Picture of the Week #109 "Exercise Time"

Picture of the Week #109 "Exercise Time" Kathmandu, Nepal 2000 Signed and Stamped

I'd like to say that finding images that are unique and bring a smile to my face are usually hard to find. But in Kathmandu I had a field day. Yes, I manipulated the sky and brought out the color but these Holy Men were just sitting on a corner posing for anyone who happened by with a camera. I don't know how rare this is, but when we were there it was easy. Check out Picture of the Week #15 and #26 for other Holy Men. My cynical side once thought that these men were tourist attractions and this was their vocation, posing and begging.

Santa's Coming - Ho Ho Ho

Santa's Coming Ho Ho Ho Beverly Hills, California 2010

As Ann and I walked through Beverly Hills today I spotted this guy with his dog, and although we were not going to be sending out Christmas cards or even decorating the house this year, this image was too irresistible to pass up. So, at the last minute before Christmas I emailed this to 500 of our email friends. Merry Christmas.

Picture of the Week #108 "Clean Up at Gagosian"

Picture of the Week #108 "Clean Up at Gagosian" Beverly Hills, California USA 2010 Signed and Stamped

On my periodic walks through Beverly Hills, I always check out ACE and Gagosian Galleries as well as any one showing my work. One day they were installing this incredible piece at Gagosian. The gallery was closed for the installation but the street door was open. I snapped from my trusted point and shoot that is always attached to my belt and caught the moment perfectly.

Picture of the Week #107 "Window Washer of Vancouver 3"

Picture of the Week #107 "Window Washer of Vancouver 3" Vancouver, Canada 2005 Signed and Stamped

This is the third image of the Window Washer of Vancouver that I have posted. I love them all for the graphics and possible danger they represent, not to mention the beauty. Each photo that I took was from a different angle and therefore the reflections on the building were different.

Picture of the Week #106 "Johnny Cash in White"

Picture of the Week #106 "Johnny Cash in White" Nashville, Tennessee USA 1972 Signed and Stamped

I directed Johnny Cash in a number of Music Videos for Columbia Records under Clive Davis starting in 1970. We got along great, and he had asked for me back to shoot this video two years later. The photo was taken in a recording studio where he was working on a new album. We also shot at his house and out and about in Nashville. I didn't get to do his Folsom gig, but wish I had. Although Johnny was known as the man in black, I knew him differently. That's me pointing something out to him while holding my trusted camera.

Picture of the Week #105 "Gursky Glasses"

Picture of the Week #105 "Gursky Glasses" Venice, California USA 2010 Signed and Stamped

Swiss photographer Andreas Gursky sold a photograph in 2007 for the highest price ever for a single photograph in an auction. It went for 3.3 million dollars. It was of a 99 cent store. The critics say that what makes Gursky's images are his manipulation and enhancements that create spaces larger than the original subjects that he photographs. In my case, I did not have to do that as this rack of sun glasses on display in Venice California was my version of a Gursky print. Now, if only I could match his prices.

Picture of the Week #104 "Call Me"

Picture of the Week #104 "Call Me" Hong Kong, China 2007 Signed and Stamped

While in Hong Kong waiting for a couple of my paintings to go into an Auction of Chinese images, I had plenty of time to explore the busy city with my camera. Most of where I was staying (Kowloon side) were fairly new non-descript buildings. Wedged in along the busy street down from the famed Peninsula Hotel I saw this intriguing wall. It was a symbol of the city to me, chaotic, colorful, and not easy to understand behind the facade. I ended up loving Hong Kong except for the humidity. But the sophistication and energy were contagious. I want to return for more.

Picture of the Week #103 "Following the Herd"

Picture of the Week #103 "Following the Herd" Masai Mara, Kenya 1987 Signed and Stamped

On our Safari Honeymoon in Africa we encountered this herd of elephants heading out to the plains. To be that close and be able to photograph them them was truly majestic. An unforgettable journey and one we are hoping to redo one day.

