The Pigeons of The Cathedral Santa Maria Nascente

In the plaza outside the The Cathedral Santa Maria Nascente in Milan the Pigeons gather just as they do outside other great cathedrals around the world. I wonder if Pigeons are Catholic? I myself have never been one to feed pigeons. I don’t think they need any survival help from me. However photographing this family was fun. I love the different expressions; the thrill of the young girl, the calmness of the father, the trying to be cool teen and the wonder of the boy are all in this single image.

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Pigeons of Milan

Pigeons of Milan

Still on Amazon

It is the second anniversary of the publication of ” A Hundred Places I Went to Before I Died” It is still available on Amazon.Com and a digital version is available on iTunes.

To get your copy just click here.

A Hundred I Went To Before I Died

A Hundred I Went To Before I Died

Time to Roll

Every Friday night in Paris they start to arrive at Gare Montparnasse around 9:30 PM. The goal is to skate through the streets of Paris on a defined route until about 3 A.M. By 10 PM there about 10,000 people from all over the world getting ready to skate Pari-Roller!

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Prelude to a Kiss

This photograph was taken in Como Italy a couple of years ago. It was the trigger that has caused me to look for images like this ever since to create a book of people kissing in public places. There is that moment, before two people kiss when you commit to the fact that it is inevitable. This is one of those moments.

Henri Cartier-Bresson created the concept of the the decisive moment. To capture such a moment is the essence of Photojournalism. I like to think that he would have appreciated this image. You can buy a print of this image at my commercial gallery by clicking here.

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

Prelude to a Kiss

Prelude to a Kiss

Kristallnacht

Americans have some dates burned in their memory. September 11 and December 7 are two notorious dates where Americans were attacked, killed and suffered extreme hardships. It is important as Americans to remember these dates and honor the fallen. However, as citizens of the world we MUST remember today as well because it is the 75th anniversary of Kristallnacht. Tonight were the first attacks on Jewish homes in Germany. At least 91 Jews were killed in the attacks, and a further 30,000 arrested and incarcerated in concentration camps. Jewish homes, hospitals, and schools were ransacked, over 1,000 synagogues were burned and Jewish businesses destroyed or damaged. Millions of others experienced death and torture by the lunatic Hitler. We must never forget and always honor this day. Things are much better in Europe now for Jewish people that have remained or returned over all these years. However, recently when visiting Italy I saw it was still necessary for soldiers to guard the synagogue in Milan and heavy fences kept out even curious tourists like myself.

Please visit my gallery to see other, more uplifting images of Europe. Click here.

Synagogue in Milan Italy

Lago Como Italia

At the foot of lake Como lies the port city of Como. From this harbor you can take steam boats to the other towns along the lake like Portofino or Tavernola. There is also a ferry system on the lake which is much like using a metro in Milan or Paris. People buy monthly passes and commute to jpbs and schools along the lake.

Port Como

Port Como

I can’t think of a better way to spend a day than cruising on Lake Como during the warmth of summer. Many people visit Lake Como without ever going out on the lake which is like sleeping through a movie. This pristine location is home to George Clooney and many other famous people and by spending a day there you will learn why. You can buy a print of this image and see many others in my Europe Gallery by clicking here.

Cruising on lake Como

Cruising on lake Como

If you drive to Lake Como or take a Bus or Boat you might miss this great scene. This is the side of a sculpture you see as descending the stairs from the Lake Como Train Station. It is called the Monumento ai Caduti per Servicio and dedicated to disabled service people. It was created by Francesco Somaini and is actually a sculpture of two hands but from this angle it looks like the City is waving hello. You can buy a print of this image at my commercial gallery by clicking here.

A Big Hand for Lake Como

A Big Hand for Lake Como

Canali di Milano

Milan was a wonderful part of our European tour a few years and we met great people, saw fantastic sites and ate exquisite cuisine. On one of our last days there we were looking for something off the beaten track and saw in a tour book a small note that said not to miss the canals of Milan. I thought Milan has Canals? That’s crazy, so off we went. This is not Venice or Bruges but the canals are lined with antique shops, clubs and bistros and offer short canal boat tours. The colorful buildings help to create an interesting ambiance.

You can buy a print of this image at my commercial gallery by clicking here.

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

Canals of Milan

Canals of Milan

Museo Nazionale Della Scienza e Della Tecnologia Leonardo Da Vinci

I am sure many people that visit Milan in Italy are there for the fashion, the churches and the history of an old Italian imperial city. Many people say that Milan is the “New York” of Italy and like New York has some interesting museums. When we first entered the Da Vinci museum I was a little pissed off. It seemed like all the hands on exhibits on the first floor were closed. However, as we moved through the other floors my mood changed from crappy to elated. The exhibits were wonderfully presented and the light and design of the interior was spectacular and even though everything was in Italian, it was easy for a foreigner to comprehend.

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Globe

Hall

Exhibit

The Da Vinci Museum

The Da Vinci Museum

Summer Sunday in Paris

Paris is like any other major city, things slow down on Sunday. In the summer people have a lot of Parks to choose from in Paris. Parc Monceau,Jardin des Tuileries and Jardin du Palais Royal are some of the better known spots. However, my favorite is the Jardin du Luxembourg adjacent to Luxembourg Palace which is the center of the French Government. It is very large with many different spaces and you can see lovers kissing, joggers jogging and some of the most beautiful gardens in the world. This image sums up Sunday in Paris to me. You can buy a print of this image by clicking here.

Sunday In Paris

Sunday In Paris

Le Canard Confit

I have always been an adventurous eater. When I worked for Konica and visited Japan, I adopted Sushi and Sashimi as it were the food of my culture and became slightly obnoxious about making sure everyone loved it as well. When I worked for Agfa and began to visit Europe regularly I was always careful to order foods that I couldn’t easily get in the United States and one of those was Duck Confit. I always thought it meant Duck leg but not so. It referrers to the method of curing the duck and cooking it in its own fat.

I have found that it is not easy to do correctly and frequently it is greasy. In the USA, I will only order it the best French Restaurants. However in France or the Benelux countries even a small cafe like this one knows how to make it. You can see other images and buy prints or apparel on my commercial site.

Le Canard Confit

Le Canard Confit