Appropriate dishes for a winter Saturday

Zuppa di cavolfiore

Spaghetti ai filetti di pomodoro

Penne rigate con piselli e pancetta

Enjoy your winter weekend

Demonstration

This photo was taken a few years ago at a housing demonstration in New York City. The lack of housing has been an ongoing problem made worse by the gentrification of many neighborhoods that force tenants out. The city's politicians naturally vote to  support the large contributors so people are forced into shelters that are another business. A vicious circle is in place creating a real problem. I was shooting for a social service agency that supported the demonstrators.

Seniors

Among my costumers were many social service agencies. These ran all kinds of programs for adults and children. That afforded me the opportunity to shoot what I loved the most, people. These images are from an adult center in Queens, NYC and the subjects loved to be photographed.

Vintage studio portraits

These portraits were shot in my old studio on 26 Street and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. It had a very large window facing north that I availed myself. In these portraits I only used one light with an umbrella and a large reflector. The window light did the rest. Classic and simple lighting without all those none sensical key lights etc. My teacher, Josef Breitenbach used to say: "go to a museum and see how the masters used light." He was right. I miss him and his wisdom immensely. The camera was a Nikon FTn with the sublime Nikkor 105 F 25 lens. Naturally, the film was Tri-X Pan

Peaceful

There's no more peaceful and relaxing place in New York than the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. There   you can lose yourself in nature's beauty. This is a place that makes you feel alive and restored. The aggravations of modern life are far away so you may enjoy a moment of tranquility. 

Everybody is a photographer

How can you compete with this. I just love these images and the serious attitude of the little girl who uses a smart phone to photograph  her parents and then looks at the instant results. Just marvelous. Shot in Castellammare del Golfo, my beloved birth place in Sicily. Anyone still thinks there's a future in a career in pro photography?

Have a beautiful week

have a wonderful Sunday