Picture of the Week #102 "Hurry"

Picture of the Week #102 "Hurry" Tokyo, Japan 1989 Signed and Stamped

On my trip to Japan for a show I was participating in at the Laforet Museum in the Harajuku prefecture of Tokyo, on my little time off I roamed about taking pictures. I have loved Tokyo since my first time there nine years earlier when I was on my way to China to scout locations and work on the budget of a film that never came to be. This time I was flown First Class by J.A.L. and given a large amount of money for per diem and began an around the world trip that I will always remember. Tokyo, I found to be one of the most sophisticated and extraordinary cities I had ever been to. I love it and want to return. This image summed up the hustle and bustle of a working city. What you don't see is all of the people just outside of the camera frame.

Picture of the Week #101 "Bird Watching"

Picture of the Week #101 "Bird Watching" Nanyuki, Kenya 1997 Signed and Stamped

On our honeymoon Safari to Kenya I came across this school where the students who live among the wild life were still impressed by this pair of Secretary birds. We stayed at first at the Mount Kenya Safari Club, which was very pretty and spacious but the food was lousy. And it certainly was not giving us the "African Safari" experience that we signed up for. Although they treated us wonderfully, there were few big game to see. But once we left there and headed off to private camps like Lewa Downs, and got into the Masai Mara, we got what we were looking for. This was truly one of the greatest and most memorable trips. And surprising, it was very luxurious, even if we stayed in tents with beautiful antique furniture.

Picture of the Week #100 "James Rosenquist"

Picture of the Week #100 "James Rosenquist" Los Angeles, California USA 1977 Signed and Stamped

I first met Jimmy when he was working at Gemini G.E.L., the number one publisher of limited edition prints by the world's leading artists. We hit it off right away and talked the day away, while he continued to produce a new image, I took pictures. The painting behind him titled "Fahrenheit 1982 was done five years later. I put the two photos together recently for a show I am having at the French Consulate General's here in Beverly Hills. Although the show was to be primarily images from France, they requested to show my suite of portraits of the great American POP artists, Warhol, Lichtenstein, Rauschenberg, Ruscha and Rosenquist. I loved the colors in the painting matching his shirt. And check out the November issue of "SilverShotz" the high end magazine journal of fine art Phootography where they did a 12 page article on my series "Holy Men Medicine Men MAd Men".

Picture of the Week #99 "Neimans Bound"

Picture of the Week #99 "Neimans Bound" Beverly Hills, California USA 2010 Signed and Stamped

What can I say?

Picture of the Week #98 "Shipwreck"

Picture of the Week #98 "Shipwreck" Bremerton, Washington 2010 Signed and Stamped

While visiting the Elandan Gardens, I walked out towards the water and caught this boat sitting on the side. With the ominous clouds against the color in the trees, I knew that this would be a very nice picture. Usually, I prefer people pictures, but this landscape just seemed right for today's Picture of the Week.

Picture of the Week #97 "Girl in Station"

Picture of the Week #97 "Girl in Station" Shanghai, China 1980 Signed and Stamped

This is one of my favorite images from my scouting trip to China when I was working on the ill fated movie "Footprints of the Pheasant in the Snow". This image then became a painting and then became the poster for an exhibition of my work from China a year later. I gave a poster to Bernardo Bertolucci as he was leaving to make his incredible film "The Last Emperor". He left me a voice mail message saying that he hoped his film came out as good as my painting and thanked me for giving it to him. The rest was history.

Picture of the Week #96 "Cradle of Bloom"

Picture of the Week #96 "Cradle of Bloom" Bremerton, Washington USA 2010 Signed and Stamped

If you are ever near Seattle or Tacoma you must go to the Elandan Gardens. Dan Robinson is a Gardner Extraordinaire. A major artist of monumental proportions. He works with five story high burnt trees, down to little Bonsai that adorn his waterfront garden of 7 acres in Bremerton Washington. We were lucky enough to visit when he was there working on growing a tree. A process that can take hundreds of years. He told us how he became interested in this when he was 7 years old. He was more interested in trees and cactus than baseball. After spending time in the military in Korea he brought home seeds, and worked for years as a fireman until he was able to devote himself full time to this reclaimed waterfront property that he leases from the City. It is an incredible living Museum.

Picture of the Week #95 "The Human Landscape"

Picture of the Week #95 "The Human Landscape" New York City, NY 1969 Signed and Stamped

After my divorce from my first wife, way back when, I did the usual dating ritual of having lots of girlfriends. This one was someone who trusted me enough to pose when most women would not. We had gone through the uptight fifties to the swinging sixties and this was a remnant of that era. Turn the image sideways and you'll see that it is of a woman from the back in strong silhouette.

