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 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.
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.
NATURAL DESIGNS/ Birds of a Feather / COLOR ACCENT A PROJECT
I have been communicating and connecting on LinkedIn with many Interior Designers as of late.We have been discussing residential and commercial properties… and in my humble opinion, so often, I see a beautiful project with perfect lighting and spectacular design, yet there is
Peacock Triptych, 2015
Flamingo Triptych, 2014
something missing. To me, the pièce de résistance should be impactful Fine Art Photography that brings the space together. Images, that by themselves, evoke an unsolicited “wow” response from the viewer. Imagery that the visitor will think about well after they have left the property…and that they will long remember, as well as where they saw them.
Contact us directly at: barrystevengreff@gmail.com… to discuss your next unforgettable project, additionl images for which can be viewed at: http://www.barrystevengreff.com
Magnum Editors recognize BSG’s jellyfish image:”Ascension” from his FLOW series in their Magnum Photos Award Competition Gallery 2016
Magnum Photos is historically, one of the most well respected names in photography. It is an international photographic cooperative owned by its photographer-members, with offices in New York, Paris, London and Tokyo.
According to its co-founder (and one of the great photoraphers of our time), Henri Cartier-Bresson “Magnum is a community of thought, a shared human quality, a curiosity about what is going on in the world, a respect for what is going on and a desire to transcribe it visually.”
The iconic Robert Capa, Cartier-Bressson and a few other founding members created Magnum http://www.magnumphotos.com/ in Paris in 1947. Over time it has continued operating by its roster of members who are some of the greatest names in the history of photography, such as Ansel Adams, Eve Arnold, Cornell Capa, Bruce Davidson, Elliot Erwitt, Ernst Haas, Dorothea Lange, Mary Ellen Mark, Steve McCurry, James Natchwey, Martin Parr, W. Eugene Smith, Alec Soth and Sebastio Salgado, to name a few.
For the Editors of this hallowed institution, who deal with such incredible photography each day, to recognize my work and prominently display it, is a great honor for which I am truly grateful.
I Ain’t Lion / King of Beasts / Magnificent Creatures
Old Lion, 2009 King of Beasts, 2008
With the illegal killing of a beloved protected Lion (Cecil) this week in Africa, I was moved to post two of my favorite Lion portraits from my Series: Of the Wild. The younger male on the right might not have the wisdom of the older one on the left, but the distinct scar on his nose indicates he has been around.
Either way, the beauty and majesty of these creatures cannot be denied and they should be cherished for all those that will come after us to enjoy them…(at a safe distance).
For some great TV fiction on the relationship between humans and animals, watch James Patterson’s ZOO each week on CBS. http://www.jamespatterson.com/books_zoo.php#.Vb6mKvlViko
Happy Father’s Day 2015 / Make My Day
BSG’s Parental Guidance in Duncan Miller Gallery’s YourDailyPhotograph
Parental Guidance, 2010
BSG’s image: “Parental Guidance” made the daily post of YourDailyPhotograph http://eepurl.com/bk2i8b (right above the image of Marilyn Monroe by the great Richard Avedon).
In the recent past images from Henri Cartier-Bresson, Andreas Gursky, Richard Misrach, Andre Kertesz, Edward Burtynsky and other photography legends have appeared in YDP
The site is sponsored by the Duncan Miller Gallery http://www.duncanmillergallery.com/ of Santa Monica, CA and YDP appears in 74 countries. My sincere appreciation to the DMG/YDP for exhibiting my work.
Nostalgia / Early Work
Swan Song, Brightwaters, NY
Having been unable to get around to shoot for some time, I became nostalgic for some of my early work. This image was entitled “Swan Song” because the swan and surrounding ducks are framed by the hanging branch and together they resemble a musical note. This was so long ago that it was originally shot on film (I went digital in 2004).
Back then I was a member of the Kendall Camera Club http://www.kendallcameraclub.org/ which still exists and exhibits some great work. Swan Song won Picture of the Year at the club, then along with getting my first images published in magazines, those accomplishments jump started my foray into Fine Art Photography.
Since I have a number of early images that bring back fond memories for me, at least for now, I will post some old work that has not been previously shown, …some oldies, but goodies.
