Cityscape – Tonight Belongs to PHANTOM
Tonight Belongs to Phantom, NYC 2008
Before moving on from my recent Cityscapes, here’s one more. When in the city to show my work to galleries, I always bring my camera out at night. Unique architecture, lights and iconic scenes can be found in most big cities, but having grown up in New York, it has a special place in my heart.
Having recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera always has a prominent presence amongst the sea of signs in New York City’s Times Square. A few years back, this grand billboard stood sentinel over the heart of Broadway and I shot it from center of the square. With spotlights eerily reflecting over the spooky subject of the show, this night definitely belonged to Phantom.
President’s Day – Honest Abe – That’s Just Capital
Honest Abe, Washington DC 2005
A bit of a departure from my usual Fine Art work, a unique view of the Lincoln Memorial to remember President’s Day. Since a scenic is never far away…here’s That’s Just Capital. If you thought it didn’t look like the U.S. Capitol, you were correct. This is actually the Denver State Capitol Building in Colorado.
That’s Just Capital, Denver, CO 2008
Happy Valentines Day – A Moment To Remember
A Moment To Remember, South Beach, FL 2011
For Valentines Day, I have taken the liberty of bringing back an image I posted a year ago entitled: A Moment to Remember. Standing on the rock jetty between South Beach and Government Cut, this couple was so moved by the grandeur of the passing cruise ship that they turned and embraced for a passionate kiss. For them, it was clearly a moment to remember, one that I was very fortunate to capture.
Light from a Peer (And That’s Not a Typo) – Dania Beach Seascape
Light From a Pier, Dania Beach, FL 2012
A few weeks ago I attended the annual Fotofusion at the Palm Beach Photographic Centre in West Palm Beach, FL www.workshop.org. The Centre itself is a place to see the work of some of the photographic greats, ie. Kirkland, Erwitt, Tenneson, etc. (I had prints exhibited in their Museum in 2010). You can also attend seminars and meet some of the most important people in the photography world. That being the case, I recently had the priviledge of showing my work to Robert Pledge, the president and one of the founders of Contact Press Images www.contactpressimages.com. His enthusiasm and supportive words were so greatly appreciated.
As if that were not enough, I also had the opportunity to show my prints to Joyce Tenneson www.joycetenneson.com, who is considered one of the most prolific photographers of our time. Our paths had briefly crossed before when she had seen my work in NYC and then juried three of my images into a Gallery Exhibition in Ft. Lauderdale. Having Joyce Tenneson suggest that you are a great photographer, is akin to Robert Deniro or Meryl Streep saying you are a great actor. She clearly made my ….decade. Her generosity of spirit is well-known in the industry and I have been very fortunate to have experienced it on more than one occasion.
To have such significant praise and encouragement from those that you respect so much, is clearly warm, and wonderful light…from a peer.
Starting 2012 Off Right – 3 Images in Black White Exhibition at C4fap
Touch the Sky, 30 Rock, NYC 2009 Beaded Web, Weston, FL 2011
Moonlit Sailboats, Coconut Grove, FL 2010
Starting off 2012 right, with three images chosen for the Black & White Exhibition at the Center for Fine Art Photography in Fort Collins, Colorado. www.c4fap.org. The exhibition was juried by Susan Spiritus of the Susan Spiritus Gallery in Newport Beach, CA www.susanspiritusgallery.com.
Susan Spiritus has been a leader in the field of fine art photography for over thirty years, opening the doors to her Southern California gallery in 1976 so that she could share her passion for photography with others. Today, the gallery handles the work of over fifty artists including photographic luminaries Ansel Adams, Ruth Bernhard and André Kertész. Also represented are many of today’s most popular and award-winning contemporary artists including Roman Loranc, Camille Seaman and Hiroshi Watanabe.