Picture of the Week #94 "Blowing Bubbles"

Picture of the Week #94 "Blowing Bubbles" Thimpu, Bhutan 2000 Signed and Stamped

On our journey through the magic Kingdom of Bhutan, high in the Himalayas. we visited many temples and monasteries. One in particular stuck in my mind. It was here that I saw that the young Monks were no different than other kids, playing games, poking fun, and blowing bubble gum.

Picture of the Week #93 "Following Elliott"

Picture of the Week #93 "Following Elliott" Dordogne, France 1994 Signed and Stamped

This is my version of the classic Elliott Erwitt black and white image of a man and boy on a bicycle going down a tree lined road in France. I think it was originally published as an advertisement for Air France. I've updated it to a moped, but the driver is still wearing a beret. And the bread is once again affixed to the rack in the back. Much has changed in the world but buying bread in France hasn't. Viva la France! And a Thank You to Elliott Erwitt who showed us how to see.

Picture of the Week #92 "Ladies of the Fair"

Picture of the Week #92 "Ladies of the Fair" Arrezzo, Italy 1990 Signed and Stamped

Arrezzo Italy has a wonderful antique fair one Sunday a month. When I am there I always try and see what's on view. When I happened on these two Italian ladies waiting for someone to buy their linens. The fatigue and boredom of working a fair seems to hide their anticipation of a sale. The woman on the right I found very beautiful, but even though I was single in those days, I made no overtures to meeting her. But I will say, I didn't forget her. Perhaps having this image in my files for 20 years help keep her alive.

Picture of the Week #91 "Window Washer of Vancouver #1"

Picture of the Week #91 "Window Washer of Vancouver #1" Vancouver, Canada 2005 Signed and Stamped

This is another image from my architectural portfolio on Window Washers. On this blog I published #2 Window Washer in August of 2008 as part of the Picture of the Week series. I enjoy going back and forth between strong graphic photos like this and classic warm earth tones like my Museum sightings to pictures with a sense of humor. I am always on the lookout for a strong image and this certainly fit the bill.

Picture of the Week #90 "Eternal Enigma"

Picture of the Week #90 "Eternal Enigma" Paris, France 1971 Signed and Stamped

Before they encased the famed Mona Lisa in a hermetically sealed bullet proof box, she was free to be approached, inspected, and adored. The most famous painting in the world sat vulnerably on a wall in the Louvre when I saw it for the umteenth time. Over the years I have taken pictures of it with onlookers milling about and contemplating her everlasting expression. This particular day became significant for me as the people became a blur, a mystery if you will. A mystery like the painting herself.

Picture of the Week #89 "Style and Grace in Motion"

Picture of the Week #89 "Style and Grace in Motion" Paris, France 1984 Signed and Stamped

As a people watcher, I love taking pictures in Museums. The Louvre, even before the pyramid, was the ultimate space with enough art and people watching to last ten lifetimes. This image reminded me of a ballet as seen from the first balcony perspective. The spectator in red shoes in a stylized first position stance, to the bronze statue's movement, couldn't have been choreographed any better. But the topper was the single hand pointing in the lower right hand corner. I was so taken by this moment that I painted this image back then, way before Photo Shop allowed me to alter colors. This was and still is one of my favorite images that brings back memories of Paris, the moveable feast. When the Musee D'Orsay opened, these statues were placed on taller pedestals and moved there.

Picture of the Week #88 "Anticipating The Moment"

Picture of the Week #88 "Anticipating The Moment" Madrid, Spain 1987 Signed and Stamped

I read that Bullfighting is being outlawed in the Catalonia section of Spain. I couldn't help but think that when I photographed the spectacle as Hemingway so aptly titled it, "Death in the Afternoon", that the title I had used for this image, "Anticipating the Moment" would one day come true. When I titled this moment it was more descriptive of what was to come. Like an actor about to go on stage. Or a fighter into a ring. Little did I realize that it would also signify the dimming of the lights of a centuries old tradition. A rite, a ritual, a national pastime. Many arguments have been leveled at the sport, but I for one used to defend it. I remember documenting the confrontations from the Chapel where the Matador would pray, to the spectacle of the procession. To the moment of truth. And finally to the butcher shop where the fresh meat would be sold or given to charity. On the other hand there were times and moments that I did find barbaric. The Picadors always angered me. It was like having someone else punch the hell out of your opponent before you stood toe to toe with them. But the actual mano e mano of man against bull to me was as much a spiritual confrontation as a physical one. It was a dance where certain choreographed moves must be performed before the fatal plunge of the sword can be dealt. I don't know if the stoppage will spread across Spain or if it will be confined to Catalonia. I do know that I would go back to see it, perhaps with a different perspective.