Let it Snow, Let it Snow
Birds Eye View
Bird in Sawgrass, Florida Everglades, 2012
Having been out of sorts for a long while, seemingly with the weight of the world upon you, tends to manifest the feeling of isolation. This image captures that feeling wherein the weight of a common South Florida black bird known as a Grackle is supported by a thin reed of Sawgrass in the Florida Everglades.
Although isolated at that very moment, shortly thereafter he flew away, joining other members of his flock and then finding strength in numbers. Until then…
Go with the FLOW / Once in a Blue Moon
Reflection, Newport, KY 2009
Blue Moon, Atlanta, GA 2009
Contrary to my current situation in one sense and similar in another, the jellyfish in my series FLOW are free to float around, yet only within their own tank. This ironic comparison led me to re-visit the images in my popular Series with two images that have not previously been posted.
My jellyfish portraits are usually created of some variety of Nettle Jellyfish. The Atlantic Sea Nettle (Chrysaora quinquecirrha) inhabits tropical and subtropical parts of the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific and are often seen along the East Coast of the U.S. The Pacific Sea Nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens) is commonly located along the coasts of California and Oregon, but also can be found in the waters north to the Gulf of Alaska, west to the seas around Japan and south to the Baja Peninsula. These jellyfish, an example of which can be seen in the top image, consist of a bell with long tentacles reaching down.
The second, wholly distinct family of jellyfish included in my series, is the Moon Jellyfish (Aurelia aurita). As seen above, it exhibits a more malleable, saucer shaped body, with small tentacles reaching down, All of the jellies in my series are photographed with the existing aquarium light, whether white or colored, in order to catch the illumination of these luminescent creatures as each of them… FLOW around their tanks.
Hopefully, prints of these images as well as others, will continue to travel around the world, even if I can’t make it there myself.
Looking Back / The Importance of Editing
Moonlit Sailboats, Coconut Grove, FL 2010
Pelican Rest, Gulf of Mexico 2010
Due to circumstances beyond my control, I am not able to produce new work for a while. Notwithstanding this situation, I will continue to do my best to post images to keep my work out there in the public’s consciousness. In order to do that, I will be posting older images, including some that have never been exhibited before.
While reviewing much of the older work it made me remember the importance of editing, something that is much easier said then done. When you get serious about photography, it becomes very difficult to separate the better images from those that might not meet the test. In addition to paying attention to the overall composition, lighting, etc., it is often suggested that an outside set of eyes should give an unbiased opinion. Either way, the key is to be extremely critical and be sure that only the best make into the portfolio and/or are ultimately printed for exhibition/collection.
Finally, editing is also critical to the presentation of images in a portfolio, or when published in a book. Here, editing is used to present the images in a sequence that makes them flow. They should be placed in order by comparing color and/or lighting and/or composition and/or subject, so the images lead from one to the next naturally as the viewer sees them. This is more difficult than it seems and it is often necessary to use a professional Editor, even if it is just at the beginning to learn how it is done. I personally have worked with Paula Gillen http://bit.ly/1yMh3Gi, who has helped me along the way.
As a good example of successful editing, in the case of the two images above… they work well next to each other, whether in a portfolio, a book or… across from each other in an office lobby (see last Blog post).
Marsh Forward / Southern Comfort / Striking a Pose
Egrets in White Marsh, Tybee Island, GA 2008
For this image I caught the magic late afternoon light over Whitemarsh Island, just west of Tybee Island near Savannah on the Georgia coast. Look closely to see the white Egrets standing in the shallow water. Enlarging the image shows the birds in greater detail which helps to make this image something special. Not apparent where the swarming tiny crabs running around my feet as I set up and composed this shot.
Of course, “when in Rome” you need to eat like a Roman. So, when you are are on the Georgia Coast, you need to eat seafood. One of the best casual seafood restaurants I have ever eaten at was The Crab Shack on Tybee Island. http://www.thecrabshack.com/
First, you cross the walking bridge over the live baby alligators into the dining room that is situated on the water. Then, while sitting at the wood tables under the peach basket chandeliers, you must dive into one of their giant, overflowing buckets of seafood and go at it. To me, this is… Southern Comfort.
