Picture of the Week #438 "The Lords" Brooklyn, New York 1972 Signed & Stamped

These boys helped change my life. Yes, this is from "The Lords of Flatbush" my first feature motion picture that I wrote, produced & directed back in 1972. It was the first film for Sylvester Stallone before "Rocky", and Henry Winkler before "Fonzie". And Perry King, on the right replaced Richard Gere after I was pushed and convinced to replace him. Richard was terrific and responsible for some of the best dialog in the pigeon coop with Sly and thankfully Perry did a wonderful job in reciting what Richard had ad libbed. As "Rocky" & "Happy Days" went on to great heights, it gave my film additional distribution and I for one am very happy.

Picture of the Week # 437 "Guarding Lenin"  Moscow, Russia 1988 Signed & Stamped

With all the talk of Russia in the news these days I thought I would post this image of Soldiers guarding Lenin's tomb. I was in Russia for the first Soviet / American interchange of film makers. They showed our films but didn't have subtitles. So one man sat in the back of the theater and translated all of the parts. Man, woman, and child. I was inspired to photograph wherever I went especially Red Square. Would I return? I doubt it although my dear wife has not been and maybe one day if peace prevails then I would take her. 

Picture of the Week # 436 "Where To Go" Hong Kong, China 2007 Signed & Stamped

I had two paintings in auction at Christies in Hong Kong China. I used the potential sale as the reason to go over there with Sarah Zhu who was responsible for placing the paintings. Sadly they didn't reach my reserve price. On the other hand I still enjoy the images as one is hanging in my living room. Happily the prices have gone way up since, but I am not placing any images into auction in the foreseeable future. I am zeroed in with my photography and have decided to hold off selling any paintings for a while. This photo was taken in the Musuem stairwell. I couldn't have choreographed it any better. 

Picture of the Week #435 "Crossing the Street" Dordogne, France 1990 Signed & Stamped

As you know if you have been following my Blogs, I spent a great deal of time living in France over the years. In 1990 I went for a visit and as always had my camera and caught this man crossing the street in a village in the Dordogne area of France. You can almost smell the aquavit or pernod on his breath. Sadly many of these seasoned men in caps are disappearing, It is quite obvious when you see them playing Boule in the many parks. It used to be filled with men in berets and now they are without hats and in shiny workout clothes. The times are a changing. 

Picture of the Week #434 "Tired in Casablanca" Casablanca, Morocco 1986 Signed & Stamped

I've been to Morocco three times. The first time in 1965. The second in 1971 and then in 1986 when I went with a group of film makers as we were being wooed to shoot our next film in Morocco at a new facility and studio that they were supposedly building in Ourrzazate, at the edge of the Sahara.  The facility itself was not completely built but there was a one mile long wall with only one opening in and out for cars and buses to go through. We drove through and there was nothing but desert on the other side. We laughed as they told us how this was going to be a state of the art facility. Only we have to wait years for the completion. We left. When we were back in Casablanca I walked all over and found some interesting images, this was one of them.

Picture of the Week #433 "Flute for Food" Paris, France, 1982 Signed & Stamped

Roaming the streets of Paris for hours I often come across people that are just begging for me take their picture. Of course I am being snarky by saying that, but what I am trying to say is that as I roam I discover people doing sometimes mundane and sometimes exceptional things. Or in this case just graphically appealing to my camera. It's no secret that Paris is extraordinary in what it offers me visually. 

Picture of the Week #432 "The Grand Canal" Venice, Italy 1986 Signed & Stamped

Venice Italy is one of my absolute favorite places on earth. Even during the heavy tourist times like the Carnivale, it is still magic. Long before I went to the Carnivale I would go and roam the canals and take pictures. One of my favorite things to do. Once my wife gave me a slide scanner back in 2002 I was able to take my 35mm transparencies and convert them to digital files and in this case turn them Black & White. The print I made of this image came out so majestically that I decided to make it my Picture of the Week.