Picture of the Week #218 "High Five - Hip Buddhists" Paro, Bhutan 2000 Signed and Stamped

I am working on a series of images that make you smile and I came across this one that I took when we were taken to Bhutan to celebrate my 60th birthday. It was a trip that I will never forget as one would have visiting paradise on earth. The Kings declaration was happiness for all and these sniffling kids certainly forwarded the emotion.

Picture of the Week #217 "Masquerade Madness"  Venice, Italy 2011 Signed and Stamped

Look closely. I took this photo of a costumed Carnival goer at the Venice Carnivale. They were part of the 306 people that I had the absolute joy of photographing full figure in their elaborate and sometime homemade costumes. I have no idea who made this extravagant outfit but I know it was eye catching. I floated their image over a piece of their costume which I used as a backdrop in photoshop. I printed a 44 inch wide by 54 inch high image for my home. That tells you how much I love this. I'm hoping to publish a book of them titled "Carnivale Candy".

Picture of the Week #216 "BarbaPapa Visits the Sistine" Rome, Italy 2009 - 2012 Signed and Stamped

When I was invited to the Sistine Chapel to hear Pope Benedicte's "Address to Artists"in 2009, I was fortunate enough to be able to take pictures anywhere I wanted. After all the Vatican invited me. Two years later we were visiting Rome when I took a picture of the BarbaPapa cartoon balloon floating in a restaurant. I don't know why but I visualized the the two images together. Thanks to Photoshop I was able to realize my vision.

Picture of the Week #215 "Gassed in the Doorway" Pasadena, California 2006 Signed and Stamped

The first Picture of the Week in December 2008 that I posted was of this gas masked statue in a gallery in Pasadena that I took 2 years earlier. That image was of it lying on the floor with a cable running to the electric outlet. For some reason it was later placed in the doorway peering out to the side street. I happened  to go by it twice and recorded it twice. I'm now doing a series of POP photographs and bringing this out of my archives just seemed to be the right time.

Picture of the Week #214 "Gossip at the Beauty Shop"  Shanghai, China 1980 Signed and Stamped

This is what Shanghai used to look like. What I love about this image is it's universality. These women are gossiping away the same as countless women are doing from Paris to Brooklyn to .... well you get the idea. This salon is outdoors while the fancier American and European parlors are indoors. But what goes on inside is the same wherever you are. I haven't been back to Shanghai but have seen pictures, scenes like this are disappearing if not already gone. C'est la vie.

Picture of the Week #213 "Elephant Love" Tree Tops Aberdare, Kenya 1997 Signed and Stamped

Nothing says love like these two elephants rubbing trunks. This was one of many wildlife images that I took on our honeymoon safari. It was truly one of the greatest and most luxurious trips we've ever experienced. Most people think that Safari means ruffing it, when in fact it can be a moveable feast of food, excitement, luxury and untold pleasures of seeing wild animals in their native habitats. These trips are not cheap, but worth every penny in the memories that you come away with. We can't wait to return.

Picture of the Week #212 "Bright Intelligent Messengers Furnished Here" Montreal, Canada 1965 Signed and Stamped

What can I say. This sign was for real. We were visiting friends in Montreal when I passed this delivery shop. Somehow the sign comes across funny. It doesn't mean to be, but somehow it brings a smile when I read it. I don't know if there was another sign announcing their name or if it was even a joke. There were no bicycles or scooters or vans out front. I only took the picture and moved on. Today, they are probably Fed Ex.