In addition to these three images (which have each individually appeared in prior blog posts here), Ms. Spiritus had previously chosen my image Moonscape, Matlacha, FL 2007 for the 2010 Dreams exhibition. This also marks the fifth exhibition in which my work has appeared at the Center for Fine Art Photography.
Catching a Wave – South Beach Seascape
Catching a Wave, South Beach, FL 2012
Rotating the camera on the tripod to the south from the last posted image (South Beach Blues), you find the rocks that mark the entry to South Florida’s Government Cut. Both Cruise and Container ships enter and leave the Port of Miami from this accessway.
As the incoming surf crashes against the rock jetty, a large wave is seemingly “caught” by a fishing pole perfectly positioned to make… the catch of the day.
New for 2012 – South Beach Blues
South Beach Blues, Miami Beach, FL 2012
Starting off 2012 with a new image from my favorite vantage point in South Beach. While many others enjoy the street photography on Ocean Drive, I head to the southern-most tip of South Beach, south of 5th Street or SoFi. Tucked behind an ultra-exclusive neighborhood of high rise multi-million dollar condos, there is a beautiful strip of beach with South Pointe Park along Government Cut to the south and the Miami Beach oceanfront skyline to the north. This view north from the shoreline captures the buildings as they light up just after sunset, contrasted against the low, moonlit, blue tide.
Ascending to New Heights in 2012 – from the FLOW Jellyfish Series
Ascension, Louisville, KY 2009
From the series FLOW which has garnered a great deal of attention up to and including 2011, this image is entitled Ascension and seems to best exemplify the anticipation of reaching new heights in the coming year. Here’s hoping that 2012 rises to all our expectations.
Recap 2011 – The Sun Sets on Another Year
Front Row Seats, Torrey Pines, CA 2008
Not one for shooting sunsets and silhouettes, I did feel that this image of a couple watching the sun set from high atop a cliff, best depicted a (not so) fond farewell to 2011. In a year marred by two surgeries and their aftermath, my mobility was surely limited. Notwithstanding, I was pleased to have my work recognized as follows:
-Dreams Exhibition, Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, CO, (Aline Smithson, juror);
-Artists Haven Gallery, (Wendy M. Blazier, Senior Curator, Boca Raton Museum of Art, juror);
-Portfolio Showcase Volume 5, Center for Fine Art Photography, (Chris Pichler, Publisher, Nazraeli Press, juror);
-PDN on-line, Photo of the Day (Amber Terranova, Editor);
-Featureshoot, one of LIFE’s 2011 Best Photo Blogs (Alison Zavos, Publisher/Managing Editor);
-The OPEN (“BSG is among other things, a master at close-up, intimate portraits of wildlife”);
-Freshly Pressed, Photo Blog: www.adventuresfrombehindtheglass.com, WordPress;
-SHUTTERBUG Magazine, Website: www.barrystevengreff.com, (Inspiring Images And Image-Makers, Joe Farace on BSG: “He’s created insightful works of great authority and style.”);
-The Photocloser (Frank Meo); getaddictedto.com; notcot.org, Light & Composition, etc.;
-Agency Access & Chatterbulletin (Louisa Curtis);
-Black & White Spider Awards, professional Fine Art nominee;
-added to exclusive private collections in New York City, Baton Rouge, LA, etc.;
-and starting January 2012 by inclusion in the book resulting from the Chris Pichler juried Portfolio Showcase No. 5 at C4fap.
I would like to thank all of the curators, publishers, editors and writers for their gracious support of my work in 2011 and here’s looking forward to a great 2012. Barry
…As I stated in an earlier post entitled Promise of a New Day which featured this next image:
At the fleeting moments of dusk, the sun shines a final stroke of light as it sets below the horizon. More important than the beauty each sunset exhibits, its greatest asset is …the promise of a new day.
