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 boy sowing seeds that have been in his family for generations.

"So Steve (Estban, for the official record.) are you gonna follow in your father's footsteps?"
(Steve's father is Manny, renowned grower of the most fabulous and varied heirloom tomatoes in all of New York)

"Yes and no. Tomatoes make my family a good living. But I can do more. Tomatoes are for the present. Seeds are the future.
[Photographer's note: Here today, gazpacho tomorrow]
My father taught me that each generation should take from the last generation and make it better."

"And you actually listened?" (Note to self: send Drew to hang out with Manny and Steve next weekend)

"Of course...He expects it form me. So I will be studying agriculture. I hope to go to Yale, Cornell or Texas A&M next year... 
(We then talked about germination, hybridization, applied seed biology and biotechnologies.)
...and then I will make my father proud as he made his father proud."

I said to Steve "do you have any idea how proud your father would be right now if he were here?"

Pause.

Then Steve answered "He doesn't need to be here. He knows...and you will tell him anyway, right?"

Click.

"Steve, with your permission, I'll be telling more than him."

Another day, another life changing smile.

Was preparing for a bear of a day and feeling a bit overwhelmed when I literally ran into this happy fellow with the totally infectious smile. He was walking around lower Manhattan busy looking up at all the buildings and taking in the sights and sounds (that most of us take for granted) with the biggest grin. He apologized and I said "Why? your smile just turned my day around." Turns out Kwame has been here for all of three days after arriving from Ghana. He was so happy to be here and couldn't wait to start work tomorrow for his uncle with whom he is staying with the goal of bringing the rest of his family over. 
He said "They will not believe how wonderful it is here and how happy they will be"
I said "so c'mon, let's show them."

Click.

And remember (because it really does need repeating): The bigger the smile you give, the bigger the smile you get.

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 busload of gaping, gawking tourists to entertain

oh sure...scamper from tree to tree, play with some flower buds (ooh yum), catch and eat some insect larvae (that'll gross 'em out), throw some poop at the crowds (ha...that'll REALLY gross 'em out), join in the kids' impromptu wrestling match, act all chatty and friendly with the young ladies (those sluts...what, are they ALWAYS in heat?), groom that big, lazy male with that god-awful pelt...Jeez! Momma's tired. My back aches. I am way overdue for a waxing. All I want to do is sit here, relax and wait for the Real Housewives of Bali to come on. (click)

Another day, another demolition derby babe working her charms to sell more fried butter

Another day, another demolition derby babe working her charms to sell more fried butter.

Be still my heart. Literally.

Note: take 100 percent pure sweet cream butter, whip it until it is light and fluffy, freeze it, then surrounds it with dough. Drop the butter-laden dough balls into a deep fryer (whether the oil is clean or has been frying up bacon, twinkies or turkey legs is entirely up to you).
For purists seeking the unadulterated taste of butter, serves plain. For others who want a little more pizzazz, feel free to flavor your batter with garlic, bacon fat or coke syrup. (sigh)

Another day, another demolition derby intermission when a young man's fancy turns to corny dogs

Another day, another demolition derby intermission when a young man's fancy turns to Corny-Dogs, kool-aid dill pickles, spaghetti and meatballs on a stick, chicken-fried bacon, deep fried turkey legs bigger than his head, fried mac 'n cheese balls, buttery kettle corn (to munch and throw at his older brother when his back is turned), a caramel apple (to take three bites of and then...somehow...ends up wrapped in his kid sister's hair), deep fried twinkies and oreos covered in chocolate syrup and whipped cream and (last but not least) a towering, fluffy, cumulonimbus cloud of cotton candy that looks surprisingly like the pink beehive of the surprisingly attractive woman 5 rows back...

Another day, another debate over Miles Davis or Charles Mingus or Thelonius Monk, trumpet versus vibraphone and which is less important: drums or or bass.

Please don't start debating jazz with me. I just like to talk to the folks who let me take their pictures. Can you see his wheels turning before his opening salvo?

For me, photographing people is like good jazz; there's always an arrangement but far more important is the interaction, collaboration, spontaneity and the heaping helping of improvisation we all bring to the party. (works for me anyway)

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

A few faves from the Coney Island Mermaid Parade, 2011

Another day, another boy finding out who his secret admirer is

A convention of Black-eyed Susans (or is it a herd? A troupe? Or gaggle?)

