Picture of the Week #166 "Dead Poultry Society"

Picture of the Week #166 " Dead Poultry Society" New York City 1967 Signed and Stamped

I can't believe it was 45 years ago that I took this picture. I was living in New York at #2 Fifth Avenue then and was probably just roaming the streets with my camera, which I had a tendency to do, and still do. Only now my camera is strapped to my hip or in my iPhone. Anyway, I found a 35mm transparency of this when I was going through my archives and for some reason it brought a smile to my face. I was going to call it "Cluck No More"; But Ann, my beautiful wife just looked at me and said: "Dead Poultry Society" Here it is. Thanks Ann.

Picture of the Week #165 "Afternoon Stroll"

Picture of the Week #165 "Afternoon Stroll" Paris, France 1972 Signed and Stamped

I have always dreamt of living in the 6th arrondissement in Paris. When money was no object and the exchange rate was great for Americans, I always stayed at L'Hotel on rue des Beaux Arts. The ultra chic former home of Oscar Wilde, Mistinguett and countless other legends. One day on one of my many walks about the city I saw this old woman passing a gallery with a fashion drawing in the window. She could care less about the picture, all she wanted to do was get where she was going. I have stood on rue de Seine looking down rue Visconti so many times over the years and this image always comes to mind. I have a painting I did from this photo hanging for years in my bedroom. Every morning when I wake it's the first thing I see and the last vision at night.

Picture of the Week #164 "Still Hung Over"

Picture of the Week #164 "Still Hung Over" New York, NY 1967 Signed and Stamped

What an appropriate image for this time of year, even if I took this photo in New York back in 1967. As many of the images I post here, this was shot on film and printed digitally. There is something funny looking at the pigs wearing masks, which if you've been following this blog then you know that I am hooked on people disguising themselves . But to see pigs from back then doing it, it had to make my picture of the week 45 years later.

Picture of the Week #163 "Visiting"

Picture of the Week #163 "Visiting" Shanghai, China 1980 Signed and Stamped

I can't believe it's almost 32 years since I took this picture in Shanghai. From what I understand and have seen on the web, it's changed drastically. When I was there everyone still wore Mao outfits. And the city was rampant with bicycles. Now it's western garb and cars. Gone is the uniformity of Mao and the naivete of an oppressed people as Shanghai now heads the charge into the 21st Century. I want to go back and take more pictures.

Picture of the Week #162 "Home Sweet Home"

Picture of the Week #162 "Home Sweet Home" Venice, Italy 2011 & Versailles, France 1989 Signed and Stamped

When I was working on my Venetian Carnivale Candy images I came across this picture of "Marie Antoinette" getting her hair done and a Dandy in pink holding the dogs. I decided that I preferred a different background than St. Marks Square in Venice. So, I tried placing them in Versailles in France. After all the time period was correct. I had these pictures of the Palace going back years. I began with the one above in the herringbone courtyard. Then I tried putting them in the hall of mirrors. Then the back gardens. And so now you can see part of my manipulation process. I look at these as paintings in photoshop. I couldn't decide which one I preferred so I am posting all four. You choose.

Picture of the Week #161 "Bhutan Boogie"

Picture of the Week #161 "Bhutan Boogie" Thimpu, Bhutan 2000 Signed and Stamped

What a fitting image to go out of 2011 and into 2012 than this celebration in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. This is the land where happiness reigns. Although the expression on many of these faces doesn't exactly reflect that. But in their defense, it was extremely hot, humid and as you can see densely crowded. It was and always will be one of my favorite places, with a serene feeling and majestic beauty.

Picture of the Week #160 "Carl Perkins"

Picture of the Week #160 "Carl Perkins" Nashville, Tennessee 1972 Signed and Stamped

I took this picture of Carl Perkins, the man who wrote "Blue Suede Shoes" for Elvis and was a member of the Tennessee Three that worked with Johnny Cash when I was making their music video back in 1972. A true country legend. Here he was laying down a track for a new album. I always thought this was the iconic image of a country star, with guitar in hand, a cigarillo perched on his lips and an obvious toupee topping off his head. Say what you want, but don't step on his blue suede shoes.