Archive
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.
Back to the Sea Again / Some Late 2013 Seascapes
Pink Sunset, Hutchinson Island, FL 2013
Gilbert’s House of Refuge, Hutchinson Island, FL 2013
Dog Fight, Hutchinson Island, FL 2013
Starting off the new year by posting some late 2013, unpublished Seascapes. My favorite beach to photograph is on Hutchinson Island, north of Palm Beach in Jensen Beach, Stuart, FL. With rock formations and regular high surf, in my humble opinion it is one of the best, if not the best, place to create seascapes in South Florida.
Here are some images that I captured there during the magic light of one 24 hour period.
In 2014, I’m sure I’ll be back to the sea… again.
P.S. My New Years resolution is to significantly increase the number of collectors of my Fine Art Prints. So…if you, or anyone you know is looking for iconic sea, land or cityscapes, or intimate portraits of animals or jellyfish…send them to http://www.barrystevengreff.com or e-mail barrystevengreff@gmail.com.
Here’s to 2014.
East and West / Sunset Seascapes
Dusk, Dania Beach, FL 2013
Sanibel Sunset, Sanibel-Captiva, FL 2013
In South Florida, the driving distance from the East to the West Coast is about 2 hours. In the East, the Atlantic Ocean routinely has bigger wave activity then it’s sister coast, which is the calmer, usually flat, Gulf of Mexico.
In these two particular Sunset Seascapes, the tidal activity is reversed with a calm Atlantic and an unusually rough Gulf tide. Both shot just after sunset, the reflected sunlit clouds show that, although the sun always sets in the West, Mother Nature does not play favorites.
On any given day she can provide you with a great show on either coast… You just have to be there to see what happens.
Islands in the Sun / Florida Keys in Color and Black and White
Island in the Sun, Florida Keys, FL 2012
Two Trees, Florida Keys, FL 2012
Heading south from Miami, the road eventually narrows into just two lanes, north and south. The Overseas Highway is a 127.5 mile highway that carries U.S. Route 1 from Homestead/Florida City south to Key West at the end. All along the way the road is surrounded by water, islands and wildlife.
Seen in countless movies (remember the limousine chase in Schwarzenegger’s True Lies) http://bit.ly/1bqdZ55 and the majority of television car commercials, the road through the keys is a unique and beautiful place to travel and photograph. And when you reach the end to Key West (AKA Margaritaville), you can enjoy, as Jimmy Buffet sang, a Cheeseburger in Paradise http://bit.ly/11rWT17 …or at least a slice of Key Lime Pie, which is as good as it gets and where it originated.
By the Sea, By the Sea, By the Beautiful Sea / Dusk Seascapes
By the Sea, Deerfield Beach, FL 2013
Time and Tide Wait For No Man, Deerfield Beach, FL 2013
To create low light, dusk Seascapes such as these, you need: a.) patience, b.) a tripod), c.) a shutter release cable and d) bare feet. The patience is required to wait until just the right light, here, just after sunset. The tripod is a necessity to hold the camera steady to allow for a long exposure to capture the smooth motion of the ocean. The cable release adds an additional amount of steadiness when clicking the shutter. The bare feet are required because you will get wet, and you will sink into the sand as the tide ebbs and flows beneath you.
Here are some tips to avoid disaster, and hopefully capture a great image: a.) keep the camera strap around your neck in case somehow the camera becomes detached from the tripod (nothing worse than an SLR in sea water,) b.) aim one of the Tripod legs down towards the ocean so it remains somewhat steady as the surf comes in and goes out, c.) force the tripod legs deep into the sand (inevitably, it will still move with a big wave, but try to hold it down when that happens, d.) keep the shutter release cable high, (I lay it around my neck), so it won’t get wet dangling down, e.) pay attention to the waves in the background as well as the tide in the foreground to create a solid composition.
Do all of the above and you may come away with something great. Worse case scenario…there is no place better to find yourself as the sun sets on another day.
Six Months from Sandy / Seascapes from a Superstorm
Touch of Light, Jupiter, FL 2012
On the six month anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, a couple images of her effect on the South Florida coastline as she headed north. Wishing a solid recovery to all those affected by the storm.
Crest and Crash, Jupiter, FL 2012
I Shoot Horses…Don’t I? / The Art of Equus
Equine Snow Scene, Winter Park, CO 2007
The majestic Horse has been represented in Art since the days of prehistoric cave paintings. I am no expert in breeds and could not tell whether the animal in the above image was, in fact a horse, maybe a Bay, or even a mule, combination of horse and Donkey (anyone with a better idea, don’t hesitate to chime in). All I know is a picturesque scene when I see one, and this clearly fit the bill. Driving up the road toward a ranch near Winter Park just after a light snow, the beautiful brown coat and white back and eyes caught my attention.