*Happy New Year from Barry Steven Greff Photography*
Last Light, Torrey Pines, CA 2008
Happy Holidays – Lit Tree, Winter Park, CO
Lit Tree, Winter Park, CO 2007
* Happy Holidays from Barry Steven Greff Photography *
It’s an East Coast vs. West Coast Thing – Photographic Topography
Pinnacles in the Mist, Three Capes Loop, OR 2006
Living in South Florida, much of my recent work features the topography of the Atlantic Coast shoreline. You have to travel north towards Rhode Island and Maine of coastal New England before you begin to find picturesque rock scenics on the East Coast. To the contrary, the West Coast of this country has some of the most spectacular rock formations on the planet. From Southern California (SoCal) north through Oregon and Washington, the waters get progressively colder, requiring a wet suit to swim, but the shoreline’s natural beauty becomes increasingly more breathtaking. Northern California, Oregon and Washington make up the Pacific Northwest, which is also my personal favorite location to create ethereal seascapes in the continental US.
Here, unlike the majority of the Atlantic Coast (the NE corner is clearly an exception), cliffs, rock formations and pinnacles are abundant, creating a dream environment for any landscape photographer. Add in frequent mist and fog and you have the potential for creating a classic body of work. Such was the case for this image, Pinnacles in the Mist. When traveling in the PNW, before I was using GPS, we followed the map to any roads that might bring us closer to the Pacific. On this occasion, after driving miles off the main road toward the sea, we came across a parking lot stacked with petrified trees that had accumulated over time after being washed ashore. I climbed to the top of the wood, to find this scene. I had just enough time to get off one or two frames, when the fog lifted and the scene changed completely. You know what they say, timing is everything (they also say “location, location, location” which also tends to apply in the “business” of creating Fine Art images.
Early in my career, the renowned photographer, Joyce Tenneson saw this image and called it “gorgeous.” After hearing that comment (and regaining my balance) I realized that I was heading in the right direction. Wherever I am I will continue to strive to create iconic images, from whatever Mother Nature places before me.
Neptune’s Reach – Dawn Seascape on Hutchinson Island
Neptune’s Reach, Hutchinson Island, Stuart, FL 2011
Neptune was the Roman god of the sea (Poseidon was that in Greek mythology). In this image, the early morning tide reaches out over scattered rocks on Florida’s Hutchinson Island. Hands down, my favorite place to shoot in Florida, this beach is one of several along the barrier island in Martin County. Found on a true beach road with water on both sides and a few beachfront homes along the way, the surf in this area is usually some of the strongest in South Florida. The fact that it is also one of the few areas with rocks makes it picture perfect, especially at dawn and dusk.
Here, just as the sun was rising through the clouds, I used a tripod assisted, slow shutter speed to show the movement of the tide over the limestone rocks. Of all the natural settings from which I love to shoot, clearly one of the most peaceful is just beyond…Neptune’s reach.
“Dreams” Exhibition opens at The Center For Fine Art Photography
A daily selection by the editors of Photo District News
End of the Road, Florida Keys 2010
Although I had posted this image a while back, it has generated some additional attention that is worth noting.
The image was also featured today, December 2, 2012 as PDN’s Photo of the Day http://bit.ly/sqGIkC, proving that it’s not the end of the road… it’s just the beginning:
“Opening December 2 and continuing through January 7, 2012, in the main gallery of the The Center for Fine Art Photography in Fort Collins, Colorado, is the exhibition “Dreams.” The work is meant to explore the notion that “our conscious and subconscious mind produces dreams that consist of images, ideas, sensations and emotions. Often they represent our aspirations, goals, and fears both realistic and fantastic.” The exhibition was juried by Aline Smithson the one-time gallery editor for Light Leaks magazine, who writes and edits the blog, Lenscratch, and has curated exhibitions for a number of galleries and online magazines. The Center’s executive director is Hamidah Glasgow.
Featured here, “End of the Road, Florida Keys, 2010″ by Barry Steven Greff, is one of the images being exhibited out of some 2,500 submitted for consideration. More of his work can be viewed on his Web site.”
