Saturday, June 17, 2017

Enjoy your Saturday in the park

Leica M-4 with 35mm Summicron

This archival Kodachrome II scan dates from the early seventies. It was a lovely Saturday in June when people actually talked to each other and interacted on a personal level. I am the first to admit that I'm old but you cannot tell me that today's totally on line world is a better place. You see, I know the difference because I was there. Enjoy your Saturday and use the smart phones a little less and smell the roses, so to speak. Perhaps I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one.

Friday, June 16, 2017

Have a quiet and lovely weekend

Early seventies, Kodachrome scan, Nikon FTn

This apple did not fall far from the tree

This amazing photo of Mary Mount Peak in Mount Hood, Oregon was shot by me extreemely talented daughter, Jennifer who has established herself as a photographer of note first in New York and later on on Oregon where she still resides. I'm, what they say, a proud papa or papà. I want to share it with my followers.



Thursday, June 15, 2017

Giverny in un pomeriggio di pioggia

Giverny during a rainy afternoon took such a wonderful appearance as tobe breathtaking. Truly magical and totally beautiful. A true masterpiece.



Giverny in un pomeriggio di pioggia mi sembrò così meraviglioso e mozzafiato. On posto magico e bellissimo. Un vero capolavoro.

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

One of my first so called serious photograph.

I have posted my very first serious image of downtown Manhattan taken in the fall of 1967 but at that time I really wasn't into photography. I did realize that I could take pictures but it was a year later in 1968, that I bought my first SLR. It was a KOWA SETR with the shutter on the interchangeable lenses. It was bulky but I felt like a photographer. In the spring of 1869, i sold the KOWA and bought my first real SLR with a focal plane shutter, a Canon FT QL [quick loading] that loaded the film well most of the time but proved to be it's Achilles's heel. This was followed by my first Leica, an M4 and a subsequent M2R, followed by a M4-2 and an M2, In 1973 I bought my first of many Nikons. An FTn with the wonderful 105 F2.5 that was converted and still works on my  D 700 etc. I also had a plethora of cameras of various formats needed for my business.  I even used a Burke & James 4X5 view camera and an old 5X7 view camera. Enough history.  This image was made with the KOWA on Ektachrome X film. It was in a small town in New York State, west of the Hudson River. I wonder what happened to these children now adults. Photography is funny that way. Now I began to realize that I could take "photographs"as Paul Simon sang. The rest as they say is history.
The image does shoe that nasty Ektachrome blue cast.


Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Firenze, archival slide scans




These images date from August of 1969 and were shot on Agfachrome 50 that did not remain color true. The film was cheaper than Kodachrome but the quality was not that good. Today with digital there is no film cost but in the old days film and processing were a considerable expense. In many cases black and white conversion is the only remedy. to preserve the images. Once more I wonder where time  went...how it flew...But as you can see there were co crowds then. No smart phones, no selfies and no congestion. Life was really good.

Monday, June 12, 2017

Scopello, veramente magnifico

I have posted many photos of this wonderful area west of Castellammare and part of it's territory. These images were made this past May during la primavera or springtime. It was late afternoon and the images took a more magical appearance. Below you can see the tonnara or tuna fishing outfit and the famous faraglioni or sea boulders that rival those of Capri. Countless ads have been made in this area as well as many movies. I just love the place.





Sunday, June 11, 2017

Have a delicious week. Eat well

Today, pesto is all the rage and although most so called pesto is actually a far cry fron the authetic one in Genoa, as an Italian I feel elated and flattered that there is such an interest. Nevertheless, I want to explain how authentic pesto is made and served. Using a blender, add  delicate small leaf basil, pignoli, garlic, olive oil  parmigiano,  and sea salt to taste. Na turally the Genoese believe that this dish can only be made in  Genoa but i disagree. The real pesto should actually be made with a mortar and pestle [ pesto comes from pestare that literally to hit something in order to shred it] but today a food processor or a blender on slow to moderate speed will do. What most people do not know is that in the salted pasta water one must add  some finely cubed potatoes and pieces of string beans. If gnocchi are used no potatoes are needed since gnocchi are made from flour and potatoes. Add the pasta,  cook it al dente and mix in the pesto. Serve with additional parmigiano and some pepe bianco, white peppers. Simple, fast and delicious. ENJOY


Have a soft and beautiful Sunday



Olympus E PL2 using the soft focus filter for a dreamy look

Fall splendor