Happy Holiday Season 2017 / Let there be Light… Displays
Wherever you are located in the country, this time of year brings out varying forms of holiday light displays. For generations they have come to represent the spirit of the season. So, whether you are in the city:
Ornaments, New York City, NY 2012
in the suburbs:
Holiday Light Display, Davie, FL 2013
or even in the mountains:
Lit Tree, Winter Park, CO 2007
The tradition will inevitably be handed down for generations to come:
Enlightenment, Davie, FL 2013
Wishing a Happy Holiday season to all.
Varying Techniques used to Photograph Supermoons Over the Years
A supermoon is a full moon (opposite Earth from the sun) that closely coincides with perigee – the moon’s closest point to Earth in its monthly elliptic orbit. When the moon always swings farthest away from Earth once each month; that point is called apogee. These perigee, or
Nuclear Supermoon
supermoons, result in what seems like a larger-than-usual apparent size as viewed from Earth. There are 4-6 supermoons a year on average and can cause real physical effects, such as
Supermoon Reflected
larger-than-usual tides. From a photographic standpoint, supermoons also take on a deep reddish tint as they rise from the horizon, lightening in color to yellow and/or tan and then, eventually
Supermoon and Cruise Ship
to the regular, although a bit brighter, white. Due to the unique nature of this phenomenon, I have tried to capture supermoons in various ways over the years. In order of presentation here:
Supermoon and Distant Bird
(1.) has an effect similar to a nuclear explosion as the moon seems to be exploding from the horizon, (2.) within a second or two after that, the moon has risen above the horizon and
Birds Eye View
leaves a glint of reflection underneath, (3.) a cruise ship’s embarkation timed to pass the supermoonrise, (4.) a dusk supermoon also has a very distant bird silhouetted against the
Clouded Supermoon at Dusk
bottom, left corner,(5.) several birds silhouetted against a blurred, high rising moon offers another take on how to capture the scene. Finally (6.) a clouded moon framed as it rises between the silhouette of two trees at dusk.
Clearly, the phenomenon offers countless possibilities to capture a…super image.
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.
Mother Nature Shows Her True Colors / Despite Showing Her Wrath
As Autumn arrives in much of the rest of the country, Mother Nature exhibits some of her most vibrant colors. Although she has recently slammed many of us with her most extreme weather, in between dealing with the reality of the storms, I remember those moments of glorious color that
Gold Standard, near Steamboat Springs, Colorado 2008
I have witnessed in years past. From the western golden Aspens to the eastern Blue Ridge swatch of colors, this is the picturesque side that reminds us of her best…
Autumn Cascade, Tennessee, 2009
Rocky Road, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 2009
while we are still seeing red from some of her worst (Harvey, Irma and Maria)….
Seeing Red, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 2009
So, here’s to the day when we can again concentrate on her beauty and not so much on her wrath. In the meantime, here are ways to donate to Hurricane relief for the ongoing devastation in Puerto Rico. Unicef ….. Save the Children ….Red Cross. Every bit helps.
What a Difference a Day Makes / Hurricane Irma’s Wrath
What a difference a day makes…The image below was created on a beautiful evening in Coconut Grove at Florida’s Dinner Key Marina. The water was perfectly calm and the sailboats were lit by natural light from a full moon… Fast forward to Sunday as Hurricane Irma came ashore on the
Moonlit Sailboats, Coconut Grove, FL 2010 / ©Barry Steven Greff
west coast of Florida some 100 miles across the state on Marco Island. Notwithstanding how far away the eye of the hurricane was, her intensity and strength had significant impact on much of the east coast because the storm stretched further than the width of the State itself. Below are a couple of news images of what Dinner Key now looks like after the storm. The moorings of the
sailboats that were secured specifically for the storm, were no match for her. The winds and surge of the water dislodged many of the boats with some of them winding up on the shore as seen above while others capsized in the water.
As a resident of a state that has gone through many hurricanes, Floridians are a resilient bunch. No doubt, given enough time, Dinner Key will once again be restored to its natural splendor. It’s been done before and… I’m sure it will be done again.
You can help those affected by the storm by contacting the Red Cross at 1-800-HELP NOW or online at: http://rdcrss.org/2y1q1VV
It’s Been a While / Unveiling a New Look
It’s been a while since my last post. Although I have dealt with health issues for some time, recent circumstances exasperated the situation, hence the lack of posts. As not to be a total loss, the down-time has been used to re-vamp and re-vitalize my on-line presence.
Last Glimmer of Light, Winter Park, CO 2007
To that end (and to take a visual break from the summer heat), leading off the images on my new, state of the art website I exhibit an old favorite of mine, Last Glimmer of Light in the newer, larger format. Captured just as the sun set on the Continental Divide as seen from Winter Park, Colorado, a moment later the light was gone.
As with all my images, the Fine Art prints exhibit far more detail than can be seen on-line, with this one showing the ridges on the mountaintop and snow on the dark trees at the bottom.
I captured this image many years ago and at the very last-minute as I dashed into a vacation rental and out to the deck just as we arrived at sunset. I barely had enough time to set up the tripod with a Canon L 400mm lens to assure the required detail in a subject that was so far away.
So, as I sometimes do, I twist the meaning of the title and present this new website to represent the opposite of…the last glimmer of light… for me. www.barrystevengreff.com
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
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Contact: Barry Steven Greff
Telephone: 305.576.8400
Email: barrystevengreff@gmail.com
Website: http://www.barrystevengreff.com
