Picture of the Week # 414 "Trick or Treat" + Bonus 1 + Bonus 2 Venice, Italy 2011 Signed & Stamped

There is no more elaborate showing of costumes than at the Carnivale in Venice Italy. It was an absolute joy to attend back in 2011 with my pal Douglas Villiers. And today being Halloween there is no more appropriate images that I could show you than these select three from literally hundreds that I have taken. As so many people are donning costumes today, I thought it was befitting to show how ornate and intricate some outfits can be. These three photographs show the reveler against a background that matches their costume. I hope one day to have a gallery or museum showing of many of these pictures as I find them beautiful, colorful and fun.  I fully understand that we all hide behind masks one way or another and what better way to showcase them.  

Picture of the Week # 413 "Checking Her Out" Paris, France 2002 Signed & Stamped

Walking through Paris, one of my favorite cities, I couldn't help but see this woman striding by. I loved the shop girls standing in front checking her out as she was coming closer to them. I also liked the contrast between this punked out red head and the 60's era bell bottom pants of the sales girl. I guess it's another example of then and now. I wonder if this red head still looks this way or if she's changed? After all it was 14 years ago. We all go thru phases and I presume this is one of hers.

Picture of the Week # 412 "Jim Nabors" Bel Air, California 1972 Signed & Stamped

Back when I was producing and directing Music Videos I had the distinct pleasure of working with Jim Nabors. Most people knew him as the bumbling "Gomer Pyle" on TV, but he also had an incredible singing voice. He sang "To Dream the Impossible Dream" from "Man of La Mancha" and blew us all away. And this was in his house with no musical accompaniment. If memory serves me correctly I also did one or two more songs with him on a stage, but I remember him standing by the window over looking the city in a tuxedo and gloriously belting out the tune. Why I had him in a tuxedo is lost in my memory, but I do remember he invited me to his house in Hawaii and to drive his Ferrari. I guess I made an impression on him.    

Picture of the Week #411 "White Rhino" Masai Mara, Kenya 1989 Signed & Stamped

I was seeing Nick Brants' fabulous picture of an elephant standing profile with a cloud of dust that was just shaken off, selling in auction for between $30,000 and $50,000. I said to myself that I have lots of animal pictures that I took when Ann and I were on our honeymoon that are pretty good as well. So sure enough I found this image. I turned it Black & White and boom there it was. A very powerful profile picture that I immediately emailed to my biggest collector and friend the great stager Meridith Baer. She bought 2 from an edition of 10. Today, it's my Picture of the week. I'm working on more, and even tho these are originally in color I know Meridith prefers B&W. I'll put together a portfolio in color as well for others to appreciate or purchase and maybe do a gallery exhibit.

Picture of the Week #410 "Reflecting Museum Guard" Paris, France 1982 Signed & Stamped

Melancholy could have also been a title to this contemplative image. As a photographic voyeur I am always trying to capture moments that appear in front of me. Sometimes I'm successful, often times not. This was a winner. I was in my habitual tour of the Louvre when passing through the Egyptian wing I noticed her sitting there. Click. I moved on. She was none the wiser that I had recorded her private moment for posterity. What I also was attracted to is the diagonal shadow cast from the wall relief and that her leg was in exactly the same direction. I'm not sure I was as aware as I am now of the graphics of this image then. I was too busy just getting the camera to my eye and snapping this one take. I rarely do more than one take, except now that I have gone digital I've moved along with the times. So it's not uncommon for me to snap 4 or 5 shots and decide later which is the best.