Back to the Rain Forest

This coming Friday, Sue and I are escaping to the Islands of Maui and Kauai.  Heading to Maui first to run the Maui Half Marathon and then on to Kauai.  Kauai is one of my favorite places it's populated with down to earth people who move on island time living in the moment and not rushing through the day just to make it to the next day just to start all over again.  While on this trip I plan to get a substantial body of work for an island exclusive gallery showing this spring.  One of our main hikes on Kauai we will be doing is to the wettest spot on earth, Mt. Wai'ale'ale.  We have hooked up with a hiking guide that will guide us through the lush canyon and into the base of the Blue Hole which is home to hundreds of waterfalls 3000 plus feet high.  I can only imagine what it's going to feel like to stand inside such a magical and for me spiritual place. 

I'll be updating some of our adventures around the island on FB while we're there and will also be posting many new photographs when we get back.  I also have a new toy called the GOPRO Video Cam so I'll be able to get some video footage of the amazing places we will journey to.  Thank you once again for all your support.  Stay tuned for some magical and breathtaking photos soon to come.

 

Old School Italian neighborhood and the Botanical Gardens

Sue and I spent the day at the NY Botanical Gardens and then made our way over to Arthur Ave. for some old school Italian food I haven't had since my mom was alive. This brought back some amazing memories that had me smiling all day. The best place we experienced was Mike's Deli at the Arthur Ave. Market. David runs the deli and has not only been on Bobby Flay's TV show but also grew up with a good friend on mine Jon Haber here in Rockland County ,NY. We got to talking and next thing I know he's feeding me food and giving me a history lesson. As Jon would say, "GOOD TIMES" :)

Snow drifts and flowing Ice

I lied here is another pot for 2010.  Feeling cabin fever setting in I felt the need to get outside to breathe some fresh air and be away from our fast paced society, so I grabbed my camera and headed up to Harriman St. Park in NY. The fresh air was cold but felt good on my face as I headed into Reeves Meadow along the Stony Brook. I headed out on the trail and followed some snowshoers packed down trail, Having snow shoes would of been the smart move but my hiking boots would have to do for today. I hiked about a mile along the creek shooting in snow drifts that were well above my knees and even deeper. It's amazing how being outside in such a pristine, quite and natural setting can clear the mind and rejuvenate the soul. Hope you enjoy the photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Last post of 2010

Well,  2010 is coming to a close and 2011 will be arriving soon.  This will be my last Blog post for the old year.  Here are a couple of shots I took on one of our trips out in the Southwest back in 2007. I'm going to be using some of these shots in a video i'm putting together for Kayak Lake Mead as a promo for their Extreme Desert Adventure Training Expeditions.  Thank you everyone for all our support.  Have a great New Years Eve and an Awesome 2011.  I'll be announcing some real cool stuff I'm excited about for the coming year in the next couple of week.  

Falls End

I can't believe Fall 2010 is falling away and winter is rushing in.  I've been so busy with the preparations for my October show at Sanctuary in Nyack, NY that I didn't find much time to get out and shoot when I wanted to.  I was able to get out late this season and capture what was left of nature's work.  With the winter moving in I have to keep my mind active, stay focused and keep pushing forward toward my Hawaii trip planned for January.   

Great Musicians with an Artistic Flare

My friend Mark Sganga Had his CD release party last week at Winberries in Ridgewood, NJ.  I don't normally shoot indoor activities but since I love good music and I thought this would be a great fit.  What I love about Mark and the people that play with him is that they all have a true passion for their craft.  They play what they feel  from their heart and sole.  Marks playing can be compared to a world class painter laying paint on a canvas.  He's work in animated, colorful and truly paints a picture with each ringing note.  I'm excited to announce that Mark will be playing at my Gallery reception at Sancaurary in Nyack, NY next Saturday Oct. 16 from 5 to 9pm.  I think I was able to visually capture The Mark Sganga Trio with my lens adding somewhat of an artistic flare.  Hope you enjoy the photos.

The desert & some amazing athletes

I had the opportunity this month to head out to Nevada & Arizona to photo document 12, 4 person teams navigating, trekking, kayaking, mountain biking and climbing 300 miles through the desert.  When the word athlete is spoken it's this kind of person that fits the bill.  Every team member had all the ingredients that make up a true champion, perseverance, attitude, mental strength, physical strength and a caring and passionate attitude towards their teammates.  Take this kind of person out of the Adventure Race and put them in any other facet of life and they will succeed beyond all  expectations.

A big thank you to Robert Finlay for giving me this opportunity and exposing me to such an awesome group of amazing people.

 

  

In to the unknown - Desert Wind Adventure Race

Tomorrow I set out on a 5 day journey doing something that 3 years ago I would of found every reason why I logically shouldn't be doing this. Today I can find many reasons why I should be doing this. I'll be flying to Las Vegas, renting a car and driving to Arizona to meet my friend and world class adventure racer Robert Finlay to photograph his upcoming 300 mile Desert Wind Adventure Race through some of the most remote parts of the Mohave Desert in Arizona and around Lake Mead as well as near the Grand Canyon. Although I'm prepared; I have clothing packed for all kinds of weather, sleeping bag, laptop and of course all my camera equipment, I still am feeling that nervous feeling knowing I'm stepping into the unknown. I'll be photographing some of the best adventure racers in the country through some of the most amazing landscape in the southwest.  I have total confidence in my skills as a photographer and an outdoors person being able to deal with the many different kinds of elements but there's always the "what if" in the back of the head.  This is where I'll have to go with the mind set of "luck is when preparation meets opportunity". I'm prepared and the opportunity is in front of me, therefore I'll be very lucky this coming week.

Not sure what kind of cell reception I'll be getting but I'll try to post facebook status updates as well as some photos along the way.  When I get home I'll be writing a trip report with many photographs documenting the weeks adventure.  Stay tuned for updates. 

We are all born with the tools. Some use the tools while others complain that their tools don't work.

I'm reading the book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho right now and am realizing that most of society is in such a hurry or always wanting to be in control that if someone randomly waved a lottery ticket in their face they would probably push the hand out of their way saying "get that out of my way I have to be somewhere!!!". Most never see the lottery ticket or their dream being presented to them because they're either too closed minded or are truly afraid of achieving what they set out to do. With the achievement of the dream comes a life change and the thought of "now what?" or "what will others think?" Most don't want to reach their dream, so instead they defeat themselves and use outside elements as the excuse of failure. I can say with confidence that I used to be one of those people, but, had my eyes opened a couple of years ago and will never defeat myself, therefore, no one or anything else can defeat me. 

Life is what one makes of it. There's NEVER anyone or anything holding a person back other than their own demons. Wake up everyday and face that fear, know it's there and that it will try to consume your every breathing moment but overcome it and use it to push forward toward the goal.  Once one opens up and can look past that fear they will see that the opportunities are endless. All you have to do is go along for the ride.  We are all born with the tools. Some use the tools while others complain that their tools don't work. Who do you want to be?

True happiness doesn't come from financial gain or materialistic status it comes from knowing that a person is not in fear of conquering their internal demon and can now be at peace with whatever choices they make.  When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person to realize his dream.

Old School Hippies & Drums

Every Sunday from 4 to 6pm in the center of the town Woodstock, NY people of all ages and backgrounds come out of the woodwork to gather in what's called a Community Drum Circle. Resident's, Hippies and tourist's all get together and just start banging away with all kinds of rhythmic sounds lead by a couple of experienced drummers. The sound is amazing and the way people can come together with little or no talent to do this and make it work is just beautiful. Music is what makes the world go round and motivate the soul if one can just relax and let it take over you'll find out it can be very healing.