Closer up, the majestic Great Egret preens itself into a classic pose.
Great Egret, 2013
Looking Up to Mom / Happy Mother’s Day
Lioness and Cub, 2014
Parental Guidance, 2010
For my Fine Art work, I don’t like to photograph anything that can talk back to me and I usually only use human subjects to show scale in an image.
So, to celebrate Mother’s Day I have posted the above images of animal subjects that exhibit the importance of looking up to your Mother…I know I always did.
My, What Beautiful Eyes
Osprey, 2013
The Osprey is an unusual species of raptor in that it can be found worldwide in temperate and tropical regions of all continents except Antarctica, second in distribution only to the Peregrine Falcon. The Osprey can reach two feet long and almost six feet across across the wings. This impressive specimen seemed every bit that size.
During a drive through Everglades National Park, we came across this magnificent creature perched on a mangled tree near the side of the road. I know from experience that with wild birds, start shooting from your first sighting position, because each has there own level of tolerance as to when they will take flight. It is also best practice to use the longest lens possible so as not to disturb the wildlife. Here, using a long 400mm Canon L lens, I was able to capture the beautiful yellow eyes, feather detail, talons, beak and tongue from a safe distance.
While their tongues provide ventilation as well as modulation for calling to other birds, their impressive talons allow them to capture fish as they swoop down from the sky and across the surface of a body of water. Once the fish are secured, Ospreys can be seen in flight, carrying their prey somewhere safe to eat. On this occasion the Osprey itself was the (photographic) prey, I captured his image and took it somewhere safe to …post on my blog.
For the Birds / Florida Keys Bird Rescue
Pelican Bay, Florida Keys 2013
Brown Pelican, 2012
Many of my animal images are captured at wildlife rescues which offer two distinct advantages for me. First and foremost, hopefully my images and their attention, shine some light on the plight of the animals and gain support for the rescue locations. Second, it gives me an opportunity to get close to animals that are usually more elusive in the wild. (Although Pelicans, as in the second image captured elsewhere, often are used to people and won’t fly off until you are right next to them).
The Florida Keys Wild Bird Center/Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary http://fkwbc.org/ is one example of such a rescue facility, located at 93600 Overseas Hwy (Mile Marker 93.6) in Tavernier in the Florida Keys. In the case of the FKWBC, there is an opportunity to see birds while being rehabilitated and after they have been released, since some stay close to home for a while.
The Sanctuary as well as many other animal rescues are listed in my Blog Roll to the right with links to their websites. Anyone wishing to know more, details on visiting or just wanting to donate to their great causes is encouraged to do so. They are the front- runners in the difficult but noble task of protecting many of Mother Nature’s endangered creatures and they deserved to be recognized….and supported.
Best of 2013 / 10 Favorites from the Past Year
Waterfall, Milton, OH 2013
Lower Falls, Hocking Hills, OH 2013
Ebb and Flow, Deerfield Beach FL 2013
Thunder Road, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 2013
Gray Cat, Green Eyes, 2013
Caracara, 2013
Flamingo Fire, 2013
July 4th Fireworks, 2013
Moon and Stars, 2013
Never Forget, 911 Memorial, 2013
Before it gets too much further into the new year, here are some of my favorites from 2013.
Looking forward to creating more in 2014.
Winter Wonderland / Snow Scenes
Last Glimmer of Light, Winter Park CO 2007
Missing the snow and cold weather this winter, I am posting a couple of old favorites that I have previously posted. The trick with photographing snow is to not over-expose the white stuff. Best accomplished in overcast weather, make sure to keep the detail in snow by capturing edges, footprints or anything else that might break up the all white scene. The situation above was an exception to the rule. The very last glimmer of sunlight was disappearing behind the mountains and barely highlighted the far away peak. The low clouds and tree-line below makes this winter scene. In the printed image, you can clearly see snow on all the trees and the ridges in the snow on the peak.
Equine Snow Scene, Winter Park CO 2007
Above, this beauty stood alone in a fenced-in meadow with a bare forest behind. Seeing this perfect winter scene, I pulled over and captured the image before the animal moved and the composition was gone.
In December, the Colorado Rocky Mountains are truly a …winter wonderland.