This is another image from Dawn of the Dead (1978) that I have never published before. It took some time to resolve the reflection issue from the fountain. After they did, a crew member takes a light reading right before the action started for the scene. Buy this one or see other images from my Zombie collection at my commercial portfolio by clicking here.
Light reading at the fountain
One of the best parts of covering “Dawn of the Dead” for Pittsburgh Magazine was getting to watch the make up and special effects people at work. Film making can sometimes be boring, but there was no downtime in watching Zavini and his crew create Zombies and other disgusting stuff. These folks were all artists,upbeat and fun to watch. It also helped that this was done early in the evening, by three in the morning everyone looked like a zombie, make up or not. Buy this one or see other images from my Zombie collection at my commercial portfolio by clicking here.
Zombie Master Tom Zavini
A portrait of an old friend who is an exceptional watercolor artist. He also did amazing pen and ink sketches. I used to save his doodles when that he did when he visited but don’t know what became of them. This was taken of him drawing a cemetery gate house in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh. You can purchase a print and see others at my commercial gallery.
The Artist
I still have no idea what this was all about. One Gendarme looks totally bored while the other listens patiently while the man’s girlfriend who is out of this frame looks fervently through her purse. The Gendarmes changed direction and walked, albeit slowly in the direction the man pointed. The man and his girlfriend followed them. A robbery? Directions? No clue. This was shot in the gardens of Luxembourg Palace in Paris France. You can see other more traditional images at my European gallery by clicking here.
He went that away!
I am not religious, not Catholic or Christian. Culturally I am Jewish but I don’t have particularly popular views when it comes to religion. Knowing this, my wife asked why do we always visit Cathedrals when traveling in Europe. Thinking about that, it is because I DO believe in God and being inside these magnificent architectural structures surrounded by all that great art makes me somehow feel closer to God. It has nothing to do with dogma. In any case, after the terrible massacre at Newtown Connecticut, I thought some might have comfort in seeing this image today from Mass at the Basilica Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre, Paris France. You can buy a print of this image at my commercial gallery by clicking here.
The Basilica at Sacré-Cœur
The first enclosed shopping mall in the world is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan Italy. It was designed and constructed by Giuseppe Mengoni and construction was finished in 1877. It is named after Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of the Kingdom of Italy.It is adjacent to the Cathedral Santa Maria Nascente or as it is commonly called Duomo di Milano and many visitors may miss the Galleria while scurrying to the Cathedral. The galleria is a work of art and in its center there is a mosaic tile of a bull. The tradition is that if you spin on the balls of the bull, it will bring you luck. People line up to spin on the bull’s balls which no longer exist and have been replaced by a permanent hole in the mosaic. They try to fix it periodically, but the poor bull cannot survive this testicular abuse. You can purchase a print of this image and see others at my European gallery by clicking here.
I first noticed people doing this years ago in New York city. People all over the world try to get a unique perspective on a monument or palace by pinching it. If the angle is right,one can create a unique perspective or comical picture. One of the most famous is people pushing or leaning against the Leaning Tower of Pisa. I don’t think these people got it right, they are too close to the Eiffel Tower, but they sure look like they had fun trying. This was shot across the river from the tower atTrocadero Plaza. You can see other images of Europe and France at my commercial gallery by clicking here.
Pinching the Eiffel Tower
Pétanque is French game that can be played anywhere. It is similar to the Italian game,Bocce but unlike the Bocce it does not require a fixed court. One player throws a small target ball and the p[layers try to get as close to it as possible without hitting it. These players at Champs de Mars are playing near the Eiffel Tower in Paris France. You can purchase a print and see others at my commercial gallery by clicking here.
Pétanque Players in Paris France
During downtime on the set of Dawn of The Dead (1978), George Romero would frequently sit down and review the script. Kind of like a Pitcher figuring out his next pitch. It was Romero’s attention to detail that makes this film a relevant classic nearly thirty five years after its release. Buy prints and cards or see more images from my Zombie catalog by clicking here.
Script Review
Five hundred years from now when music historians study the music of the twentieth century they will probably compare Zappa to Bach and Mozart of previous centuries. He was a consummate guitarist but more importantly an excellent composer. He composed “songs” but what sets him apart was his ability to compose complex music in the tradition of the old masters. “The Big Swifty” is an example of this which he played at the Syria Masque decades ago. Buy a print or T-Shirt and see other images at my music gallery by clicking here.
Zappa Jams Pittsburgh