Will you MARRY me?

Dominick found me on www.Yelp.com. He was planning his proposal to Heather on Christmas Eve at Silver Lake Park in Staten Island NY- My Studio happens to be the closest and when he saw the other proposals on my blog, the deal was done!
With a model as a decoy I was just another photographer on the bridge till he popped the question- she didn't turn him down and a happy ending was had by all!
(What a Christmas present!)

Books make GREAT gifts!!

Around this time of year there are always a few books coming out that feature my artwork, photos and/or stories about me. At the last book signing (www.RevolutionBookNYC.org) I met PHADE who also graduated from the High School of Art & Design www.ArtAlumni.com ( but 7 years after me) The project he just finished is a 20 foot canvas for THE HIP HOP CULTURE CENTER in Harlem NY at the Magic Johnson Theater. (www.GlobalArtistsCoalition.org) The artwork needs to be photographed before he presents it to them cause they will cut it up in sections, frame it and have it go up and down their staircase.
So off I went to the Grand Concourse in the Bronx. The building the Art was in also housed the Love Gospel Assembly Church and a Soup Kitchen! (www.FoodBankNYC.org) apon examining the painting I noticed my name among the other names of people who influenced society so I asked him if he put that there after he met me - he said no- he knew of me from school, my art and presence has stayed around long after I did!

Happy Holidays!

Another day at work with the great baby photographer Terry Geerdts. This time in a Park Ave apartment location. (www.aPrettyPixel.com)
A call came in from my old friend Chris Lee to catch his Dad conducting his big band at the Knitting Factory. (www.Knittingfactory.com) Sure we'll go, we're already in the city and haven't been there since 2002 when we played the Big Room as the Ex Vandals- WHAT!?! The Knitting Factory is no longer in Manhattan! It's now in Brooklyn- Sheese!
We picked up my best friend Phil who is a masterful musician (and the person who got me to play) Chris is also known as SHADOW and might know Phil as CHOPPER. We got our times wrong, arrived early but fine with me- I used to cut High School and boldly walk into the Beacon Theater (www.BeaconTheatreNYC.com) with my cameras blazing to to mingle and photograph The Kinks, Robin Trower, Kiss, Allman Brothers etc back in the day-! I love sound checks, I fondly recall the years I spent at the Blue Note (www.BlueNoteJazz.com) photographing the jazz greats at those sound checks!

Heralding an unmistakable and poignant Brooklyn sound, Bill Lee and the natural Spiritual Orchestra has been swingin' for three decades. Mr Lee's Natural Spiritual orchestra is comprised of 20 NYC's finest jazzmen and jazzwomen, playing an intriguing range of all original compositions that exude the grit, humanity, color and soul of Brooklyn. (www.gothamjazz.com) This is an ensemble capable of truly stirring musical expression and a delight for all fortunate enough to behold. Band leader and composer Bill Lee is a formidable icon in both his bass playing prowess ( performing and/or recording with the likes Odetta, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Johnny Griffin and Duke Ellington to name a few) and his gifted composers pen, scoring his son, Spike Lee's films: She's Gotta Have It, School Daze, Do The Right Thing and Mo'Better Blues.
Chris is Spike's brother, I never got to meet Spike- it seems I'm mostly drawn to siblings of famous people. That's OK, I find my friends to be very unique
and talented. I also know Arlene Gottfried www.ArleneGottfried.com (sister of the comedian Gilbert) and Enid Faber www.EnidFarberFotos.com (sister of Robert, Farber.com) I do want to thank Robert for coming to see my exhibition at SohoPhoto.com years ago but that was the only time I met him...

Fall Kaleidoscope

Fall colors on the Umpqua River in Douglas County Oregon. The reflections were absolutely gorgeous. It was like being inside a kaleidoscope.

MySpace.com/PanzieRockNRoll

Having lived a life of music, I am always open to helping musicians living the dream of getting to the next level (and beyond!) PANZIE is both heavy and sexy. Great original songs
powered by Johnny Hawaiian, vocals; Warren Rock and Jonnie rockit, Guitars; DC Gonzallez, bass & Pete Elselman on drums. They are playing every week around NYC.

www.MjVideoProductions.com

Hey it's MICHAEL of www.MjVideoProductions.com!!!

Great escape at www.GrandColonialNJ.com

She lived in Raritan NJ. and he is from Flemington CT. Maria and John were made for each other, knew each other forever- She looks like a vision and I tried to capture her dreamy qualities, without falling in love~ I fall in love with all of my brides... They are all so beautiful!
She is Catholic and he is Jewish, must be quite a feeling to break the glass
in a church! The best of both worlds, very fitting as they start a new life togther! Besides having a great DJ/Band www.damicoentertainment.com, Info@cd-ent.com, they had a wonderful Videographer who never gets in my way, Hey it's Mike of www.MjVideoProductions.com

www.theRoyalManor.com

On the eve of the Pulaski Day Parade, The Polish American Republican Caucus (PARC) held their 28th Annual Champagne Brunch at the elegant Royal Manor in Garfield NJ. Delicious food and great entertainment as the Marching Band ( direct from Poland ) set the mood before Dorothy Kostecka Wieczerak received her "Outstanding Citizen of the Year 2009" Award. Being a photojournalist, I remain neutral- I don't take sides, I take pictures! For history- documenting the trials and tribulations of Man. Liberals one day, conservatives the next ( sometimes both on the same day! ) I shoot junkies and gangs like the Black Spades and Latin Kings ( no pun intended, LOL ) but I am also privileged to capture the crime fighting crusaders like Curtis Sliwa (www.GuardianAngels.org) who is this years Grand Marshall and gave a rousing keynote speech. I photographed him many times over the years but never gave a thought about his Polish background or his Polish wife Mary or son Anthony. And that is exactly the point! Polish Events and Achievements often get little press in United State news. I see now that his actions (sometimes controversy ) and views are cries for concern for a better future - for his family and all our children- bequeath it all he shines as a caring family man! www.2tygodnikpolonijny.com, www.dziennik.com