The beauty and character of many equine subjects work extremely well in a Fine Art photograph. For me, the right composition (location of the animal in the scene) is key as are the details of the animal’s pose. The placement of the head, legs and even the tail can make or break an image. Patience is a virtue with horses. They usually stay in one area for a while unless they become curious and approach you looking for food. In this case, the momentary lift of a seemingly painted head, with a body lightly covered with snow, created the perfect subject against the snow-covered trees.
Lone Horseman on Beach, Pacific Northwest 2006
Sometimes less is more. This is an example of using negative space to create an ethereal image of an isolated subject. The lone horseman on this Pacific Northwest beach looked out to Sea in the morning fog. The mountain range behind him can barely be seen, but became more evident as the fog lifted. Here, the horse and rider stand alone to signify peace and solitude. Again, timing is everything in that immediately after the image was created, the rider was gone and the fog soon lifted.
Back to the Sea…and it’s Changed / Dinner with a View
Blue Lines, Dania Beach, FL 2012
Having shot at this particular Pier many times over the years, there had long been an empty restaurant location at the beach end. In 2012 construction began on a new Restaurant. Shooting at sunset one night I noticed that they had installed some blue neon lighting near where the restaurant was being constructed and it eerily reflected blue lines on the surf below it.
Dinner and a View, Dania Beach, FL 2013
At my most recent shoot at the location, the restaurant had been completed and was packed with diners. The Quarterdeck Restaurant http://www.quarterdeckrestaurants.com/ at Dania Beach Pier, clearly offers Dinner and a View. It also changes a subject I have shot for a long time, opening up new possibilities for images… and great meals, in the future.
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
First Sunrise of 2013, Fort Lauderdale Beach. A Sign of Things to Come.
First Sunrise, January 1, 2013, 7:09 a.m., Ft. Lauderdale Beach, FL 2013
Getting up some 5 hours after watching the ball drop in Times Square (on TV), I caught the first sunrise of 2013 from Ft. Lauderdale Beach, FL, and even the seagull cooperated on this one.
Hoping this is a sign of good things to come in the New Year.
Closing Out 2012 in Grand Style – BSG Exhibiting @ 25CPW Gallery/NYC

Cab Ride in the Rain, Radio City Music Hall, NYC 2009
Closing out 2012 in grand style. I will be exhibiting work at 25CPW, the great New York City gallery located at Central Park West and West 62nd Street. http://www.25cpw.org/ Bess Greenberg, Founder/Curatorial Director and Abby Verbosky, Manager of Exhibitions run the gallery which has recently held a 100 year celebration of Editta Sherman’s celebrity portraits that was covered by ABC News and the New York Times. They have also mounted exhibits with the Magnum Foundation, the New York Camera Club and continue to show the work of established and emerging artists.
The Artist’s Market group exhibition will run from Thursday night through Sunday night. Gallery hours are 12 pm to 8 pm, with an Artist’s Reception Saturday night with live music from 6pm to 9pm (gallery will close at 10:00 pm).
I hope that all my NYC friends and anyone else that might like to see some interesting work, will stop by. Thank You.
Under the Boardwalk Exhibited at FotoWeek DC in Washington DC
Under the Boardwalk, Deerfield Beach, FL (2010)
My Black and White image Under the Boardwalk is currently being exhibited during the FotoWeek DC festival in Washington DC from November 9-18, 2012. 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. This image was previously exhibited at the former Camera Obscura Gallery which was owned by the great photographer and gallerist, Hal Gould in Denver, Colorado.
Whether through fine art photography, photojournalism, or the work of emerging artists, FotoDC https://www.fotoweekdc.org/ provides a dynamic, evocative, engaging experience for photographers, cultural institutions, galleries, curators, schools, area residents, and tens of thousands of viewers. Founded as FotoWeekDC in 2008, the weeklong photography festival initially attracted 20,000 participants; including professional and amateur photographers, photography lovers, and partners such as National Geographic, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, The Smithsonian Institution, and various local art galleries. In 2009, the organization received non-profit status and began developing programs to include professional development and new exhibition venues. In response to demand for year-round programming, FotoWeek DC rebranded in 2011 to become FotoDC, and launched new programs to provide greater exposure for all photographers, new venues for exhibitions and new programs for students and youth. The annual Festival in November continues to be FotoDC’s largest project with over 40,000 attendees each year.
The Solitary Reader – California Coast
The Reader, California Coast 2009
While shooting along the California coast, we came across this scene out of an old painting. The Reader was deep into her book as the sea birds and sea lions played off shore.
If this doesn’t say solitary, I don’t know what does (except, of course for the photographer behind her creating the image).
