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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.
Downward Spiral, literally
Downward Spiral, Chicago 2006
Creating iconic images of the ethereal beauty found on Earth, I consciously avoid negativity in my work (there is plenty of that to be found elsewhere in Fine Art Photography).
Notwithstanding the content of my images, Blog Posts are often motivated by the author’s state of mind at the time. Personally, I have been dealing with some serious health issues for a while and therefore have been reaching into my (extensive) archives for images to post rather than creating much new work.
That fact has brought me to the title of one of the first two jellyfish portraits that eventually resulted in my popular series: FLOW. Although I feel that I have been in a Downward Spiral during this process, I will, as always, fight the good fight in the hopes of coming back out into the light, and continuing to create work that inspires. Here’s hoping for the turn around…
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.
BSG Exhibits ASCENSION at The Center for Fine Art Photography
Ascension, Newport, Kentucky, 2009
Ascension, from the Series: FLOW http://www.barrystevengreff.com, is currently being exhibited in the Natural World exhibition at The Center for Fine Art Photography in Fort Collins, CO http://bit.ly/1ejRmqo
The exhibition runs from April 12 through May 17, 2014 with a reception on Friday, May 2, 2014 from 6-9. Speaking at the reception will be juror, Susan Spiritus, owner of the prestigious Susan Spiritus Gallery in Newport, CA. http://susanspiritusgallery.com/
Susan Spiritus has been a leader in the field of fine art photography for 38 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 works by such photographic luminaries as Ansel Adams, Ruth Bernhard, Manuel Álvarez Bravo, Eikoh Hosoe, André Kertész, Paul Caponigro, Brett Weston and George Tice.
The esteemed Ms. Spiritus has previously chosen one of my images for the 2010 Natural World exhibition and three images for the Black and White exhibition in 2012.
It’s Been a While – Jellyfish from the Series: FLOW
Ascencion, Newport, KY 2009
Full, San Francisco, CA 2009
Long having been a popular series, here are a couple of installments from FLOW: Isolated Portraits of Jellyfish. Each respective image in the series is named from the impression I get by the particular shape and form captured therein. As examples. in these two I see the first jellyfish ascending to the surface while the second seems to have a full bell of tentacles that are overflowing out.
Shot through glass at various Aquariums around the U.S. the color and natural beauty of these magnificent creatures work well in commercial, residential and marine settings. Whether exhibited alone or in groups, the images can be traditionally framed as Fine Art prints or mounted on stainless steel behind acrylic (which really make the images pop).
Many more can be viewed at www.barrystevengreff.com in the portfolio entitled: FLOW.
If you build it…they will come / BSG Solo Exhibition in NYC closes.
Manhattan Portrait, Central Park, New York City, NY 2013
I would like to thank all of the people who came to my Solo Exhibition at 25 CPW Gallery on Central Park West in NYC these last few weeks. Some were good friends, family and people I have met in the photography world. Many others were individuals that came because they love Fine Art Photography. Special thanks to my collectors, past and future and to the legendary photographer Robert Farber www.farber.com who came to my Artist Reception. I have included some images of the event taken by talented wedding/event photographer Vik Manchada http://on.fb.me/VMqG6x.
As usual, while in NYC for the show, after the gallery doors close…I create. I will post some of my new Cityscapes here and going forward. As those that have now seen my work in person know, I am known for the detail in my images. Hence, in the image above, the tourist on the right side of the bridge is taking a photo of her smiling friend standing on the bridge as I am taking one of them…and the city beyond. I always look for the Big Picture.
Entrance to 25CPW Gallery at Central Park West and 62nd St. NYC, NY
BSG Artist Reception, January 10, 2013 at 25CPW Gallery, NYC, NY
BSG with legendary photographer, Robert Farber at BSG’s Artist Reception
Until the next show…Thanks again.
BSG Solo Exhibition at 25CPW Gallery on Central Park West in NYC
After participating in a group show at 25CPW Gallery in December, I am having a Solo Exhibition at the gallery. This coming Thursday, January 10, 2013 will be the Artist Reception from 6-9 pm. The Gallery is located on Central Park West at 62nd Street, one block north of Columbus Circle. Anyone that is in New York at the time is very welcome to come by. Additionally, there will be gallery hours from 12pm to 8pm that weekend. www.25cpw.org
A portion of the proceeds will go to Evan’s Team, a foundation created in memory of Evan Lieberman, an amazing young man we lost in a tragic car accident. www.evansteamny.com
