This bad photo could be my favorite photo ever

This bad photo could be my favorite photo ever
It's terribly grainy and not as well composed as I'd like but this photo taken two days ago speaks to me more than just about any other. Rocco Moretto is a WWII Vet that I've known for years from my frequent shoots of the Veterans on Veteran's Day. When Lockheed Martin approached me to shoot their new ad campaign featuring Veterans, Rocco (or Rocky as we all call him) was one of my first submissions for casting. We began shooting the campaign several weeks ago and Rocky and I got to know each other even better. I adore him and we speak quite often if only for me to hear his voice and thank him again for being a new hero in my world. Rocky was in Company C comprised of 220 soldiers that landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy on D Day. Of those 220, only 2 made it to the Czech border for VE Day. Rocky called me a week or so ago to tell me that his VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post in Queens was being renamed in his honor and would I be his guest. I gave Rocky a large print from our recent shoot (and also one for his post) and he cried. Which made me cry. And then I hugged this 90+ year old man and thought of all the unsung heroes living amongst us.
I took in the event and watched as an aging hero was celebrated. This particular moment had a truly incredible singer recreating a USO show (for one) and I can't look at it without smiling and getting kinda mushy because I have a true hero in my life and he is as humble and gracious and magnificent as I could imagine (and then some).
So here's a bad photo that could be one of my greatest photos ever.

I love meeting new people. Talking with them. Hearing their stories. Sharing with them in hopes that they'll share back.  Watching the transformations from wary to friendly. From cynical to approachable. From closed to open.
Approaching people is not as hard as it seems and is so incredibly rewarding.
My friend +Mike Shaw and I talk about this a lot.
Stay tuned for something special he approached me about that I think will be meaningful, transformational and wonderful.
In the meantime,
Stay inspired.

Another day, another triple-feature of Apocalypse Now, Full Metal Jacket and Platoon playing nightly in 3-D with surround sound.

I love to talk to people. And some of the folks I most enjoy talking to are those who have served their country. I am of the generation born during the Viet Nam War so I never knew the draft or any of the repercussions. Whether I have my camera or not (which is quite rare), I always say "Thank You" no matter their service, conflict or cause. To put yourself in harm's way for your country is a staggering thought for me. But Eddie did. And still can't get some of the images out of his head. I simply cannot imagine what he and countless others experienced. But I listen to them; and take in some laughter but far more of what I take in is chilling and haunting.
What I can do, in exchange for their sharing their time with me, is take pictures of them (not like the one below) for their families and their grandchildren. 

And, I always say "thank you"

Another day, another trash-talking photographer rendered powerless with a single glance.

This is John. We play chess together. Actually, it's more like wage epic battles...there's no play involved. Now I think I'm pretty good but John is way better and the only question is how many moves will I last until the inevitable checkmate. Of course, being the photographer I am, I try to distract him by taking his picture and talking "smack":
There aren't enough Bishops in the world to help you, John."
"Oh, need a big queen to fight your battles, John?"
"I heard your mama liked knights a little too much, John."
I'd go on and on.

Then, the other day, I asked a serious question:

"So John, what if you couldn't ever play chess again?"

Click.

Another day, another boy who's only memories of his father are the faded photos he and his sister keep hidden from their mother

Fabianna, Queen of the Baboons

Fabianna, Queen of the Baboons, giving the man who called himself her Keeper her most provocative look and a slow, deliberate view of her assets; so full, pendulous and scarlet red...

There he was again, with his brilliant sparkling eyes and knowing smile. Taunting her. Teasing her. Each beat of her heart like a primal chant in the villages near her birthplace. She could see the banana he secretly carried, long, ripe and proudly curved; swaying back and forth gently. It made her shudder with anticipation. With each breath, her chest heaved like a bulimic after Thanksgiving dinner...


With sincerest apologies to anyone with an eating or Romance Novel disorder. These are serious issues and should not be made fun of.

Plotting his escape while seething about how much he hates straw.

Give me anything to sleep on...soft grass, fragrant banana tree fronds, luxurious moss, a Hasten's Vividus mattress from Sweden...anything but this friggin' straw.

Another day, another guy's guy just waiting to kick the first ass of the first guy who looks at him the wrong way

So what the hell you lookin' at?

Another day, another coupla acres to work

Sonny Bialas of Bialas Farms is a charming, hard working and passionate man. His wife and daughter are equally wonderful and I had the pleasure of spending some time time with them talking about life on the farm...the trials, the tribulations, the pride and, above all, the joy they get from working the "black earth" that is their 68 acres and all the extraordinary things that grow there. The joy comes through in everything they grow.

Another day, another girl waiting for falafel in the style of Vermeer

Vermeer was at the Met. Moira was waiting for a falafel in the West Village. Inspiration meets muse and does a happy dance.

Bubble, Bubble, toil and trouble...

Another day, another pot to stir, cauldron to scrub and broomstick to mend while sipping a soul-soothing damnation and wrath cocktail

Another day, another love potion with a bit too much lizard's tongue and nowhere near enough lovage root

Another day, another lock of hair, some toenail clippings and a dash of powdered eye of newt

Darn, now where did I put the dragon's blood resin? Never mind, will just substitute some black poodle dog hair and powdered sulphur mixed with a few drops of patchouli oil.

Sunflower Swansong

Took a late afternoon walk to see what images would leap into my camera. I got lucky.

Some more folks

Powerful connections

When flowers daydream

Farmer, Worker, Passing Stranger and Little Hellraiser

Moments of connection

A simple truth that I forever marvel at: the more open I am with my subjects, the more open (braver, more vulnerable, more giving) they are with me.