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Two of these designs recently won FIRST and SECOND PLACE awards in an International Abstract Fine Art Competition. Read more here.
I love abstract art. I can't paint or draw but I do know how to use my camera and computer to create beautiful images. I call the process used to create these photos "Twerling" and individual photos "Twerls". Now I didn't invent the process, but I have found a way to make each design uniquely my own. The interesting thing is that each one started out as one of my landscape photos. I began with a very recognizable photo - like the New York City skyline - and manipulated it by hand in the computer to create these images. Each one is totally different and totally unique. So each is an original work of art. Which - by the way - would look great hanging in your home or office!

IMG_0985_1THE STORY BEHIND THE PHOTOS

Two of these designs recently won FIRST and SECOND PLACE awards in an International Abstract Fine Art Competition. Read more here.
I love abstract art. I can't paint or draw but I do know how to use my camera and computer to create beautiful images. I call the process used to create these photos "Twerling" and individual photos "Twerls". Now I didn't invent the process, but I have found a way to make each design uniquely my own. The interesting thing is that each one started out as one of my landscape photos. I began with a very recognizable photo - like the New York City skyline - and manipulated it by hand in the computer to create these images. Each one is totally different and totally unique. So each is an original work of art. Which - by the way - would look great hanging in your home or office!

SM - Abstracts 2019 Hon

ESB Finalist 2018

In the lobby of the Empire State Building Summer 2019

Empire State Building Photo Contest 2018 Empire State Building Photo Contest 2018

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I just returned from my second trip to the amazing city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East. Like last year, this year I got to travel to the U.A.E. with the World Class - and Guinness World Record holder - Fireworks by Grucci®. As an Official Photographer for the company I was there photographing their World Record breaking New Year's Eve Fireworks Performance on Al Marjan Island. After my New Year's Eve show duties for the company were completed, I spent about one week on my own photographing Dubai and the surrounding area.

I did a long blog post last year after my first visit to Dubai and much of what I experienced last year applies to this trip so I won't repeat it all here. What made this year a little different was 1) I had a definite travel itinerary. Last year, due to a major snow storm which closed much of the Northeast to air travel, I spent almost an entire week in limbo regarding when I would finally be able to return to the US. While I made the most of the extra time in Dubai, to say it was a little stressful not knowing when I would be heading home is an understatement! 2) This year I got to visit the neighboring Emirate (Province) of Abu Dhabi to see the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. I had wanted to travel there last year but the timing didn't allow, so I was very excited to get to go this time. Referred to by some as the New Taj Mahal, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is truly a sight to behold. Constructed on more than 30 acres it includes a 180,000 sq ft inner courtyard and four 350 ft minarets. The inner courtyard, in particular, is truly magnificent with its in-laid floral design and is considered to be the largest example of marble mosaic in the world. Hopefully the photos that follow do this amazing place of worship justice. You can see all the photos from this year's trip here.

While I would certainly welcome return visits to Dubai in future years, visiting such a World-Class City has whet my appetite for other photo adventures to places like Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, and more! Stay tuned for more travel news from me! D85_1344

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2019 Peter Alessandria Calendar 2019 Peter Alessandria Calendar 2019 Peter Alessandria Calendar 2019 Peter Alessandria Calendar 2019 Peter Alessandria Calendar 2019 Peter Alessandria Calendar 2019 Peter Alessandria Calendar 2019 Peter Alessandria Calendar 2019 Peter Alessandria Calendar 2019 Peter Alessandria Calendar 2019 Peter Alessandria Calendar 2019 Peter Alessandria Calendar 2019 Peter Alessandria Calendar 2019 Peter Alessandria Calendar 2019 Peter Alessandria Calendar

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These photos are from the 2015 9-11 Tribute. I was taken by the sheer beauty of the lights this year. I extend my continuing hope for peace and healing for everyone affected by the events of that day.
25% of the proceeds of all sales from this Collection will be donated to the 9/11 Memorial Foundation in the name of the purchaser.
 

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Space Shack East Point PHOTO - 4th Place OPEN 2018 OA - 9th Place - OPEN 2018 SM - OPEN 2018

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IMG_0985_3THE STORY BEHIND THE PHOTOS

Two of these designs recently won FIRST and SECOND PLACE awards in an International Abstract Fine Art Competition. Read more here.
I love abstract art. I can't paint or draw but I do know how to use my camera and computer to create beautiful images. I call the process used to create these photos "Twerling" and individual photos "Twerls". Now I didn't invent the process, but I have found a way to make each design uniquely my own. The interesting thing is that each one started out as one of my landscape photos. I began with a very recognizable photo - like the New York City skyline - and manipulated it by hand in the computer to create these images. Each one is totally different and totally unique. So each is an original work of art. Which - by the way - would look great hanging in your home or office!