Picture of the Week #87 "Sylvester Stallone & Richard Gere"

Picture of the Week #87 "Sylvester Stallone & Richard Gere" New York City, New York 1972 Signed and Stamped

I took this picture in my apartment during the early days of rehearsal when Sylvester Stallone and Richard Gere were my original leads in my first feature film, "The Lords of Flatbush". We rehearsed on and off while I was always pausing to run out to find the money to go into production. One day, months later, the three of us went to Coney Island to rehearse at the proposed location, Nathan's Famous. Sly and Richard got into a fight. All I remember was that Sly said something about not getting mustard on him and the next thing I knew I was pulling them apart. From that day on, things went downhill fast and I eventually had to replace Richard with Perry King. I always felt that Sly was outgoing while Richard was internal. They have not spoken since that day, so this charming image is a rarity. It is now on exhibit for the next few weeks at Art & Artifact Gallery in Los Angeles, along with others from my film and video making days.

Picture of the Week #86 "Andrea Bocelli"

Picture of the Week #86 "Andrea Bocelli" Vatican City, Rome, Italy 2009 Signed and Stamped

When I was honored to be among the 220 artists from around the world invited to the Sistine Chapel to hear Pope Benedict's Address to Artists, I met Andrea Bocelli. I took this image of him and immediately his wife came over and at first I thought I would be scolded, but instead she smiled and asked sweetly if I would photograph them together with their two sons. I did and emailed it to them. But there was something much more haunting about this image, especially the reflection in his mirrored glasses. This photo and others of celebrities that I have taken will be shown this Thursday the 22nd at Art & Artifact Photographic Center here in Los Angeles. It should be a blast.

Picture of the Week #85 "Pretty"

Picture of the Week #85 "Pretty" Cheung Chow, Hong Kong, China 2006 Signed and Stamped

In 2006 I was in Hong Kong as two paintings of mine were being auctioned off by Auctions by the Bay of San Francisco. The two paintings were from my 1980 trip when I was negotiating and scouting locations for the first American Chinese motion picture that I was supposed to direct in China. I had hoped that Ingrid Bergman would star in it. While I was there she fell ill and the film was cancelled. I was then invited to stay by the Shanghai Art Council. I did, for a number of weeks. When I returned to L.A. I painted from the images that I had taken. Twenty six years later this auction was the first that I know of where an American Artist painted China and was now selling those images back in China. While I was there for the auction I found out that May 24th was the birth of Buddha and that they were having a "Bun Festival" on an island an hour and half from Hong Kong. Loaded with cameras I went. I don't remember seeing very many caucasians. The people were extremely friendly and helpful. The costumes were magnificent. It was a photographer's paradise. I got tons of wonderful color pictures from that short day in Cheung Chow. Happy Birthday Buddha.

Picture of the Week #84 "After The Parade"

Picture of the Week #84 "After The Parade" Sun Valley, Idaho USA 1977 Signed and Stamped

What more appropriate image to post after July 4th celebrations of our Nation's Independence than these Norman Rockwell looking American kids waving flags, while their parents smoke in the cab of the truck. I never indulge in Parades, as I prefer to stand on the sidelines and see the reactions from the spectators. These kids were no exception. Last year at this time I posted a typical American family in a red vintage flat bed truck as they drove in the parade and then sitting on the sidelines. This was taken at the same time, only not wanting to repeat myself, I opted for these patriots in the making for this year's posting.

Picture of the Week #83 "Batman of Santa Monica"

Picture of the Week #83 "Batman of Santa Monica" Santa Monica, California USA 2010 Signed and Stamped

Okay, I manipulated this one. I took the image of "Batman" hanging around and waiting for tourists to pose with him, and then hovered him over the unsuspecting beach goers. He was actually standing by the sand and when I got home to my computer I silhouetted him, rotated him counter clockwise and then inserted him into the colorful beach scene. Maybe I should not reveal all this like a magician with his tricks? Anyway, the picture grabs your attention and that is a good thing.