This entry was posted on Friday, December 2nd, 2011 at 12:00 pm ET by Amber Terranova and is filed under Fine Art.
The Power of the Sea
Power of the Sea, Blowing Rocks Preserve, Jupiter Island, FL 2011
South Florida is not known for it’s large waves or rocky beaches. As a matter of fact, you can drive the entire coast and find that rocks are the exception, not the rule. One beautiful deviation from the norm is Jupiter Island located some 25 miles north of West Palm Beach. On the southernmost tip of the island is the Blowing Rocks Preserve, which is protected by The Nature Conservancy http://bit.ly/le3vfe. This barrier island sanctuary boasts the largest outcropping of sedimentary rock called Anastasia limestone (coquina) on the U.S. Atlantic Coast. Most likely formed around 120,000 years ago, in the Pleistocene Age, and composed primarily of shell and coral fragments, fossils and sand, these rarely exposed formations send plumes of saltwater up to 50 feet skyward as they are battered by waves.
Although great to visit any time of year, storms (even those well off shore), create the greatest show. On this particular day, swells of 12-15 feet were recorded from a storm that was far out at sea. The resulting impact at Blowing Rocks clearly exhibited the incredible…power of the sea.
I Built It, and They Came – Thanks for All the Blog Visits.
Rush Hour, Grand Central Station, NYC 2009
To show my appreciation for the many thousands of visits to my photo blog since launch, I move back to an image from my Cityscape series. This image of commuters moving between trains at rush hour through the main concourse of Grand Central Station was captured from a higher elevation at one end of the building. Not having a tripod with me, I needed to rest the camera on a concrete ledge and an article of winter clothing to raise the lens to the desired level. Steadying the camera was required to capture both the individuals that were stopped and blur those that were moving.
I greatly appreciate my blog visitors and will continue to post images that I hope you all enjoy…moving forward.
For the Birds – Feathered Subjects from the Series: Of the Wild
Peacock, 2010 Coscoroba Swan, 2010
Two of the feathered subjects from the series: Of the Wild, chosen for the upcoming on-line and book exhibit at the Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, CO, Portfolio Showcase No.5.
Animal Humanity-Of the Wild at The Center for Fine Art Photography
Female Gorilla, 2010 Series: Of the Wild Old Lion, 2009
I am proud to announce that a portfolio of images from my series: Of the Wild has been selected for inclusion in the book and on-line exhibition: Portfolio Showcase No. 5 at the Center for Fine Art Photography in Ft. Collins, Colorado. The juror for this exhibition was Chris Pichler, the Publisher of Nazraeli Press http://www.nazraeli.com/. For those not in the photography industry, Nazraeli publishes some of the highest quality contemporary Fine Art Photography Books on the planet. The work of renowned photographers such as Lee Friedlander, Michael Kenna, Todd Hido, etc. are presented in books that are printed and bound as well as any in the world. Pieces of art in themselves, they are sought after by collectors and often published in limited editions that are routinely sold out, increasing their value.
So, it is with great appreciation that I announce my inclusion in a Chris Pichler juried exhibition. The portfolio will be exhibited in the Center’s on-line gallery starting November 30, 2011 and the book will be released in January 2012.
It’s All Downhill From Here.
Torch Run, Keystone, CO 2007
Having had a very rough 2011, I turned 54 yesterday and I greatly appreciate all of the well wishes. New friends can always join me on my FaceBook Photography Page which can be found at http://on.fb.me/dFOCUU. Coincidentally, I also read a blog yesterday on WordPress’s Freshly Pressed http://bit.ly/nI1ORa claiming that photographers create their most influential work between 20 and 45……Not.
