Kathleen Reiss has been collecting my photographs, and has done a great job of displaying them. I took these photos of my pictures yesterday in her bathroom, living room, and kitchen. I particularly like the bigger prints. They definitely make an impression from across the room!
“Bolshoi Dancers,” Bethesda, MD in friend’s swimming pool.
Living room featuring my “Palm, Santa Monica” photo from 2000.
iPhone photos in kitchen area
This business with Narcisco Contreras, the AP photographer fired by them for improperly altering an image, is fair warning about manipulation of photos, and rightfully so, but let’s not have a public lynching here. When a golfer makes an error in judgement he is disqualified from that tournament, but isn’t given life in prison. I think the AP should give Sr. Contreras a six-month suspension, then take him back. He was one of the guys who won them a Pulitzer in Syria last year for Christ’s sake, and it wasn’t given for manipulated photos, but for pictures taken courageously under fire.
The Empire State Bldg. lit up in Superbowl team colors tonight at sunset. Taken from Bank of America Bldg., 42nd St. & 6th Ave.
AP was right to fire this Pulitzer-winning photographer. The line has to be held against manipulation of news photos, otherwise nobody will ever believe what they see. Many don’t already. I feel bad for the photographer, he admitted what he did was wrong, and took responsibility. I hope this lapse of judgment doesn’t ruin his career, he’s a brave guy, and has made many good photos that we presume weren’t digitally altered.
A year ago today. Miss America Mallory Harden at a Politico/Bank of America event in Washington, D.C. President Obama was sworn into his second term on this day also.
Mis
Super Scooper drops water on PCH fire
Firefighting tanker drops water on PCH fire
A few shots from yesterday’s fire alongside the Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica yesterday.
Spectator watches firefighting effort on the Pacific Coast Highway
Helicopter drops water on PCH fire
I’ve just completed the shooting portion of my “iPhoto a Day in 2013” project. So now I’m in the writing phase, and would love to hear questions you might have about taking better pictures. Part of the book will include my thoughts on how to accomplish better photography with the tools at hand, whether they be your phone or grown up camera, so fire away! I may include your query in the book–if I do you’ll get a free copy.
A selfie from iPhoto du Jour!
A more complete account to follow this weekend, I’m on the road starting early tomorrow, but here’s a moment from this afternoon taken from the Sea Lion Caves on the Oregon coast looking toward the Heceta Head Lighthouse. It was beautiful light, a magic moment, shot with the iP5s w/proHDR app.
Heceta Head from Sea Lion Caves
Since President Lyndon B. Johnson, the White House photographer in many cases has been the other person in the room when the big decisions are made. Not speaking, not taking notes, but rather using his or her camera to record some of the most momentous decisions and events that have ever happened. Their job is to record history, not to make it or influence it.
There have been some legitimate complaints about lack of access for press photographers lately, and I’ve tried to address these. It’s worth noting that Pete Souza, the current Photographer-in-Chief, has taken some hits from the White House press corp because of their unhappiness over White House photo releases and what they feel is his unresponsiveness to their complaints. Because I haven’t covered this Administration I don’t know all the details, but I do know from my own experience as a former chief White House photographer that getting complaints from your colleagues goes with the turf. I have encouraged this White House to try and open the door a little wider for my colleagues, and strongly believe that the White House photographer shouldn’t be competing with the photographers in the press. I also think Pete’s job as a historian with a camera is exemplary, that he’s a real pro, and that his record will be regarded as one of the best.
In the words of my friend, boss, and mentor President Gerald R. Ford, “You can disagree without being disagreeable.” The White House press corps, (and politicians also), might want to take that to heart.
The New York Times Lens blog posted two stories, yesterday and today about my views on the first official White House civilian photographer, Yoichi Okamoto, and the present one Pete Souza.
I include the links here:
http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/10/photographing-the-white-house-from-the-inside/
http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/11/in-fords-white-house-not-holding-back/
The bottom line for me is that the White House photographer’s job is essential for recording history. Every one of us who held that position took flak from the press for one reason or another–anyone in public life does. But the important things is an honest and complete visual record left for the ages. Those photographs better inform understanding of the decisions that were made by the president and others, and what was going in in the room at the time.