Picture of the Week #82 "Smile"

Picture of the Week #82 "Smile" Paris, France 2003 Signed and Stamped

While crossing from the Right bank to the Left bank in Paris I looked across the bridge and saw this Asian couple. She was photographing him and all I could think was "smile". I don't think he did as she clicked the shutter. I am surprised that she didn't shoot across the bridge as it is much more picturesque background. But hey, it's her picture. This is mine.

Picture of the Week #81 "Stolen Moment in Fouquets "

Picture of the Week #81 "Stolen Moment in Fouquets" Paris, France 1990 Signed and Stamped

While waiting for my lunch at Fouquets on the Champs Elysee I couldn't help but to secretly grab this photo of a couple kissing at the table across from me. Perhaps they were just innocently toasting one another or perhaps they are celebrating an occasion being together or perhaps they are having an illicit lunch? All are possible scenarios. I'll never know the true answer, but the expression of the other people is priceless.

Picture of the Week #80 "Hangin' At The Car Wash"

Picture of the Week #80 "Hangin' At The Car Wash" Arrezzo, Italy 1990 Signed and Stamped

I rented a villa in a small town called Loro Cuifenna in Tuscany for the month of August. The villa was off the paved road and even off a dirt road and sat in the middle of a vineyard. The vines would brush against my car as I drove home. The owner was an artist and the house was filled with these simple but loving paintings that he had done. Every day he would leave me two bottles of wine. One red, one white. I would sometimes take one on my bicycle along with my cameras and a note pad and be off for the day. I would pedal over to Arrezzo 30 kilometers away for the antique market and to get some wonderful pictures. One day I encountered these guys gossiping while one washed his car. I couldn't help myself, I had to photograph it. There is something eerie about how the car just glowed in the late afternoon light.

Picture of the Week #79 "Attack of the Little Men"

Picture of the Week #79 "Attack of the Little Men" Rome, Italy 2009 Signed and Stamped

After our historic trip to the Vatican to hear Pope Benedict's Address to Artists in the Sistine Chapel, we hung around Rome for a few days to take in other Museums and sights. This installation brought a smile to all who had the opportunity to see it. I got down on the floor to get this shot as the little clay men are only a few inches high. Sadly, I don't remember who the artist was who brightened my day. But I know that his work will not be forgotten.

Picture of the Week #78 "My Feet, My Po Po Feet"

Picture of the Week #78 "My Feet, My Po Po Feet" Brooklyn, New York 2006 Signed and Stamped

While my film "Boardwalk" was being screened at the Coney Island Film Festival my wife Ann and I walked on the actual boardwalk where I shot the movie and I took some pictures. Coney Island never fails to dazzle and delight me with the brash colors, the strange people, the intense fun house feeling of my youth and it's unique quality of life. Everyone seems to be relaxed and enjoying themselves versus the hustled and harried businessmen in the City. But even happy people have to rest as this guy did when he kicked off his shoes and laid back to enjoy the bright sun. It reminded me of Pearl Bailey who always used to say, "Oh my feet, my po po feet". It wasn't until I was older that I grew to appreciate the feeling of kicking off my shoes and sitting back to smell the roses.

Picture of the Week #77 "Guard of Versailles"

Picture of the Week #77 "Guard of Versailles" Versailles, France 1972 Signed and Stamped

Versailles is one of my most favored places. I used to have visions of past lives living there. The opulence, the power, the beauty, and the escape of the "real" world around us. What it must have been like to have been invited there. To the banquets, the majesty of the lifestyle and the intrigue. To stroll through the marble and gold covered rooms the size of playing fields and to imagine the music playing, the women powdered and fluffed spinning to the plucked strings of a harp. What a life it must have been. Then I would wander for hours in the vast gardens thinking how fortunate I was to be able to be there when there were no tourists. Just a lonely Guard and myself.

