I am not a photographer.  Let me repeat that.  I’m not (really) a photographer.  What I am is part storyteller and part historian.  Yes, I capture a moment in time, but then return it back to you when you need it most.  I make you remember a time in your past that your temporarily have forgotten due to life’s hectic and uncontrollable pace.

Recently, a couple entered the art gallery where I was exhibiting, stopped dead in their tracks admiring the photo shown here.  It was an old film canister with the exposed film ‘negatives’ stretched out and draped over a metallic crowd control barrier in New York City in front of Saks Fifth Avenue.

They quickly explained that their adult son was employed in the film industry and they felt that this particular photograph would be the perfect gift for his upcoming birthday.

I smiled. 

I then proceeded to explain to this couple, that my daughter and I are photographers.  We were in New York City for the day.  It was a few weeks before Christmas.  We had plans to enjoy dinner and a play together.  This had become a recent Dad & Daughter - New York tradition.  Before our evening festivities we planned to photograph Midtown.  And that’s when this lonely and unassuming film strip found us.    

They smiled.

And just like that, this photograph, my ‘temporary’ photograph suddenly became their (son’s) ‘permanent’ photograph.

There is quite simply no greater feeling that exists for an artist than to have his art (vision) connect with a total stranger.

And yes, I left my film canister hanging as if its very life depended upon it dangling from that cold metal railing for the next person to discover.  Never once questioning why it found me…..

In the spirit of the Season, I was given a gift that I in turn then gifted to this couple and their son.

New York City

The Hustle and Bustle of Christmastime

December 2015