Although the writer is a very well-respected Fine Art Photographer, Alec Soth, to me, age knows no photographic limitation. Heart, vision and soul can be exhibited at any time in your life. In my case, maturity has increased my photographic insight and patience. Looking through some of my older work recently, I realized that much of it was good, but predictable. Although my images were often published editorially in the past, it is only since 2008 that I have sought (and gained significant) recognition in the Fine Art Photography world. So much for the argument that my best photographic years are behind me.
This particular image was created on New Years Eve 2007. Waiting at the bottom of the ski run, at the countdown to 2008 skiers dressed in black and snaked down the mountain carrying red flares. To capture this image required a tripod and fast shutter speed. Stopping the action with just a slight blur to show motion, while using only the available light from the flares, was definitely a challenge (for a photographer of any age).
That being said, I plan on creating unique and interesting images for as long as I can see and carry a camera. Notwithstanding that which I may have been dealing with in 2011, in 2012 and beyond I seek to continue on a prolific photographic path, and to accomplish that I have to believe …it’s all downhill from here.
Seeing Red
Seeing Red, Chattanooga, TN 2009
Living in South Florida, one misses the seasons. I have wonderful childhood memories on Long Island, NY of raking autumn leaves into a pile and then jumping in with reckless abandon. Now, on those occasions that I have been able to head north during the fall season, I do my best to photograph the changing foliage in all its glory. A crucial consideration for success is scheduling your visit with the peak color change in any given year for any particular location. There are web sites and telephone numbers that provide information on the timing and intensity of the changing colors. The degree of cold and amount of rain are factors that effect when the leaves change and to what extent. Differing altitudes also factor into the equation. There is nothing worse than reaching a location past its peak and being stuck shooting bare trees (I’ve been there and you end up shooting a great deal of black and white).
When you do time your visit correctly, overcast skies and a polarizing filter bring out the best colors in most Autumn scenes. Compose the image by including something other than just the leaves, in this case a dark tree trunk on top and a gray rock on bottom and to the left. This provides both contrast and perspective in the frame.
Unfortunately for me, there will be no color this year. So for all of you who are actually enjoying the change of seasons, I wish I was there. Instead, I’m just …seeing red.
Life and Death
River of Fallen Trees, Yellowstone, MT 2010
In mid to late October, Yellowstone National Park often sees its Autumn rust colored grounds dusted with the first snow of the coming winter season. The ever-changing cycle of the seasons is a constant reminder of the circle of life that is a constant in nature. This image, River of Fallen
Trees, captures the essence of the changing landscape colors as well as the felled trees that eventually return back into the Earth to re-start the growth process all over again. At the left-rear of the image you can also see some of the steam from one of more than 10,000 thermal features that constantly spews from the ground in the Park, as it has for thousands of years.
Just prior to shooting this image, I had run into a couple of photographers at Old Faithful who had recently spotted a fairly large bear not too far away. With this information fresh in my mind, I spent as much time framing this scene in my camera, as I did looking over my shoulder. Luckily, my day was uneventful, other than temperatures in the 20’s and snow that closed the interior park roads. Sometime after this image was made, a hiker was actually killed by a Grizzly in Yellowstone, which is a very rare occurrence (and often a result of a perceived threat to a mother’s cub).
Hence, both that incident and the continuous cycle that exists in the natural world, reminds me of the ongoing inevitability of…life and death.
Fall Fall
Autumn Cascade, Chattanooga, TN 2009
Having come across this beautiful autumn scene in harsh mid-day light, I knew that a return visit later in the day would be necessary to create a great image. To kill some time we drove up-river a bit until we came across an area of white water rapids wherein several kayakers were practising their craft. Standing next to a proud Dad on the bridge over the troubled waters, I learned that his son below was a champion at this popular Tennessee sport. The young man really knew how to rip himself around as his kayak went through serious white water that roared through this narrow gorge. It was a perfect spot to train because the specific area of powerful water let out to a calmer side allowing the kayakers to enter and exit the white water. Shooting a long (400 mm) lens from numerous vantage points as the kayak rolled over and over through the white water (see below) was an enjoyable diversion for me while I waited for softer light to return to the waterfall scene.