Picture of the Week #76 "Reading The World"

Picture of the Week #76 "Reading The World" Paris, France 1993 Signed and Stamped

Walking out of La Coupole, one of my all time favorite places to eat, I spotted this woman reading Le Monde. Shooting from my hip I clicked off one image. The noise of the shutter caught her attention and she briefly smiled and went back to reading about the world. This image like so many others is indicative of my photo work. As I have said before on this blog,

I love to walk around and take pictures, always the observer, rarely the participant.

Picture of the Week #75 "Bibliotech.hcetoilbiB"

Picture of the Week #75 "Bibliotech.hcetoilbiB" Paris, France 2003 Signed and Stamped

We were in Paris celebrating our dear friend Alberto Lensi's 60th surprise birthday. During the day we walked from our hotel near the Arc de Triumph all the way down the Champs Elysee past the Louvre and along the Quai on the left bank to the new library, or bibliotech to see an exhibition of Henri Cartier Bresson's photography. Magnificent is all I can say. The perfect accoutremont to a perfect day. When we came out I noticed the reflection in the windows appearing like a double exposure. It was not. It's a cool double reflected image, therefore the title, Bibliotech.hcetoilbiB. And, as luck would have it the contrail of the plane lined up with the cross beam of the building like an attached thread. And like a Bresson, in the right place at the right time.

Picture of the Week #74 "Monks Making Mandala"

Picture of the Week #74 "Monks Making Mandala" Thimpu, Bhutan 2000 Signed and Stamped

I adore Bhutan, the Kingdom high up in the Himalayas, East of Tibet, South of China and North of India. What makes it so special are the people, the customs, the landscape and most of all their hospitality. Bhutan might just be Eden on earth. The rolling mountains and vegetation are out of a storybook. There are no power lines. No plastic, no traffic lights, and virtually no crime. The King's mandate for his people is happiness. Health care, work, and education are guaranteed to the residents. They all dressed in traditional robes and the women all had the same hair do when we were there 10 years ago. That might have changed. What has not, is that they only allow about 5,000 visitors in to the country every year. It requires a special visa and you can only fly in on their Druck Airlines from 3 neighboring countries. They had the fastest internet connection while we traveled from one end to the other over the 15 or so days that we were there. After all they only had phones installed in 1988. Bhutan will always remain one of my favorite places and I highly recommend anyone interested in enjoying a different culture to visit Bhutan, the friendliest place on earth. This image was taken in one of the many monasteries that we visited. The gentleness of the Buddhist people was apparent wherever we went.

Picture of the Week #73 "Mazatlan Marketplace

Picture of the Week #73 "Mazatlan Marketplace" Mazatlan, Mexico 1974 Signed and Stamped

When I first moved to Los Angeles, the lady I was living with suggested we take off for a couple of weeks to Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta Mexico. Never one to pass up a travel op I said sure let's go. And off we went. I loved it. It was safe in those days and the people were friendly and the scenery picturesque. At the indoor market I took this photo which I later went on to paint from and subsequently sold the painting to rock and roll lead singer and guitarist Dave Mason who I directed in Music Videos. Dave had a great house in Sierra Retreat near Malibu and it hung proudly for years. Then we lost touch.

Picture of the Week #72 "The Art Restorer"

Picture of the Week #72 "The Art Restorer" 1972 Paris, France Signed and Stamped

This image in particular represents the photographic journey that I have pursued my entire life, that of the observer. Here I was walking in Paris constantly taking pictures of people doing every day things, but I didn't know them. I was just recording them. Always the observer, rarely the participant. Passing by this window and seeing this conservator restoring a painting of a nude woman, I realized my path was to be a voyeur through a camera lens. It is probably one of the most satisfying crafts and talents that I have. My enjoyment is to walk the streets of strange or exotic cities and to take pictures. For years I never showed any of these photos to anyone. They were only for me. Then I began to paint pictures using these images as my sketch book, my reference material, my inspiration. Then one day in 2003 I dropped my paint brush and began to scan these filmed pictures into my computer, manipulate them, size them, change them to black and white, enhance or correct the aperture and sometimes re-crop. And other times I just printed them out just as they were snapped. They became a portfolio of my memory. This is one of my absolute favorites. It says it all.

Picture of the Week #71 "Clock Repair"

Picture of the Week #71 "Clock Repair" 1989 Paris, France Signed and Stamped

I probably should have titled this image "Clock Repair in the Musee Dorsay" as that was where I photographed it. It was during the near completion of my around the world journey that started in Tokyo and went West to Bangkok, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Cairo and Paris before returning home to L.A. Now it's 20 years later and I'm planning another around the world trip. This one with my incredible wife Ann. I have no idea where we will be headed but I know it will be another memorable excursion. As the clock shows, only time will tell.