P.S. I am trying this post, for the “Solitary” theme for WordPress’s Post a Day. @postaday
Sea Design – Oregon Coast / EQUIVALENTS Exhibition opens in Seattle
Sea Design, Bandon, Oregon 2009
Pinnacles in the Mist, Olympic Peninsula, WA 2006
My blog posts are often inspired by current world events or my own personal observations and experiences. Most recently, a phone call to one of my best college buddies, wherein he told me he was off to Oregon, inspired a post on…Oregon. His son was ending a cross-country bike trek there to benefit affordable housing in the U.S. A great effort for a great cause deserves our attention…and contribution. http://bikeandbuild.org/rider/5653
As for the first image, from a casual seaside hotel I captured this scenic Black and White image of the pinnacles at Bandon Beach, Oregon. Having walked amongst the rocks during low tide, once the sea came back in it created this beautiful design along the beach.
The second scene, which was previously posted, I came across unexpectedly as I climbed atop a large pile of petrified wood that had floated ashore over time. Catching the fog, just before it lifted, this image captures the sole of this beautiful location.
A magnificent part of the country, the scenery and the local seafood alone make this area a great place to visit. The fact that you can find sand dunes, granite cliffs, pinnacles and old growth forest, all within a few hours drive of each other on the coast, in my humble opinion, makes this the greatest road trip in America.
P.S. GALLERY OPENING: As indicated in this PDN Photoserve News item at: http://bit.ly/T7bmhi, the Equivalents exhibition at the PhotoCenter NW Gallery in Seattle, WA opened this weekend. From over 2,000 entries, my image “Niagara” was juried into the exhibition by the legendary Curator and Collector, W.M. Hunt (who will speak on opening night at the Seattle Art Museum). The show will run from August 3rd to September 18th, 2012. http://bit.ly/SFsHxI (see image 61 of 65 on the Gallery website).
Catching the Sunset … for Commerce and Fine Art
Catching the Sunset, Bradenton, FL 2012
Sunset and Rusted Pier, Bradenton, FL 2012
Previously I indicated that I don’t usually shoot the sun during sunsets. There is an exception to every rule and some sunsets are just made to be photographed. Such was the case on this recent summer evening. The color, shape and design of the setting sun begged to be shot. Using the old, rusted pier as a reference I captured this classic end of day image. The fisherman seemingly catching the sun as it set in the first, more commercial image, was an added bonus.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea… and Visitors to the Blog
Torch, Louisville, KY 2009
In 1870, the French writer Jules Verne depicted the undersea world he saw within his mind’s eye in the classic novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. In my work I strive to depict the mysteries of the deep through my jellyfish portraits, and capture and exhibit that which I see in my own mind’s eye topside.
Since launching this blog I have enjoyed a very loyal, and steadily growing readership. Using the Verne analogy, I wanted to express my gratitude for the now 20,000 visits to the Blog, Adventures from Behind the Glass. Only in cyberspace can you have so many visitors to your home, and not have to worry about cleaning the carpets.
I appreciate the support of those that have been here from the start as well as the new followers that join the adventure after each post. I will strive to continually post new images, which I hope exhibit the wonderment described by the 20,000 Leagues narrator Professor Pierre Aronnax as he detailed the adventures of Captain Nemo and friends when he said: “A strange twilight world opened up before me, and I felt as the first man to set foot on another planet, an intruder in this mystic garden of the deep.” To describe the feeling I have when creating images, I couldn’t have said it better myself, not even 142 years later.
Everything Coming Together – Classic Lighthouse Image
Battery Point Lighthouse, Crescent City, CA 2009
Many individual factors go into making a strong, classic image and I strive to make every part of the photograph count. Here, after composing the northern California scene, I paid specific attention to the details within the frame, the breaking waves, catching the revolving lighthouse beam, the background clouds emphasizing the building and even a good location for the bird flying by. Everything comes together to create a timeless sunset seascape.
My only regret with this scene, was leaving too early to catch a great local seafood dinner before the restaurant closed. I have long since envisioned what I could have created after the sun had set, smoothing out the water and utilizing the light beaming from the lighthouse. I guess I’ll have to go back…some day.
Rainbow Sunset – Everglades City
Rainbow & Dock, Everglades City, FL 2009
Heading south from Naples, Florida along the southwest coast, one of the last populated areas (1,000 residents in 2011) is Everglades City. Known for stone crabs and environmental touring of the area, it is the northwest entry into Everglades National Park. On this particular summer evening I interrupted a casual waterfront dinner to capture this rare combination of rainbow and sunset.
Sunset at the Docks, Everglades City, FL 2009
Rainbows come and go within a matter of minutes and are best captured as soon as they are seen (and preferably with a polarizing filter to bring out the colors). Additionally, the fleeting magic hour (actually sometimes just minutes) following sunset, often provides spectacular lighting for creating beautiful land and seascapes, but is also soon just a (hopefully recorded) memory.
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.