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The New Abstract Juried Photo Exhibit
 

Maldive Islands
 

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Two of these designs recently won FIRST and SECOND PLACE awards in an International Abstract Fine Art Competition. Read more here.
I love abstract art. I can't paint or draw but I do know how to use my camera and computer to create beautiful images. I call the process used to create these photos "Twerling" and individual photos "Twerls". Now I didn't invent the process, but I have found a way to make each design uniquely my own. The interesting thing is that each one started out as one of my landscape photos. I began with a very recognizable photo - like the New York City skyline - and manipulated it by hand in the computer to create these images. Each one is totally different and totally unique. So each is an original work of art. Which - by the way - would look great hanging in your home or office!

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Lots happening in and around New York City during December 2015, including a full moon on Christmas. There was also a great fireworks celebration ringing in 2016. Sunrise around Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty were also spectacular. And of course the car trails of traffic rushing into and out of New York City make for really fun photos.

I'm also including below my first person account (which I prepared for the HuffPost piece) of photographing this particular storm for anyone who might be interested in how I do what I do. Scroll down to read more. You can see all the photos from the storm here.

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MY FIRST PERSON ACCOUNT OF CHASING A NEW YORK CITY STORM

As a New York City photographer, I have the privilege of seeing all side of the Big Apple. One thing most people don’t realize is Manhattan is prime real estate for more than just skyscrapers – it is one of the best places to Storm Chase in the world.

All day Tuesday I was tracking the weather. A massive front with severe thunderstorms was headed directly for NYC. As the front approached, I packed up my gear and headed off the Jersey City waterfront. This is a prime location since the Freedom Tower and other high-rises in the area are literally lightning rods for the storm’s fury. At first, I was greeted by a barrage of wind and rain. The lightning seemed sparse. But as I track the storm on the weather app on my phone, something BIG was headed my way!

One of the big challenges is just keeping my equipment dry and the lens clear. I cover all my gear in plastic when storm chasing (I am also covered in plastic!) but periodically I have to stop shooting to clean the lens. Like a NASAR pit stop, I only have seconds to get the job done lest I miss out on the action.

Soon the lighting was upon the city. The World Trade Center (Freedom Tower) takes massive hits every time there’s a storm. This night, there would only be two direct strikes. But in a storm last year, I recorded eleven (11) strikes in one night!. Also because I am so close to Lower Manhattan, the thunder clap that follows one of these strikes is deafening! Ear plugs are definitely a photographer’s best friend!

The main front soon passed but I had a feeling it was worth hanging around a little longer to see what developed. Sunset was at 8:06PM and I know from experience that sometimes, if the front is well defined enough (and in this case it was), as the back end clears western New Jersey, the setting sun can shoot right underneath the storm clouds and light up Manhattan like a golden torch. The glass and metal structures of Manhattan become illuminated with another worldly glow of orange, red and yellow.

But not only I was I hoping for a nicely illuminated skyline. I also know from experience that when the sunset follows the rain storm close enough, there is a chance we’ll get a rainbow. I have seen several of these the past few years and they are AMAZING.

Just then I noticed the orange glow on Lower Manhattan. It steadily built until the towers were gleaming brightly under the setting sun. The sky also began to turn orange and the entire area took on a beautiful warm glow.

I was frantically trying to capture it all with my camera. I was still raining a little, a good sign for a potential rainbow I thought. Then I raised my eye from my camera and looked to the south. There is was: the faint glimmer of a rainbow. My excitement swelled as right before my eyes the rainbow grew larger by the second. Within a minute it has completed enclosed the City in a dome. Everyone around me grew silent. We were awe struck at the sight. Like a protective capsule, my heart swelled as the City was bathed in a warm, serene flood of sun light and a gorgeous double rainbow!

I could only admire this breathtaking scene for a moment - I had to remind myself I was there to take pictures and I know from experience rainbows like this only last for a few minutes. So I went back to snapping away.

New York City is many things to many people. To me, I find beauty in the architecture, in the history and in the people. And this day, I also found the power of nature transform the Big Apple into a magical golden jewel of peace and beauty.