After capturing some cool kayaking action shots we made our way back to the cascade. Upon our return, the light had shifted allowing me to not only smooth out the water, but get some great detail and saturation. With a bit of patience and respect for proper lighting, I was able to create these two images that could both be described as a…fall fall.
White Water Run, Chattanooga, TN 2009
The Real Thing
Granite Flow, Boulder, CO 2008
After previously posting a manmade waterfall scenic, here I get back to the real deal. One of the most relaxing sounds on the planet is that of a cascading waterfall. This one, just outside of downtown Boulder, Colorado was exhibiting the significant run-off of the prior heavy winter snow season. This image was made under overcast skies which is always conducive to a tripod assisted slow shutter speed for silky water. Created during a light rainfall, the wet rock emphasized the structure of the hard granite against the soft flow of water.
So, unlike the image in my prior post, sometimes it takes a bit of exploration to find a scene like this, but it’s worth it to see and capture…the real thing.
There’s No Place Like Home
Inverray Falls, Lauderhill, FL 2011
As a photographer seeking exotic waterfall locales, one can travel deep into the Amazonian Rainforest, or in this case… a few miles from home in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Although man-made rather than natural, this particular entrance display leading into a South Florida residential area is as good a replica as I have ever seen. Several waterfalls cascading down beautifully landscaped rock features creates a peaceful tropical oasis, just feet from a busy intersection. Just goes to show you Dorothy, that when it comes to making a great scenic photo… there’s no place like home.
Tucked
Caribbean Flamingo, Miami, FL 2009
In my series Of the Wild I seek to capture the exquisite details of my subject’s features, in this case the eye, beak and feathers. When Flamingos rest, their body functions slow, making it harder for them to stay warm. As with many other birds, they stand on one foot and tuck their beaks into the feathers on their backs. Because the featherless parts of their body, such as their beaks and legs, get cold the fastest, the birds tuck them into their warm feathers as if into a blanket to conserve heat. As they sleep, they wake up briefly to switch legs several times.
The beak of a Flamingo has an unusual shape because they live in shallow lagoons and lakes and feed on small organisms in the water. They bend their heads down, dipping the beak into the water and creating a scoop, sweeping it from side to side through the water to collect tiny mollusks, brine-shrimp, crustaceans and single-celled algae. As the tongue pumps water through the beak, this food is caught on a sieve-like structure inside and is passed down the throat. These foods contain Carotenoids which are a family of natural pigments that give the birds their pink color. Now you know all about Flamingos and why they are so often seen…tucked.
Leatherhead
American Alligator, Hollywood, FL 2005
In the continuing process of exhibiting my work, I have recently been added to the web site www.thephotocloser.com. I join some terrific photographers on the site such as Joe McNally who was described by American Photo magazine as perhaps the most versatile photojournalist working today and who was listed as one of the hundred most important people in photography. Joe’s work is definitely worth a look via the site’s Lifestyle section or www.joemcnally.com.
This early image of mine, American Alligator, has been recognized in International competition and is currently being utilized as my web site entry image under the Animal section of ThePhotoCloser site. Access to my web site can also be made via the Landscape, Travel and Fine Art sections.
Eyes of Fire
Goldeneyes, FL Panther, 2008
Having spent the last few posts on Seascapes, it was time to get back to my series, Of the Wild. It is in various forms of captivity that I find the animals and birds for this series. They are protected from me and I am protected from them. My images capture the life force that is simultaneously controlled; yet untamed. I am drawn to their eyes as that draws the viewer into the frame. The framing device jolts the viewer from reading the images as a cliché. By abstracting the eye or face from the rest of the body, I force an intimate exchange of energy and focus between the image and the viewer. The images make us confront the dignity, personality and identity of these magnificent creatures and remind us why they so desperately need our protection.
