Archive
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.”
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Recognizes BSG’s FLAMINGO PREENING
National Geographic Recognizes BSG’s FLAMINGO PREENING….[VOTE CLOSED]: Final Tally in their Daily Dozen Editor’s favorite images for September 12, 2016.. Thanks for your support.
FLAMINGO PREENING
Addendum: Final Tally: 10 behind second place image from Saudi Arabia and 24 more votes took top billing from Singapore. Considering the images and votes were from all around the world and chosen by National Geographic, I am honored to have been a part of the competition.