Picture of the Week #70 "Bella Abzug & Barbra Streisand"

Picture of the Week #70 "Bella Abzug & Barbra Streisand" 1972 New York City, NY Signed and Stamped

While producing & directing a Music Video for Barbra Streisand in Central Park in New York, Barbra received a visit from Politician Bella Abzug. All work stopped as the two legendary women chatted up a storm. Bella, known for her colorful hats and Barbra for her profile. I caught them in this classic image as the "brands" they are known by were recorded by my camera.

L A Marathon 3/21/2010

An L A Marathon Moment.

Picture of the Week #69 "Free Hugs"

Picture of the Week #69 "Free Hugs" Bel Air, California USA 2010 Signed and Stamped

On my way driving home I past these two girls in my neighborhood giving away "free hugs". I passed them by, but then thought about it. I went home and grabbed my FLIP Video and went back to get my free hug and to record them. My obvious question was, why? They said to brighten everyone's day. To my amazement I was only the third person to stop and to be hugged. After last week's Picture of the Week titled "Buddies" I thought this was a cheerful follow up. I hope it brings joy to your day. I am sure they would be pleased.

St. Patrick's Day 1965

St. Patrick's Day 1965 in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York I took these photos.

Picture of the Week #68 "Buddies"

Picture of the Week #68 "Buddies" New York City, NY 1972 Signed and Stamped

While producing and directing a series of Music Videos for Clive Davis and Columbia Records back in 1972, I was faced with a challenge when I was to portray alcoholism for a song titled "Carry Me" sung by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show. I hid a camera under an old Army coat and ran a cable release to my pocket and went down to the Bowery where I thought I would secretly be able to grab some photos that I would later animate. I was immediately caught by the guy in the hat who declared "give me a quarter!" I did. Then he said to give his Buddy a quarter. I did. They became my guides and introduced me to other unfortunates that laid in the door ways and on the street. That day resulted in my giving out $30 bucks but gave me one the most memorable photographic series I have ever been able to accomplish. I have shown and sold these powerful images in galleries ever since.

Picture of the Week #67 "Yellow Shades in Santa Monica

Picture of the Week #67 "Yellow Shades in Santa Monica" Santa Monica, California USA 2009 Signed and Stamped

On typical sunny California days my wife Ann and I love to walk along Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica overlooking the beach and down to the famed Pier. One bright July afternoon last year I noticed this graphic image of the Yellow Shades. I grabbed my little point and shoot camera that I wear on my hip and zoomed all the way in and captured this image. Even though we walk down this path countless times, I have never seen all these Yellow Shades displayed like they were back in July.

Picture of the Week #66 "Girl Talk"

Picture of the Week #66 "Girl Talk" Cairo, Egypt 1989 Signed and Stamped

Another image from my around the world journey in 1989. Looking at this image I wonder if I would be able as an American to walk up to veiled women and take their picture without hostility as I once did. That's not to say that all the pictures I took in Egypt at that time were conflict free. Many had given me scowls. Perhaps I was too young to be intimidated. Today might be a different story.

Cardinal Mahony Holding My Book

What a kick. Cardinal Mahony holding my book "The Making of the Lords of Flatbush"

Cardinal Mahony and I met today in his Los Angeles office where I told him of my experience of being invited to the Vatican as one of 220 selected artists from all over the world. And what an honor it was to hear Pope Benedict's "Address to Artists" in the Sistine Chapel. He knew that this was the first time since the Renaissance that a Pontiff hosted artists in the Chapel. The historic event got very little press here in America and the Cardinal is hoping to help change that. I informed him that I am putting together a photographic installation in a top gallery where I will have a 16 foot high photo of the Pope sitting in front of "The Last Judgement" with Life Size Cut Outs of the Swiss Guards and the Clergy. He agreed to pose for one of the Cut Outs and said he will come to the exhibition. He also invited me to photograph him in his Vestments either before or after a Sunday Service. I agreed. He went on to say how he knew my work and recognized me when I first walked in to his office. Needless to say I was blown away.