A new Long-Tailed Hornbill Portrait (plus a few recent ones)

I am totally fascinated by this fellow (at least I hope it's a fellow because if its a girl, she is destined to stay single for all eternity)

This is a West African Long-Tailed (or White Crested) Hornbill.
They are only about 18" tall with a 42" long tail but their countenance is remarkable and has surely inspired many a horror story. For me they are clearly inspiring although I wish I could get at least one of them to smile for the camera or at least look a touch happier. Oh well... at least they don't try to peck my eyes out like they used to.

Portrait of an Ocellated Turkey as a young man

Another one of several tests for a new series I am working on. Thoughts?

Stones and snow playing nicely together

Another day, another chef dreaming about Prawns, Pork Belly, Foie Gras, Piri Piri pepper, White Truffles and Iberian Jamon (always Jamon)

Anthony is a Chef and Restauranteur I've gotten to know fairly well over the past several weeks. Shooting the full menus of his two restaurants as well as he and his staff at work tends to do that to folks. I have never had this much fun working (nor eaten as well) in my entire life.
   What is almost as amazing as the food (and believe me, it is "ohmigod, to-die-for good") is how effortless he and his team make it look and how gracious they all are even under the most stressful of times (I've been there in the kitchen shooting through crazy busy dinner services). Anyone who's been in a kitchen or seen the likes of some well known TV chefs, knows how rare and special this is, especially when the food is of such a high caliber.

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.

Perfectly poised Peacock with plumage proudly pointed posing

So here's what you do: find a beautiful background with lots of color and plop yourself down on the ground hoping that an equally beautiful and colorful bird parades along. If you dream enough, one will eventually come true. 

And then if you're really lucky, the perfectly pedigreed peacock will want to be your pet.

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.

Finer feathered friends

A series of tests for a large scale project I'm working on.

When photographers go bump in the night

I really must learn to walk a bit more softly. I am (hopelessly) the quintessential bull in a china shop) and this charming fellow clearly did not appreciate it.

Nose to nose with Pattycake, a Western Lowland Gorilla

I highly recommend pretending it's summer so you can take summer hours and happily visit one of your favorite places. Mine is the Bronx Zoo where I was literally the only person in the vast zoo other than the zookeepers and other staff. Headed off to the Congo Exhibit for a family reunion of sorts where I camped out with my camera and watched the antics of the gorillas (my hairier relatives) who didn't seem to mind my company. In fact, based on some of the images I got, quite the contrary. Pattycake was playing with one of her teen boys when she noticed me and came over. And just looked at me. I almost didn't want to raise the camera to take a picture because of the connection I felt.

I have a large collection of neon letters. (Doesn't everybody)

Living in New York and getting to Las Vegas and other "electrified" cities on a fairly regular basis, it's not hard to amass quite the collection of glowing letterforms in all sorts of shapes, sizes and varying degrees of decay. (As far as I'm concerned, the more burnt out lights a letter contains, the better. And when it's rusty and dinged up...ooh baby!) Now I just need to figure out what to do with them all...perhaps a kiddy alphabet book for the post-apocalyptic toddler or a series of monogrammed note cards for their parents.

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?

The most comfortable place on Earth (as far as 5 week old Caitlyn is concerned)

A Dahlia Bud

Dahlia Bud, originally uploaded by ashapiro515.

Some color for ya

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 stroll on the beach

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.

Once upon a time (during WWII)...

...a young, slightly shy but quite dashing Marine met an even younger and oh-so-beautiful army nurse...

Finish the story however you'd like but promise me that you'll give it a happy ending.
(After all these Veteran's have been through in service to our country, they most certainly deserve it.)

This was shot at the Veteran's Day Celebration in  NYC, 2010. A most magnificent day in honor of truly magnificent people.

The "Make Tofu the star this Thanksgiving" Society is officially called to order

Mildred, Vice Chairperson and Recording Secretary for the Pocantico, New York Chapter of the "Make Tofu the star this Thanksgiving" Society watches the last runner in their fundraising Turkey Trot cross the finish line.

Tofuducken, anyone? You'll gobble it up.

John, CFO and Treasurer of the Pocantico, New York Chapter of the "Make Tofu the star this Thanksgiving" Society exhibiting a rare outburst of anger at the lackluster results from the recent Tofucakes Bake Sale.