This fiery portrait of the endangered Florida Panther was captured at a refuge in the Everglades. The late afternoon lighting that allowed me to capture these incredible eyes was gone as quickly as it had come. A long lens and great patience helped me create this portrait that has been recognized in International photography competitions and exhibited in Galleries. I also like to think that I have some photographic fire…in my eyes.
BSG Featured in SHUTTERBUG Magazine
SHUTTERBUG Magazine has long been a trusted resource for everything photographic, in print and on-line www.shutterbug.com. This month’s print magazine cover (October issue) features a portrait by renowned photographer Steve McCurry which he shot on the last roll of Kodachrome film ever manufactured. Inside the magazine, there is a monthly column featuring select photography web site profiles. This issue’s article entitled: “Exploring Global Villages: Inspiring Images and Image-Makers” features my site www.barrystevengreff.com. Written by Joe Farace who is a widely published Colorado-based photographer and author of more than 30 books and 1900+ magazine stories, I have taken the liberty of re-printing it verbatim here:
“Barry Steven Greff’s photography is showcased in an elegantly designed website from Foliolink (www.foliolink.com). The site appears one way on my desktop computer and another, better I think, incarnation on my iPad, where captions and other
information appear as well. Images are arranged in four portfolios and Atmosphere displays images representing the majesty of nature, especially his monochrome image of Niagara Falls photographed like you’ve never seen it before. It’s a quiet allegory of the power of nature vs. the insignificance of humankind. It’s one of his few images that have people and here they are infinitesimal in size compared to the roar – you can almost hear it while looking at the photograph – of the falls.
Most of these images are in powerful black and white but when Greff uses color, it’s to make a point. The Classics portfolio may contain some of his classics but never fails to dazzle with understated yet inherently graceful attempts at depicting nature. Unlike the previous portfolios, Spirit & Light contains a few urban images made in New York City and, while wildly incongruous next to his nature images, are appealing in a completely different way. His image made through a car window could have easily been a still image from the film Taxi Driver, with all the connotations that come along with it. In Of the Wild, Greff has created portraits of all kinds of animals from eagles to peacocks to gorillas. This represents an entirely different body of work, separate from his landscapes, that nevertheless shows how a talented photographer confronted by a
different genre rises to the occasion. He’s created insightful works of great authority and style. “
Goodnight Irene
The Perfect Storm, Deerfield Beach, FL 2011
Although Hurricane Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm as it passed through New York City, it will still bring some serious wind and water to New England. Sadly, it has caused severe damage, flooding and loss of life before arriving in the northeast. Living in South Florida you become a bit of an expert on hurricanes, so when Irene passed by this week heading north, we monitored it closely as we usually would. Although we have not always been so lucky (Wilma blew us away a few years ago), Irene remained 250 miles off shore as it headed north up the east coast of So FL. What that meant was no dangerous weather for us, but significantly increased wave height as the storm pushed the surf on shore.
As a bit of a storm chaser, in order to capture great weather related seascapes I always check the relevant natural conditions. Utilizing I Phone apps and Internet weather services to determine sunrise/sunset, high/low tides, storm size/intensity/direction, even the visual shape of the moon, knowledge is power in being in the right place at the right time to get a great image.
After gathering all the information on Irene, we headed to the south end of the area of largest waves as they came ashore. Wave heights that would usually be 2 to 3 feet were clearly reaching closer to 10 or more. Lashing the pier, walls of water powered towards the beach as the sun began to set. Setting up a tripod in conditions like this does not guarantee a sharp image considering the wind and ever increasing powerful surf. As deep as you dig the tripod legs into the sand, when the surf comes in it inevitably moves and/or sinks the legs deeper, not conducive to long exposures capturing wave motion. Even trying to stay out of the water is difficult in these conditions because the surge is so unpredictable that it sneaks up on you quickly, especially when you are concentrating on capturing an image. Add this to the adventure seekers surfing and boogie boarding in front of me, getting a scenic image was definitely a challenge.