A convention of Black-eyed Susans (or is it a herd? A troupe? Or gaggle?), originally uploaded by ashapiro515.

When a bunch of Black-eyed Susans come together, what are they called?
A herd...
A troupe...
A gaggle...
A plethora...
An invasion...

My favorite: A cacaphony

I screwed up with this image because there were acres of them and all I shot was this. Musta had stuff on my mind. Damn. This is a mistake I'm not keen on celebrating. (So consider this a cautionary tale)

An amazing moment between a mother and daughter. A time for joy. A reminder: hug your kids.

An amazing moment between a mother and daughter. A time for joy. A reminder: hug your kids., originally uploaded by ashapiro515.

An amazing moment between a mother and daughter. A time for joy. A reminder: hug your kids.

sorry for the lack of sharpness but was really caught up in the tender moment. At the same time, Shanna, the crazy aggressive Sheepdog was inches from me, barking furiously, worried about her charges.

Yes, the baby was absolutely smiling. What's not to smile about.

Low tide at Rye Beach

Had two related conversations today.
Someone this morning asked me why I don't do more landscape photography. I didn't have an answer.
   A different person asked me what I thought made one landscape better than another. [Insert long pregnant pause here.] I didn't have an answer (at least not a good one):
Some landscapes make me feel like immediately packing a bag and booking a flight.
Others make me see a place I've been to in a totally different way. Others make me feel small; not in an insignificant way, but rather as something much, much bigger.

Which took me back to the first question. And made me nervous. Could I evoke any of those feelings in someone else? Or do something else? And if so, what? I have to admit, I'm a little scared. Which isn't such a bad place for someone wanting to really push themselves.


Follow my twitter stream at: @alansphotos

Another day, another Lindsey.

"So dad"
   "Yeah Lindsey?"
You know how I've been really moody lately?"
   "Uh...yeah!"
"Hah! Sucks for you."

Then every door in the house slammed shut, a bolt of lightning that could have supplied power to an entire medium sized town split the largest tree in our backyard down to the roots and hail the size of marbles and golfballs started pelting the roof. Oh, god...are those locusts?

(Jeez)

Is it just me...

...or do other people think about doing their best Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin-esque routines in bead stores. Must be careful not to share this with too many people (especially the owners of the establishment.)

Of course, being a Taurus, the whole Bull in a China Shop Bead Store-thing speaks to me.

Ferns under the moonlight

I love ferns. How they wait to be discovered in shady places.
How they look massed together in fields and by the side of streams.
And the way they unfurl. Especially when viewed late at night. Under a brilliant full moon.

Another day, another set of mood swings

 I am the incredibly proud father of a nearly twelve year old daughter. And I am totally convinced that if we could harness the power of a teenage girl's mood swings, we would be able to completely eliminate the need for oil, coal or nuclear material as an energy source.

In the meantime, God give me strength

There's way more to life than Wild Mushroom Ravioli...like Mascarpone Cheesecake and Warm Chocolate Ganache Cake

Yup. I had to go back to Karma Lounge (two nights in a row means this place is super-extra-special). Wanted to introduce more friends to this local hidden treasure. The teenaged kids that were part of the party are a typically cynical and emotionless bunch but not here. Wish I had pictures to share of their teenaged faces lighting up after trying one incredible dish after another. (Teenagers rarely show this much emotion unless I am asking them to pose for me and then it's the wrong emotion.)

So have a little visual taste of Chef Miguel's Mascarpone Cheesecake with Strawberry Compote and Kahlua Espresso Sauce or if you prefer decadent chocolate desserts, his Warm Chocolate Ganache Cake with fresh berries and Raspberry Sauce is to die for.

Important to note is that we had none of the issues from my previous post because everyone got their own dessert and refused to share. I am proud of myself for not publicly licking the plate for it was crowded and I didn't want to give the other guests the wrong idea.

And a huge shout out to owner Alison D'Elia for her fabulous martinis. No, really fabulous martinis.

And last but certainly not least, while the waitstaff overall is pretty damn terrific, I'm totally partial to Jessica who is perfectly attentive, delightful and just friggin' awesome.