You can skip this. Really. No need to read about me.
Seriously, all I'm interested in is sharing my photos and letting them do the talking.
Maybe you want context? OK. I walk out the door with my camera and say "OK, world. surprise me." Not enough context? How about this: I've been doing this (walking out the door with my camera and going on visual explorations) since 1976.
Sometimes, the world disappoints me (Or, more likely, it's just me not seeing the surprises around me that day). Other times, it delivers surprises that last a fraction of a second, and it's my job to catch that surprising moment.
Whatever. Another day comes, and I make the same request of the world, hoping to capture something interesting, in an interesting way. A significant gesture. A fleeting expression. An interesting bit of parallel action. Preferably, all at the same moment, within the four edges of the frame.
What happened in 1976? Why am I preparing to celebrate 50 years of street photography? Well, I turned 19 and in August, a month after the Bicentennial celebrations, I took a master class with Garry Winogrand. I was always observing people, their interactions and expressions. But when I saw Winogrand's work, I realized that I could photograph and preserve those moments.
That's what I've been doing since 1976.
Pretty cool, huh?
Oh, by the way, here's Garry, taking pictures on Lower Broadway in New York's financial district, taken by Yours Truly. Just to prove it really happened.
So I eventually saved up and bought a Leica M3 and hit the streets of New York, and continue to pound the pavement, with my camera as often as possible—although it's a bit of a challenge getting into the City from the Jersey 'burbs—but I do it anyway.
I have almost a 50-year accumulation of street photography. Some of the photos are like a time capsule of New York as it was from the 1970s through the 80s...90s...and since 2000, while my recent digital work is for a future time capsule.
So, here's my pitch: I have a lot of cool photos to share with the world. Your support would help me make that possible. My efforts include digitizing, archiving and culling my piles of negatives to share with the world. It's a time-consuming process. I'm also hoping to sell some prints because I believe some of my photos are wall-worthy. If you appreciate Winogrand's work, you might enjoy mine, too.
I'm also exploring creating some eBooks on specific themes that I keep coming back to over the years, and maybe a physical coffee-table book or three in the coming year or two.
If you could buy me a cup or multiple cups of coffee, or even better, do a monthly subscription, I would be very grateful. I'm still figuring out this brilliant crowdsourcing platform, and plan to add goodies for sale as well as giveaways in the near future. But for now, a coffee would be a great start.
Actually, I'm glad you read this 'till the end!
