Category Archives: Commentary

Labor Day 2017

Posted by Imagery Photography on

When I was a kid hardly anything was open on Labor Day. Gas Stations, movie theaters and a few restaurants. People used to give their staff and actual day off. Now it is just another commercial holiday targeted to get us to consume.

Now that I am retired, I think I have a deeper appreciation of those who labor. Of course I worked for a long time and still do creative work every day, but there is work and then there is labor. I have also done some labor in my time. I worked in a commercial bakery. I worked in supermarkets. I was a cab driver. I have done photography inside nuclear reactors, steel mills and paper mills. I understand what labor is and to all of you who labor…thanks and enjoy your day!

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Labor Day 2017

Labor Day 2017

Doors of Praha Part 2

Posted by Imagery Photography on

In Munich I started to photograph doors. Fascinated by these ancient structures I continued for the rest of the Europe trip. It was Praha (Prague) that had the most interesting doorways. I will publish these as I extract them from my archive. These are doorways of Prague Part Two.

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Doors of Praha Part 2

Doors of Praha Part 2

Doors of Praha Part 2

Doors of Praha Part 2

Doors of Praha Part 2

Doors of Praha Part 2

Doors of Praha

Doors of Praha

Managing Water

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Watching the news this weekend and seeing the horror playing out in Texas due to Hurricane Harvey made me think back to my visit to the Kinderjik in The Netherlands. The great North Sea Flood of 1953 cause fantastic damage and loss of life in the Netherlands and United Kingdom.

Realizing that such infrequent events could recur, the Netherlands and The United Kingdom carried out major studies on strengthening of coastal defenses. The Netherlands developed the Delta Works, an extensive system of dams and storm surge barriers. The UK constructed storm surge barriers on the River Thames below London and on the River Hull where it meets the Humber estuary.

One would have hoped that the lessons from the Dutch and Hurricane Katrina would have helped us. But it appears that rampant overbuilding and careless water management in Houston and other Texas cities has set up another costly lesson for the USA.

I know that New Orleans has had teams from Holland come over to present their ideas. One can only hope they learn that in order to keep the water out and preventing damage, you actually have to let some of the water in and control its course.

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Water Managment Canal

Water Management Canal

The 35th Annual Run Around The Square

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Yesterday was the 35th anniversary of Run Around The Square. It was a beautiful day and a wonderful event finished with great hot dogs and beer.

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Run Around The Square 2017

Run Around The Square 2017

Run Around The Square 2017

Run Around The Square 2017

Run Around The Square 2017

Run Around The Square 2017

Run Around The Square 2017

Run Around The Square 2017

Run Around The Square 2017

Posted by Imagery Photography on

Tomorrow is the 35th anniversary of Run Around The Square. This is last year’s woman’s winner. Join us tomorrow to meet the new champions.

After watching the winner cross the finish line, I wondered if they would put up a finish line tape for the first woman to cross the finish line. To this date a woman has never bested a man in marathon or long distance races although each year the gap narrows. As I watched I saw the race crew get ready and watched as he carefully chose the right moment to dart across the course to set the tape for the first woman to finish and provide for her the same moment that the male finisher experienced. The sequence below tells the story.

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Run Around The Square

Run Around The Square

Run Around The Square

Run Around The Square

Run Around The Square

Run Around The Square

Run Around The Square

Run Around The Square

Castle Street

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From the Charles Bridge I looked up at Prague Castle thinking it might be large. I had no idea. We approached the castle and from the outside I just thought it was a huge building. Not until we were inside the fortifications did I begin to comprehend the size.

It is not just a castle. It is a city. There is a cathedral and two other churches. There are gardens and walks, restaurants and cafes and many shops. In ancient times many people lived inside the castle serving the Kings and Holy Roman Emperor. Now it is the seat of government and people work and live there serving the government and millions of visitors.

This is one of the many streets with small shops catering to tourists.

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Castle Street

Castle Street

An Aviary Moment

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On November 11th along with former student and professional photographer Dale Schmitt we will open our two man show at the Percolate Gallery in Pittsburgh. The show is called Moments and Souls because Dale is known for his soulful portraits and I have been trying for decades to capture the decisive moment in photographs. If Dale is channeling Yousuf Karsh then I am trying to channel Henri Cartier-Bresson, Pete Davidson and Elliot Erwitt .

The difficult part for both of us is going through our work and choosing the twenty best examples of our work for the exhibition. Maybe after of the show we will publish a book of the winners and the out takes. I took this one at the National Aviary on Monday. It was shot through glass and isn’t good enough to exhibit but it is a moment that might make the book.

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An Aviary Moment

An Aviary Moment

Baby Flamingo Update

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We tried to go to see the eclipse at the Science Center today but it was literally a mob scene so instead we went to The National Aviary.

The National Aviary is America’s only independent indoor nonprofit zoo dedicated exclusively to birds. Located in West Park on Pittsburgh’s historic North Side, the National Aviary’s diverse collection comprises more than 500 birds representing more than 150 species from around the world, many of them threatened or endangered in the wild.

On July 18th I published an article on the baby flamingos when they were just 10 days old. They could barely walk. They have grown a lot and even are testing their wings. The blue bands are to strengthen their legs for wading.

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Baby Flamingo Update

Baby Flamingo Update

Baby Flamingo Update

Baby Flamingo Update

Baby Flamingo Update

Baby Flamingo Update

Doors of Praha

Posted by Imagery Photography on

In Munich I started to photograph doors. Fascinated by these ancient structures I continued for the rest of the Europe trip. It was Praha (Prague) that had the most interesting doorways. I will publish these as I extract them from my archive. These are doorways from Prague.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Doors of Praha

Doors of Praha


Doors of Praha

Doors of Praha

Mexican Sunset

Posted by Imagery Photography on

I have spent about 21 days in Cancún. It has rained about three days. So I have seen 18 fantastic sunsets. The sun sets quicker the closer you are to the tropics but you still have plenty of time to take good pictures and burn your eyes out if your not careful. We will be traveling there again next year and hope to see more unique scenes from mother nature.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Mexican Sunset

Mexican Sunset