So although Hurricane Irene has caused significant damage further up the east coast, for creating a powerful seascape without the danger such a storm would usually represent, for me, this was…the perfect storm.
Seeing in a New Light
Pier Beams, Dania Beach, FL (2011)
After an extended break, I now view some of my frequently shot local venues, in a new light. It is sound photographic wisdom to return to good locations many times in order to shoot different angles and varied lighting situations. It seems that it is also good advice to take a long break from visiting some of those locations, especially when you frequent them because they are close to home. Upon your eventual return, you can gain a fresh perspective and hopefully capture something you had not seen before.
Case in point, having been to this spot many times in the past, I returned after a substantial layoff and saw it with fresh eyes. Light originating from the pier shines between the planks and across the beams, pylons and into the ocean surf just as night falls. Even utilizing a tripod and cable release, it still takes a great deal of practise and experimentation to successfully capture the correct lighting and exposure in such scenes. In situations such as this, the fleeting light requires rapid changes in camera settings and length of exposure.
Finally, for some reason, when shooting at my local, populated beaches, I tend to attract visitors who are passing by when I am trying to capture the quickly fading dusk light. They are routinely curious as to what I am shooting and why. Now, I try not to be rude, but I have a very limited amount of time as the sun sets. So, if you ever come upon me and my camera on a local beach at dusk, concentrating on the task at hand, what I am trying to do is capture the scene…in a new light.
Dream Big
Under the Boardwalk, Deerfield Beach, FL (2010)
In order to achieve one’s goals, you must dream big and believe in those dreams. To that end, I have visited several galleries throughout the years and while enjoying the existing exhibition, envisioned my work on their walls. As the old saying goes…you’ve gotta believe.
That was the case with Camera Obscura Gallery in Denver. When I first stopped in a couple of years ago, I didn’t realize at first that the elderly man sweeping the front steps was Hal Gould, an accomplished photographer who was vital to the early recognition of the medium as fine art. He became a respected gallerist for decades featuring the work of Sebastiao Salgado, Paul Strand, Jerry Uelsmann, Imogen Cunningham, and many other masters of photography at Camera Obscura. Would it be presumptuous of me to believe I would share these walls with such great names? I promised myself I would be exhibited here…you’ve gotta believe. I worked hard, I honed my craft and within two years from my first visit they held an open call, and two of my pieces were juried in. I was sharing wall space with some of the all time greats. One of those selected images, Under the Boardwalk, is featured above. Created at night while I was positioned under the pier, the biggest challenge was capturing the long exposure to soften the water and then grabbing my tripod and camera before getting soaked from the incoming waves.
During that same Colorado trip I had visited another very well respected gallery in Fort Collins, the Center for Fine Art Photography. Once more, I promised myself I would do whatever it took to have my work on these walls. With an outstanding director and staff, C4fap also has the continuous support of many prominent members of the fine art photography community. Again, with a great deal of hard work and persistence, within 18 months of that first visit, I was juried onto those hallowed walls as well.
In great appreciation to the Center, I have maintained a membership and continued to support them (and my career) by submitting additional work for consideration. With that in mind, I am honored that my image End of the Road, Florida Keys (2010) (featured three posts ago on my blog at http://bit.ly/nak8VG) was just juried into their DREAMS exhibition http://bit.ly/ofiVNn by Aline Smithson who has been the Gallery Editor for Light Leaks magazine, writes and edits the blog, Lenscratch, and has curated exhibitions for a number of galleries and on-line magazines. As
a photographer, Ms. Smithson has been widely published and exhibited nationally in museums and galleries and had her work featured on the cover of PDN just this month.
This marks the third time in just more than a year that I have been juried into exhibitions at the Center for Fine Art Photography. This continuing recognition by jurors consisting of prominent gallerists, curators and photographers reinforces my desire to create great work and to always… dream big.