You can see all the photos from the storm here.

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Read my full account of what is was like to experience the eclipse here.

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IMG_5658IGThe only way to see New York City is from the air. I offer helicopter workshops for amateur and professionals alike. Contact me today to book a flight.

Empire State Building Photo Contest Empire State Building Photo Contest Empire State Building Photo Contest IMG_7622_1

Instagram Photo of the Day - 3-25-18 IMG_5330The only way to see New York City is from the air. I offer helicopter workshops for amateur and professionals alike. Contact me today to book a flight.

Excited to announce that I will be the Featured Guest Speaker at Sharon Tenenbaum's and Rick Hulbert's 2018 Fine Art Architectural Photography Workshop. The workshop runs from Sept. 28-30, 2018, in New York City. I will be sharing some of my New York City full moon photos, including tips and techniques on how you can "shoot for the moon" in your own NYC photos. There's still time to sign up for this amazing three day event and participants from all over the world are welcome. Please visit Sharon's website for more information.

Sharon Tenenbaum Workshop Sharon Tenenbaum Rick Hubert

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IMG_5425The only way to see New York City is from the air. I offer helicopter workshops for amateur and professionals alike. Contact me today to book a flight.

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Dubai 3-Ribbon Dubai 2-Ribbon PHOTO - 4th Place OA - 7th Place SM

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Dubai 2018

As most of you probably know, I love photographing New York City, especially night. So the prospect of photographing a world class city like Dubai was really quite exciting.  I had heard and seen amazing things about it and knew it would be a photographer’s dream. But first I had to get there! 

The flight from New York is approximately 14 hours. That, along with a nine hour time change, created some trepidation for me. While I can generally handle long flights, losing nearly a full day due to the time change was an unknown. Initially my sense of excitement helped carry me past the fatigue but eventually it did catch up with me and when the fireworks were over (literally and figuratively), I needed a couple of days to crash.

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The UAE, being in the Middle East, is a desert climate. Winters tend to be very mild. While I was there, temps ranged from the low 60’s at night to the mid 70’s-80’s during the day. There was even a relatively rare, large rainstorm that moved through one night during my visit which created some localized flooding. Contrast this with summer in Dubai: Temperatures can get as high as 120 F degrees with very high humidity. No one I met had anything good to say about the UAE’s weather in the summer! 

Weather back home also came into play during my trip. The morning I was supposed to return to the US, a huge winter storm hit the East Coast, cancelling my flight and many others. JFK was closed for nearly 48 hours creating a huge international backlog of air traffic. As a result, it was six days before I could get another flight home. At first it was a little upsetting, especially because the information as to what was happening in New York was slow to come through. But once I saw that my home town had gotten 15 inches of snow and was being hit with record-breaking Arctic temperatures, I was happy to be in the warm, sunny embrace of the Middle East.

Modern Dubai is a relatively new city. Since the 1960’s, the forward-thinking government there has had a grand vision to make the city a world class destination for tourism, banking, aviation and real estate. And for the most part, they have achieved their goals. Dubai has a reputation as a top international destination and everyone I told I was going was very excited for me. Its futuristic skyline is home to the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. At 2,717 feet, the Burj Khalifa is an absolute masterpiece of design and held great interest for me as a photographer. (For my New York City friends, the Burj Khalifa is nearly as tall as the World Trade Center plus Empire State Building combined!) There’s also a 12 lane highway and a modern monorail train system that run right through the center of the city. And Dubai’s skyline continues to grow and change - everyplace I looked there were new construction projects, many being manned around the clock. Dubai seems to be in a race to outdo itself, and I can only imagine what the city will look like in ten years from now.

Culturally-speaking, Dubai is a modern Arab state. Many Emirati citizens wear traditional Muslim clothing, and several times a day (during prayer times) the air is filled with beautiful Islamic chants played over loudspeakers across the city. That said, Dubai has a huge immigrant population (mostly from India and Southeast Asia) that outsize’s the native Arabic citizens four to one. The city itself also has a distinctly Western feel: almost everyone speaks English and all the road signs and most commercial advertising are in Arabic and English (and sometimes only English). The streets of Dubai are filled with the same automobile brands we have in the US and the city has whole-heartedly embraced the Western ideal of high-end retail shopping. The Dubai Mall - the world’s largest - occupies nearly six million square feet and welcomes more than 80 million shoppers a year. It has 1,200+ retail stores, include flagship luxury brands Valentino, Gucci, Chanel, Guess, Ralph Lauren and more. It took me nearly 25 minutes to walk from one end to the other!

