learned growing up to make sure that all of his dealings wholly satisfy the collectors or art buyers that ultimately obtain his work.
Although the images project well on-line, the museum/gallery quality of the work, including the sharpness of detail and perfection of printing, becomes apparent in the enlarged Fine Art prints. That same insistence on quality shows through in the timeliness of delivery and reproduction of his licensed advertising images. Greff is based in Weston, Florida and available for commercial commissions; some of his clients include Ogilvy and Mather, Canon USA and Berkshire House Publications.
Mother Nature Shows Her True Colors / Despite Showing Her Wrath
As Autumn arrives in much of the rest of the country, Mother Nature exhibits some of her most vibrant colors. Although she has recently slammed many of us with her most extreme weather, in between dealing with the reality of the storms, I remember those moments of glorious color that
Gold Standard, near Steamboat Springs, Colorado 2008
I have witnessed in years past. From the western golden Aspens to the eastern Blue Ridge swatch of colors, this is the picturesque side that reminds us of her best…
Autumn Cascade, Tennessee, 2009
Rocky Road, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 2009
while we are still seeing red from some of her worst (Harvey, Irma and Maria)….
Seeing Red, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 2009
So, here’s to the day when we can again concentrate on her beauty and not so much on her wrath. In the meantime, here are ways to donate to Hurricane relief for the ongoing devastation in Puerto Rico. Unicef ….. Save the Children ….Red Cross. Every bit helps.
What a Difference a Day Makes / Hurricane Irma’s Wrath
What a difference a day makes…The image below was created on a beautiful evening in Coconut Grove at Florida’s Dinner Key Marina. The water was perfectly calm and the sailboats were lit by natural light from a full moon… Fast forward to Sunday as Hurricane Irma came ashore on the
Moonlit Sailboats, Coconut Grove, FL 2010 / ©Barry Steven Greff
west coast of Florida some 100 miles across the state on Marco Island. Notwithstanding how far away the eye of the hurricane was, her intensity and strength had significant impact on much of the east coast because the storm stretched further than the width of the State itself. Below are a couple of news images of what Dinner Key now looks like after the storm. The moorings of the
sailboats that were secured specifically for the storm, were no match for her. The winds and surge of the water dislodged many of the boats with some of them winding up on the shore as seen above while others capsized in the water.
As a resident of a state that has gone through many hurricanes, Floridians are a resilient bunch. No doubt, given enough time, Dinner Key will once again be restored to its natural splendor. It’s been done before and… I’m sure it will be done again.
You can help those affected by the storm by contacting the Red Cross at 1-800-HELP NOW or online at: http://rdcrss.org/2y1q1VV
It’s Been a While / Unveiling a New Look
It’s been a while since my last post. Although I have dealt with health issues for some time, recent circumstances exasperated the situation, hence the lack of posts. As not to be a total loss, the down-time has been used to re-vamp and re-vitalize my on-line presence.
Last Glimmer of Light, Winter Park, CO 2007
To that end (and to take a visual break from the summer heat), leading off the images on my new, state of the art website I exhibit an old favorite of mine, Last Glimmer of Light in the newer, larger format. Captured just as the sun set on the Continental Divide as seen from Winter Park, Colorado, a moment later the light was gone.
As with all my images, the Fine Art prints exhibit far more detail than can be seen on-line, with this one showing the ridges on the mountaintop and snow on the dark trees at the bottom.
I captured this image many years ago and at the very last-minute as I dashed into a vacation rental and out to the deck just as we arrived at sunset. I barely had enough time to set up the tripod with a Canon L 400mm lens to assure the required detail in a subject that was so far away.
So, as I sometimes do, I twist the meaning of the title and present this new website to represent the opposite of…the last glimmer of light… for me. www.barrystevengreff.com
BSG Recognized by 2017 International Color Awards
BSG Recognized in the 2017 International Color Awards
Pelican’s Rest, Biloxi, MS 2010
© Barry Steven Greff
THE 10th ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL COLOR AWARDS HONORS PHOTOGRAPHER BARRY STEVEN GREF FROM THE U.S.A.