New York City
New York has always been an inspiration for me. When I lived there in 1969 I loved making pictures around the city. I worked for UPI in those days, and I always tried to take a few snaps before I got into the office at the Daily News Bldg. Growing up in Oregon made it seem even more exotic. There’s so much energy in the place that it always seems on the edge of exploding. This last week was no exception on the photo front. When I arrived in Manhattan, it was already after dark, but the Christmas lights were burning bright, and decorations were everywhere. I chose a spot near Radio City Music Hall to capture some of the spirit. With reflections in the foreground, and giant red ornaments framing the scene, I got an angle that I liked. Unfortunately after shooting I hopped off the ledge I was on and sprained my foot. I’m not sure the pics were worth it, but they will definitely outlive the pain.
Radio City Music Hall all lit up for the holidays
To make sure I hadn’t broken anything I had X-rays taken, and the results were negative (so to speak . . .). The doctor who saw me was Jordan Metzl, (http://www.drjordanmetzl.com/ ), a sports medicine expert, author, and one of the best orthopedists in his field””on top of that he’s a world-class triathlete. My guess is that I was not one of his most athletic patients.
My left foot. The X-ray came out negative.
The next day I hobbled around Central Park at a snail’s pace, and fittingly, ran into some giant red pulmonate gastropod molluscs at the Rumsey Playground, a place that looked a bit like the middle of Paris. These particular gastropods were sculptures, however, made out of recycled material and placed by the Villa Firenze Foundation and the Galleria CA’ D’ORO to promote better understanding of Italy. A young child was playing near them, and it made for a good shot.
Little girl and red snails in Central Park
I also stopped by the 1959 José de Creeft sculpture dedicated to Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” that features an 11-foot-tall Alice who is surrounded by the Mad Hatter and other Carrollian characters. I’m always looking for unusual elements, and I chose her giant hand as my focal point.
Hand of Alice in Wonderland, Central Park
The following day I made my way (slowly) down Madison Ave., and was rewarded by a typical steamy NYC scene where city workers were repairing a broken pipe. Only a short distance from there I found some high-end shops to shoot, one a mix of man and mannequins, another with an umbrella with eyes passing by. My favorite pic, however, was combining a terrific black and white Berluti shoe ad of a man jumping high in the air with people walking underneath him with umbrellas.
Steamed up workers on Madison Ave.
Man and mannaquins, Madison Ave.
Madison Ave. store
Berluti shoe ad and pedestrians in rain
I then made my way over to 5th Ave. for more storefront action, and was rewarded by seeing some American flags through a rain-dappled taxi window, and a rather astonishing piece of billboard-sized illuminated flying jewelry on the facade of the Bvlgari store.
Flags on Fifth Avenue
Giant bug on Bvlgari shop on 5th Ave.
Later that night I appeared on Al Jazeera America where John Siegenthaler interviewed me. Their set, using a large mosaic of my photos, was impressive, and I’d never seen my pictures used quite that way. I’ll go back there anytime!
Interviewed by John Siegenthaler on Al Jazeera America set in NYC
After the show I had dinner with my good friend the branding king Alan Siegel at Aretsky’s Patroon (http://aretskyspatroon.com/ ). Ken Aretsky is one of the world’s top restaurateurs, and I’ve known him almost 40 years. I highly recommend his establishment for fabulous food, and some excellent photos on the wall””yes, one of them is mine, taken of the Ali-Frasier “Fight of the Century” at Madison Square Garden, March 8, 1971 . . .
Muhammad Ali knocked down in 15th Round by Joe Frazier, Madison Sq. Garden
This morning I bid adieu to the big city, but not before photographing The Beresford apartment building on Central Park West where I stayed with the Siegels. It was an impressive sight, made more so by the crisscrossing contrails that drifted above the structure, built in 1929.
The Beresford, NYC
As I left New York, I made one last photo as we lifted out of JFK Airport heading west to Los Angeles. It was another great photo safari, and all the photos taken with my iPhone5s.
Flying over Long Island as I left JFK Airport
