Picture of the Week #370 "Soccer in Marken" Marken, The Netherlands 1966 Signed & Stamped

When I was directing TV commercials back in the 60's I was in Amsterdam Holland meeting with Joop Geesink who had created a small theme park called "Dollywood". He made puppets for film and TV that were used for stop motion animated photography as well as having this park. This was PRE Disneyland. He was a legend in motion picture production. When I had some time off I went to visit the picturesque town of Volendam and then a ferry out to the island of Marken. Once there I encountered these boys in the school yard playing soccer. As I was always taking pictures, I grabbed this one. It was fortuitous that the figures fell in between the bars of the school yard. Even though this image is almost 50 years old I believe it still holds up today.

Picture of the Week # 369 "Impatient Geisha" Tokyo, Japan 1989 & "Zebras in Orvieto" Masai Mara, Kenya 1997 & Orvieto, Italy 2002 & printed in 2015

When I had a show of my work in Tokyo and was staying at the famed Okura Hotel, I walked out of my room to find an impatient Geisha waiting for the elevator. She kept looking at her watch and pushing the elevator button. I don't remember how long it took, but it was long enough for me to click off the shot. And now being Xmas is Thursday and I only post on Mondays, I thought I'd throw in a little present of what is obviously a manipulated image of the zebras in front of the striped Church in Orvieto Italy. Every once in a while I create an image rather than capture one. Have a healthy, happy and safe holiday. 

Picture of the Week #368 "The Lords of Flatbush" & Bonus "Sly Lifting the Lords"

Brooklyn, New York 1972 Signed & Stamped

It's Award season now for movies and Sylvester Stallone whom I kindly refer to as my "cinematic son" is garnering much deserved praise for his role in "Creed" the latest in the "Rocky sagas. Sly and I met in 1972 and I immediately cast him for the role of "Stanley in our first feature film "The Lords of Flatbush". This was two years before his breakthrough classic "Rocky". And yes that is Henry Winkler who also had his debut in "The Lords". Henry has stated that he took his character from Lords for his iconic role of "Fonzie" on Happy Days. A generation of cinema & Television legends was born in my little movie. Good luck Sly, you know I'm rooting for you. 

Picture of the Week #367 "The Shephard & His Flock" Grimaud, France 1981 Signed & Stamped

When I had a second home in the South of France, I spent every waking hour either basking on the beach in St. Tropez, painting or taking pictures and of course eating and drinking Rose wine. One day on my daily excursion I ran into a local Shephard and his flock of sheep. It was near sundown and I quickly grabbed this one shot and continued on. Recently looking through my volumes of 35 millimeter transparencies I came across this image. It was very dark. Thankfully when I scanned it in to my computer I was able to bring out the hidden colors from the transparency.