LOS ANGELES (3/10/2017) – Professional photographer Barry Steven Greff of the U.S. A. was presented with the 10th Annual International Color Awards Nominee title in the category of Silhouette. The ICA is one of the industry’s most important events for color photography.
10th Annual Jury members included captains of the industry from Christie’s, New York; Contemporary Art Society, London; Sotheby’s, Paris; ING Collection, Netherlands; Y&R, Malaysia; Preus Museum, Norway; Art Beatus, Hong Kong; Ogilvy & Mather, Amsterdam; Whitechapel Gallery, London; and J. Walter Thompson, New York.
“It is an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the 6,178 entries we received this year,” said Basil O’Brien, the awards Creative Director. “Barry Steven Greff’s “Pelican’s Rest,” is an exceptional image entered in the Silhouette category and represents contemporary color photography at its finest.”
INTERNATIONAL COLOR AWARDS is the leading international award honoring excellence in color photography. This celebrated event shines a spotlight on the best photographers worldwide and honors the finest images with the highest achievements in color photography. http://www.colorawards.com
# # #
Contact: Barry Steven Greff
Telephone: 305.576.8400
Email: barrystevengreff@gmail.com
Website: http://www.barrystevengreff.com
America….My Country, Tis of Thee
Through the lunacy these days of our political “landscape” (pun intended), it is crucial for us all to remember the simple basics for which we stand. From the physical beauty of our land to the inner
Nubble Light, York, Maine 2004
beauty of so many of our good people, it is a national pride that should join us all. To me, these classic images created along the coast of Maine are the epitome of the feeling of Americana. The commonly shot Nubble Light above was perfectly lit at low tide when I came upon it while two seabirds were circling the tiny island that sits 100 yards off of Cape Neddick Point.
I watched as the two birds circled, and timed the shot so that one bird fit the composition of the scene in the sky while the other blended into the image just above the little red shed.
New England Light, Maine Coast 2004
The bottom image was shot at dusk in what was again, perfectly warm New England light. The tiny white specs on the rocks and in the water are seabirds settling in for the night.
I will never forget stopping to ask directions from a local to the best place to eat lobster. He was out for an evening walk and did everything short of drawing me a map, going well out of his way to make sure that I knew exactly where I was going before I pulled off.
To me, these are true examples of America…and, btw, the lobster was unbelievable.
The Art of the Sea from the Motion of the Ocean
When most people look at the ocean they see the waves as they ebb and flow. Although most find it enjoyable to the senses, something additional happens to me. I tend to follow the actions of the
Ebb and Flow, Deerfield Beach 2013
waves as they come ashore and then again as they retreat back out. I also gravitate to those sea shores that contain rocks, piers or any other solid structures around which the water must traverse. I visually slow the motion of the water down in my mind’s eye and foresee the beautiful form it takes as it surrounds the rocks or pylons in its way.
Time and Tide Wait For No Man, Deerfield Beach, FL 2013
Using a tripod during the dawn or dusk hours I can capture the slowed down motion of the water as it crests and eventually hits the beach and returns from whence it came. Seeing the scene in advance helps me create the final image and timing is everything.
I am sure that for all eternity, one of my favorite forms of art…will be that of the Sea.
Granite Flow on a Rainy Day
Another black and white image of water flowing downward over and around hard granite rock in the beautiful state of Colorado. Although I usually stay away from even the slightest political
Granite Flow, Boulder, Colorado 2008
reference in my photography, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to achieve considering the way things are going, which certainly wouldn’t be described as smooth.
Notwithstanding, in my work I always try to concentrate on the natural beauty that has (so far) survived all that has occurred around it. This image was created on a rainy day, just outside the classic Colorado city of Boulder. The muted sky allows for the tripod mounted camera’s shutter to remain open long enough to slow down the motion of the water and the rain emphasizes the sharp detail of the granite rock.
