Is she real, Really......

2010 Operation Backpack

Operation Backpack is a very important cause benefiting New York City Kids. Needy school children form all of the five NYC boroughs will all receive one free backpack containing many types of basic and advanced school supplies, including scientific calculators. The objective of the Operation is to fulfill the needs of all eleven thousand kids in the school system. This year the organizers expect to come close; nine thousand backpacks will be distributed , an enoromous jump from last year when only five housand packs were donated.

It was a real thrill for me to be able to photograph this event and meet a group of warm hearted organizers, including Beth Paige and volunteer kids here at the top of this post.

To view more images from this event please go to Wireimages.com and type in 2010 Operation Backpack.

Architectural Project; The Manor

Like many exciting projects, this one took a few months to prepare. I began talking with Eric Hilton LTD. about this when the air was crisp and the trees were still dormant. The project would consist of three shots. The main shot would be of the entire roof deck which should cover about a 300 degree view . The second shot would be of the Chrysler Building in the distance while covering the city scape. The third shot was to be a shot of a gargoyle on the adjoining part of the building.

After shooting a few variations of the deck for the proposal and estimate , it was decided that we should wait for the flowers and greenery to bloom. This would give a softening effect to a beautiful 1860's building. As the planning process evolved it quickly became evident that three different camera platforms would be required. A 4X5, Hasselblad P40 with a P45 Phase One Back and Canon 5D Mk2; tethered

Several weeks have passed and we were ready to shoot, but a leak in the roof delayed the project. All the while the repairs were being performed we were on high alert and ready to go to keep the project on time, even though we were down to the wire. Fortunately, the gods were with us and the weather was more than we could have hoped for on the day of the shoot. Puffy clouds and the bright sunshine provided the contrast needed to attain a series of evocative images.

Ultimately the images will hang at the Manor in Tudor City in Manhattan. The large roof deck image measuring about eight feet by three feet will be flanked by the gargoyles and the Chrysler building will hang elsewhere.

Note: the first image in this post is turned on its side because of the long dimension and the limitation of the parameters of this blog's html code.