The heretofore super-secret recipe for Mildred's Tofucakes with Cornbread, Oyster and Cranberry Frosting may be posted here eventually.

Florence came all the way up from the Greenville, South Carolina Chapter to attend the Annual Tofucakes Breakfast and 5K Turkey Trot sponsored by the Pocantico, New York Chapter of the "Make Tofu the star this Thanksgiving" Society

Nothing beats a short stack of tofucakes smothered in warm sweet potato and maple syrup (except maybe some of Aunt Edith's Scratch Biscuits with Tofu Gravy).


Ethel's feathers were ruffled earlier when John made an off-color remark about her tofu cobbler tasting like chicken. Such displays are frowned upon at the Pocantico, New York Chapter of the "Make Tofu the star this Thanksgiving" Society's board meetings.

Tastes like chicken...hmmmmph!

Paying respects to our fallen veterans on Veteran's Day

Today was a day where I got to meet many, many soldiers and hear their amazing stories.

But it's also a day to remember all those brave men and women that have fallen in service to their country. It's the least we can do for those that did the most they could do.

A man brough his pet Bald Eagle to the Celebration today.
Many photographers were clicking away as the bird posed, looking left and right.
The Eagle looked down for a moment and all the shutters stopped.
Except mine.

Another day, another trip to the dumpster to see what's for lunch

This is Bernadette. She doesn't like me much. Actually she doesn't like anyone much. I think she tolerates me because I give her money for food and coffee.
   When I first met her, she stared at my camera and told me I better not take any pictures of her. She scared me. A lot. But I made a decision at that moment. I told her that I take pictures to help tell stories; that being homeless is an incredibly horrifying thing to me and maybe if I take enough pictures, something will change. And then I started to walk away. I got about fifteen feet when she yelled "you're really not gonna take any f*ing pictures?"
   "I told her 'nope'  You asked me not to and you scare me."
She cracked a smile.
"Good"
"So can I take a picture?"
"One."

This goes out to some of my new friends in Portugal...Filipe, Felix, Alexandre, Nuno, Guida.
Stay inspired. No matter what.

A brief, early morning conversation with Lindsey: Quality photographic time with an 11 year old (or why it's so hard to get great photos of your own children once they hit a certain age.)

So Lindsey and I were out walking the Rockefeller Estate (home to the world renowned Blue Hill at Stone Barns agricultural center along with some of the most stunning farm animals you've ever seen) communing with nature and each other. She had hopped up on a stone wall and I slowly reached for my camera bag. (We have an agreement where I am limited to just a few photos of her a month and conditional based on her mood and the prevailing winds.
   "Really, Dad? REALLY!" (Said with way too much 11 year old attitude)
"Cmon Lindsey, you look so...interesti...uh, cute. You sure have a knack for putting together the ensemble."
  "Dad, it's 7am. This is what all the kids wear early in the morning."
   "Really, Lindsey? REALLY!" (turnabout is fair play)
   "You want to take a picture don't you? You want me to me to pose don't you? You want me to sit here and smile while you take gazillions of pictures? No!"
   "C'mon. I'll make it quick."
Click.
Click, click, click.
   "Lindsey smile, please."
   "Not till the braces come off."
   "God, Lindsey...gimme a break." (Photographers are only allowed to get exasperated at their subjects if they're related.)
   "Fine. Hurry."
   "Thanks"
Click. Click. Click.
Click. Click.
   "Lindsey?"
   "What Dad?"
   "Could you show a little more emotion?"
She rolled her eyes.
Click.
   "Not that kind"
She pretended to whistle.
Click.
   "Lindsey, what if I told you a deranged bull suffering from acute Mad Cow Disease was right behind you with a swarm of man-eating turkeys and a psychopathic sheep?"
   "I'd tell you to run, Dad. You did say man-eating, not girl-eating..." (Big smile)
   "I can see your braces."
   "Oh yeah? Well I can see you need to go on a serious diet."
(Sigh)

Gabby

You're giggling
     (Loud giggling) "I know"
Stop giggling.
     (More giggling) "I can't."
Pleeeease stop giggling.
     (Even more giggling) "I...(snort)...can't"
I'm gonna have to wait a long time for you to stop, aren't I?
     (Still giggling) "Yup!"

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.