Here’s to hoping things around us flow more smoothly going forward… although as I hear myself write it, I recognize just how hard it will be to achieve.
Flowing Downward / Rocky Mountains
A classic black and white image of a mighty river flowing downward in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Downward Flow, Colorado 2010
After a particularly snowy winter, the melting runoff created a powerful flow down river. Captured using a tripod from a bridge over the river, the slow shutter speed caught the motion of the rushing water as it made its way around boulders and fallen trees.
Happy New Year 2017
Happy New Year 2017
Torch Run, New Years Eve, Keystone, CO 2007
An image that has always represented the celebration of the New Year to me was capturing the “Torch Run” on the slopes of Keystone, Colorado on New Years Eve ten years ago this year. As the clock struck midnight, skiers, holding red flares, slowly came down the slope in a wide “S” formation. The resulting scene was spectacular to behold live.
Due to the darkness of night and the motion of the skiers, it took quick experimentation to capture just enough blur to show the movement, while maintaining enough detail to see some of the individual skiiers holding up their flares.
This was clearly an image I pictured in my mind before taking it, and had set up my tripod at the bottom of the mountain at the correct angle to capture the snaking skiers.
Here’s hoping the future year…is a bright one, I could certainly use one about now.
Happy Holidays 2016
Wishing you and yours a happy holiday season…
White Christmas, Rockefeller Center, NYC 2009
As if on cue, while visiting Rockefeller Center during the holidays in 2009, the snow began to fall over this iconic scene. Backing up behind the row of trumpeting angels, I shot this familiar, but still magical, view.
It was lucky that I got this shot when I did. The next year I went back their was a photographic set up at this spot, with a long line of tourists willing to pay big bucks to have their photo taken in front of this scene.
Lesson learned, always capture the classics when they come up, you never know if…or when they will ever be available again.
Patterns in Nature / Seeing is Believing / Sometimes…Less is More
Circumstances beyond my control have kept me from creating new work for a while, so I have been reaching into my archives, which are very deep. This post is about seeing patterns in
Flamingo Feathers, 2013
nature. When I would look at a scene to photograph, I crop it in my mind to create the maximum impact. The flamingo’s feathers were all that were required here to showcase an example of the beauty of natural patterns. In the image below the patterns of this spider web became more
Beaded Web, Weston, FL 2011
pronounced by the beaded drops of water after a light rain. Again, although the web spanned between two fence posts in my backyard, omitting them from the composition made the image.
The lesson…sometimes less is more.
Duncan Miller Gallery, Los Angeles recognizes Barry Steven Greff’s image: Rush Hour, Grand Central Station in their Your Daily Photograph
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Rush Hour, Grand Central Station, NYC 2009
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BSG’s “Niagara” Recognized in Photo +, PDN’s 2016 EXPOSURE Awards
This week I am honored to have my image “Niagara” chosen as the winner in the “Natural Forces” category in Photo+, Photo District News’ (PDN’s) sixth annual EXPOSURE Photograhy Awards. Billed as a “global celebration of photography,” it truly was as winners of other categories hailed from: INDIA, LONDON, BANGLADESH, SAMOA, SOUTH KOREA, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, BRAZIL,
Niagara, 2006
JAPAN, ITALY, BAVARIA, HUNGARY, NORWAY, FRANCE, PUERTO RICO, RUSSIA and PORTUGAL.
To see the other honored images visit: EXPOSURE Awards
As always, I greatly appreciate the recognition.
After the Storm / Surf’s Up / Time to Shoot
As indicated in the last post, as a long time resident of South Florida, if you pay attention to the local media broadcasts, you can maintain a pretty good idea as to what, if any, effects a storm will have on your area.
