Eastern State Penitentiary & Philly Graffiti

The day prior to my mom's heart attack, I had the pleasure of returning to Philadelphia, to shoot the famous Eastern State Penitentiary, as well as the Philly graffiti spot, with Tony sweet and his merry band of talented photographer friends (too many to list here). Though I have posted images from prior visits to theses locations, I used some new equipment (Lensbaby Composer and Lensbaby Fisheye lenses) and was pleased with the results. Now that things are back to normal, family-wise I intend for 2010 to be full of new and exciting photographic adventures. For a gallery of images from Philadelphia, please CLICK HERE.

LaGuardia Airport Kid's Day

Recently, myself and two friends from the Island Photo Group, Rich Fiedorowicz and Pat Hutcherson went to LaGuardia Airport to shot their annual Kid's Day event. Each year, the Kiwanis Club of LaGuardia teams up with the Port Authority of New and New Jersey to allow children and the public to experience an up close view of the sights and sounds of the airport. Though not the type of images I usually shoot, this was a trip filled with fun and interesting pictures, nonetheless. For a gallery of the day's events please CLICK HERE.

Shinnecock Powwow

On Labor Day, I had the pleasure of attending the 63rd Annual Shinnecock Indian Powwow at their reservation in Southampton, Long Island, New York. This gathering of native Americans includes traditional music and dance performances, native arts & crafts, as well as, native foods. The grand entry of the attending tribes is a visual experience of color that I'm sure my images don't completely capture. It is an event that must be seen and heard to really experience fully. To view a gallery of the powwow, please CLICK HERE.

Eastern State Penitentiary

After a few scheduling mishaps over the past 12 months, I was finally able to accompany Tony Sweet and his band of photographer convicts (John Barclay, Sara Howell, Bob Lott, Mike Levanthal, Don Rosenberger and Mark Menditto) at Philadelphia's Eastern State Penitentiary. Thanks to Tony, we were given access to parts of the prison not open to the general public. It was quite an experience. It would not be surprising, if you listened very closely, to hear the voices of some of the prison's famous inmates, like gangster Al Capone. This is a very unique, if not spooky, place. For a small gallery of the day's images, please CLICK HERE.

Valley Forge & the Susquehanna River

I've been traveling to Pennsylvania recently, shooting different venues with photographers Ed & Kelly Heaton, as well as, some of their other photographer friends and workshop attendees. It's always a great environment to learn more about making good images and also having fun doing it. Valley Forge is full of history and the sense of the Civil War drama that occurred in, and around, this area. The Susquehanna River is an extremely rich photographic venue which, when the light is right, can yield some pretty good results. To see a few of the highlights of these trip, please CLICK HERE.

Brooklyn Bridge July 2009

Thanks to my friends at IPG (Island Photo Group) for organizing a trip down to the Brooklyn Bridge on a perfect Monday evening. A few a hours at the bridge, with a trip into Chinatown for some delicious noodles, was just what the doctor ordered. For a brief slideshow of the evening's images please CLICK HERE.

US Open 2009

When the golfing world brings the US Open, basically, to your back yard, you just can't resist stopping by to take in the festivities. By going on the last practice day, we avoided some of the crowds and more importantly were allowed to bring cameras. Though I used my high-end point-and-shoot (Canon's G9), the images actually came out OK. For a gallery of some of the highlights of the day, please CLICK HERE.

Orange County Choppers

On my way back from the Catskills, I couldn't resist stopping by Orange County Choppers. The home of the famous Teutul family business (also seen on Discovery Channel's American Chopper) is celebrating their 10th anniversary. The bikes are amazing as is their business successes. Couldn't resist picking up a few t-shirts and hats. The lighting in a place like this is always tough and some of the images suffered, but here is a collection of the keepers from the visit. Please CLICK HERE to view the gallery.

The Catskills June 2009

A few weeks ago, I had the distinct pleasure of traveling to the northern Catskills and photographing the area with a local and extremely talented professional photographer, Francis Driscoll. His knowledge of the area and passion for his subject matter, made it very easy for me to see why he loves this part of New York and to share his enthusiasm for it. Though the weather was inconsistent, we did get the better part of the day in for some good shooting. I hope to return in the fall to shoot this area again. Please CLICK HERE for a small gallery from the day.

Chinese Scholar Gardens

The Chinese Scholar's Garden at the Staten Island Botanical Gardens is a replica of a typical scholar's garden from the Ming Dynasty. Thanks to the Island Photo Group for organizing a field trip to this excellent venue. For an image gallery from the day, please CLICK HERE.

NYC May 2009

I had the pleasure of working again with NY City photographer Howard Millard. Howard has created images for many publications and corporations, as well. His easy going manner makes it very easy to work with him and he is always willing to pass along his knowledge of the city and share his insights into image composition and his "tricks of the trade", too. The image gallery is a combination of my work with him in May of 2008 and 2009. Please CLICK HERE to view the gallery.

Caumsett State Park, Long Island

Acquired by New York State in 1961, Caumsett State Historic Park's extensive forests, meadows, and waterways provide habitats for a variety of flora and fauna. The diversity of the park's environment and its limited access to vehicles make it one of Long Island's best places for relaxation and enjoyment of nature. For a small gallery, please CLICK HERE.

New York International Auto Show

For 109-years, the New York International Auto Show has ignited the passion and stirred the soul of car lovers with its futuristic concept cars and new vehicles and this year was no exception. Every new car on the market under one roof, in one day, without any pressure to buy. Whether you're looking for a small car that makes a big impression, something fun, fast and frugal, or you want to get plugged into a hybrid or electric vehicle there is no better place to research your next car, crossover, minivan, SUV, or truck. This was my first time attending this show and I was very lucky to obtain access to a VIP pre-opening tour, given by award-winning automotive expert and Car and Driver contributing editor, Alan Taylor. For a gallery of about on-fifth of the cars and images I took, please CLICK HERE.

Washington DC

Having not been to Washington, DC since I was a kid, I jumped at the opportunity to shoot the city with photographer Ed Heaton and some of his very good friends. Washington is always a treasure trove of photo-ops, but few times of the year bring out the true beauty of the city better than during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. This was also the first time I shot at night and I really enjoyed the experience and the different look it gives the city. The weather was a little dicey and it cut short the time I had to shoot here. I will definitely return to expand on what was only a slight skimming of the locations and images that are waiting to be photographed. For a short slideshow, please CLICK HERE.

Charleston, SC

As always, attending a Tony Sweet workshop is an awesome experience. This particular group of attendees was extremely talented and a joy to work with. The Charleston area is truly one of the most beautiful and unique places this country has to offer and the photographic opportunities are numerous and diverse. We shot at four very different locations; Cypress Gardens, Folly Beach, Magnolia Gardens and a genuine confederate cemetery. Charleston is a place that I hope to return to many times in my life. Tony and Susan have been coming here for a number of years and I was amazed at their continued and unbridled enthusiasm for this place. I get it, now !! For a gallery of the highlights of the workshop, please CLICK HERE.