Rocco Galatioto, nice photos and good food

New York, Central Park

These are my absolutely first digital images shot in early September of 2000. I had finished a shoot at a center in Coney Island for a client and I took along my Nikon Coolpix 990. I did not use it on the job but since the center was in Coney Island, I took a walk on the boardwalk and started shooting. A love affair developed. I am not ashamed to state that I love digital because it allows many more possibilities. When I saw those clear skies free from dust marks and scratches, I was hooked. The color also was more realistic and could be manipulated at will. I find that many young photographers who state how superior film is do not know much about the subject. Let them work for 30 years in the dark room smelling the chemicals and ruining one's hands and then talk to me about film.

The Brooklyn Bridge, because of it's architectural style that includes the stone pillars with the steel cables in effects "bridges" two eras of construction techniques going from the past to the future. It's size compared to the other New York bridges is such that it doesn't overwhelms and seating on one of it's benches on the pedestrian walkway is one of the most relaxing experiences. Of course all the bikers who go at break neck speeds put a damper on this feeling of tranquility. All these ridiculous hipsters who do nor realize hoe pathetically bourgeois they are on their bikes. But I will nor use this blog as a sounding board.

This little girl photographed at an FCA  -my client- event several yeas ago, surely knew that she was very cute.

This little hamlet sits above Genova and can be reached by auto or by cable car. It was shot on an evening of April, 200, with the Nikon D2-H.

These two shots dating from November of 2003 show the woods just before winter's grip sets in. They still have a beauty that is missing when that abominable white stuff covers the ground rending it a monotonous white. I realize that many prefer snowy scenes and I have taken countless such shots as something to do, as it were. Nevertheless, I prefer the more colorful images. The camera was the Canon 1D, the original, heavy and massive camera that gave me a hernia. It only had a mere 4 mega pixels. They they were enough. And as the Beatles would say: "do you want to know a secret;" they still suffice. But do not tell it to the equipment fanatics.

I had a long association as a photographer for the now defunct Catholic Medical Centers of Brooklyn And Queens that later merged with Saint Vincent Hospital and later on ceased operations. I was always in awe of the nursing staff that practically ran the hospitals always in the shadow of often abusive and rude doctors who had the belief that they were so superior. The nurses that I admired the most were in the various pediatric departments. They had infinite patience and real compassion. This shot, taken many years ago is from the pediatric floor at Mary Immaculate Hospital.  It's dedicated to all nurses as a thank you.

After a few teases, the unveiling and for those who want more information on this weatherproof pro model click on the link to DPreview. The Fujifilm X-T1 is finally here and it  has  much in common with the  other X-series  cameras. However, it has important one addition in that it's weatherproof. Nevertheless, it has practically the same inner workings as the X-E2, along with it's 16MP X-Trans CMOS II sensor with on-chip phase detection. In addition it sports a new EVF. This is an OLED panel with a claimed lag time of 0.005 seconds. At this speed it's almost like an optical viewfinder. This along with it's ability  toshoot at 8 fps with subject tracking, make it a superior camera for action and other professional work.  

. These were shot back in 2006 at a back to school event sponsored by one of my clients. I just love to photograph children.

This was our view in the morning at breakfast time at the Castello da Verrazzano in Greve in Chianti, Tuscany. This is the heart of the Chianti Classico DOC zone. Ah, the food, the wine, the utter beauty leaves one totally mesmerized.

These were shot back in 2006 at a graduation preparing Montessori teachers, a program run by Catholic Charities, my client. Shot just with a flash mounted on a Stroboframe.