Goodnight Irene, Deerfield Beach, FL 2011
As often happens, it is not until late in the game that the storm takes a wobble one way or another. Matthew went 30 miles west just before passing South Florida, resulting in 100 miles between the eye and us. That turned out to be good news for our area, only downing some branches, and the occasional tree uprooted by a strong gust.
Sunrise after Sandy, Stuart, FL 2012
Notwithstanding, in the past I have gone to the beach to shoot after the danger has subsided and created some classic images. The sky is eerily beautiful and the waves are always strong (hopefully not too strong because the storm surge is often as damaging as the wind).
Not feeling up to it this time, here are a few from some former storms. Until the next one.
Thunder Road / Diary of a Storm / Approaching Destruction
For those of you that do not live in South Florida, or on the southeast coast, you are most likely unaware of our “hurricane protocol.” As Hurricane Matthew approaches within the next 24 hours, I thought I would reflect on what we have become accustomed to with these storms.
Thunder Road, Weston, FL 2013
Unlike other major weather events around the country we have the advantage of “notice.” We know a hurricane is approaching within a few days. The actual path, intensity and final landfall are still speculation to the weather experts until almost the last-minute. Even though the news stations broadcast 24 hours a day about the storm, showing its “projected” track, it is not until just before it reaches us that we know who it will hit and how hard. A slight “wobble” east or west can make all the difference in the world but when the male weather forecasters remove their sports jackets and roll up their sleeves, you know we are in for a rough ride.
The Wind of Wilma, Weston, FL 2005
In Andrew I took a hit, while my friend’s homes a bit further south were obliterated. The aftermath looked like a bomb had detonated, even the street signs were gone and it was almost impossible to navigate. As time goes on, your luck runs out and for Wilma, I was ground zero. To see your pool screen being ripped and mangled out of the ground and your large trees being uprooted is a surreal experience. The wind sounds like a fright train, the exterior walls move in and out and your front door rattles as if it will burst open (if it does, you’re toast). Finally, when the heavy, attached cement barrel tiles start to rip off your roof, you know you are close to disaster. That’s when we grabbed a mattress and hunkered down underneath it as far away from any windows as possible. Luckily, Wilma stopped just short of total disaster, but still took several years to come back from.
Going, Going…Gone, Wilma, Weston FL 2005
Thankfully, we have lived through the storms we have faced so far and hopefully will do so with Matthew, which is bearing down on us right now. The anticpation of its arrival motivated me to get this post out while I still had power…and a roof.
The Power of Mother Nature, Wilma, Weston, FL 2005
Here’s hoping that we just experience some really bad weather without the potential destruction it can bring… until the next one.
Save the Tiger…and Many other Animals that Desperately Need Saving
I recently came across the story of an animal rights organization (Four Paws International) http://www.four-paws.us/ whose relentless efforts resulted in the closing of the “worst zoo in the world,” saving the last 15 of its 44 surviving inhabitants and rescuing them from their tiny cages
Amur Tiger, 2010
in the war-torn Gaza Strip for re-location to far better places to live out the remainder of their lives http://theatln.tc/2cigT6F
It has also been the long-time goal of the well-known (WWF) World Wildlife Fund http://bit.ly/2creLHa to protect these magnificent creatures. In a common sense pairing that utilizes the influence and (social media) power of celebrities, many organizations bring attention to the overall, and often specific cause(s) of protecting many rare or endangered species. For example, http://www.savetigersnow.org/ combines the power of the WWF and the celebrity of actor and environmentalist Leonardo Dicaprio @LeoDiCaprio. A list of many other celebrity fueled efforts can be found at http://bit.ly/1iucgGh and a few more animal rescue links can be found on this blog.
Of all of the animals I have seen and photographed over the years, I have been most drawn to the Tiger which has always struck me as being particularly regal and spectacularly beautiful. As with many things, it wasn’t until later in life, after I had lost my Dad to the test of time, that I realized his nickname for me growing up had always been…”Tiger.”
Adventures from Behind the Glass 