That said, what impressed me most about Dubai was the warmth and friendliness of the people. There were several instances where I asked a local for some kind of assistance – driving directions, food purchases, etc. Whether they were native Arabs or one of the many different immigrant groups, the people I met were all very helpful, friendly and welcoming.

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One particularly wonderful person was fellow photographer Ihsan Salhia. I found Ihsan on Instagram a few weeks prior to my trip and reached out to him once I knew I was coming. He ended up helping out on the New Year’s Eve fireworks show at Al Marjan Island, and then showed me around Dubai during my visit. A great photographer and a kind, generous person, please check out Ihsan’s work on Instagram and Facebook.

My time in Dubai was initially supposed to only be 2 ½ days. The plan was to cram as much photography in as I could during that time. But when the weather in New York turned for the worst it was really a blessing as I was able to take full advantage of the City. Without that weather delay I would have ended up missing a whole lot. Ihsan got us access to several rooftops around the city during my extended stay and all I can say is the view of Dubai from 50+ stories up is truly breathtaking!

I’ll let my photos do the rest of the talking. You can see the entire Dubai Collection here. Again, I want to thank Fireworks by Grucci® for this wonderful opportunity to travel to Dubai, and also thank Ihsan and all the other wonderful people I met for their warm hospitality and welcoming smiles. 

And thanks to you, my readers, for taking the time to go on this little journey with me. Please feel free to share this post and don’t forget to post your comments on my adventure!

Until we meet again, thank you Dubai for a wonderful - and wonder-filled - couple of weeks! All the best!

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Top Ten Award Circle Foundation Top Ten Award Circle Foundation for the Arts Life Under a Bridge 8

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NOTE: THIS BOOK IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE - I AM SEEKING A NEW PUBLISHER AND WILL UPDATE MY WEBSITE WHEN IT IS AVAILABLE

Excited to announce publication of my first book, "New York City Nights - Book 1". It is an 8.5" x 11" hard-cover book containing more than 70 of my favorite photos on 120 pages. The book is divided into four sections: "Manhattan Skyline," "Lunar City," "Bridges of NYC" and "Stormy Weather." Most importantly, it's full color bleed with most of the photos presented in two page spreads (see photos below).

New York City Nights - Book 1

On "Being Bigger Than I Think I Am"

But the book is about more than just my NYC pictures. In the Introduction, I reveal that when I first started working as a photographer full time in 2009, I was riddled with fear and self-doubt. I had degrees in economics, law and business, but absolutely no formal training in art or photography. This conspired to rob me of my self-confidence and thus it was a very long time before I could show my work publicly. At one point I realized the problem was not "out there"; rather it was inside my own mind.  It was my own negative thoughts and beliefs about myself that were holding me back. So with the help of some trusted friends, I began to work on seeing myself differently. And as I saw myself differently, slowly new actions followed. I started to post my photos on Social Media and submit my work to contests and exhibitions. I even started doing cold calling for my headshot and commercial photography businesses. The fact that I was always expecting rejection and disappointment made these things were very difficult. But I kept at it and slowly things started to change. I still remember how utterly shocked I was when I won my first award in a little art exhibition on Long Island. I was certain they had made a mistake and the ribbon was supposed to go to someone else. The more I stuck with, the more things happened. First one award, then two, then five and so on. But there was also lots of stuff that didn't happen - some major failures, rejections and disappointments. These were (and still are at times) very hard to deal with. However, I see now what defines my career is not how I handle the successes; but rather, how I handle the disappointments. I'm beginning to see that everyone has to deal with setbacks - often, the most successful people seem to have had the biggest challenges in life. What differentiates them is they don't quit in the face of those challenges. I've heard more than one very successful person say the reason they've succeeded is not because they are so talented - it's because they never gave up. So that's the message I hope to share in publishing this book. That in order to get where we want to be in life, many of us have to be "bigger than we think we are". We have to overcome those negative voices that say we're not good enough, and then muster the courage to move forward even when it seems like things aren't working out. My goal is to inspire myself and others to pursue our dreams even when faced with failure or disappointment. That means being courageous and taking action every day towards our vision, and equally important, forgiving ourselves on the days we don't. There is no guarantee of success in life. But there is one guarantee of failure - and that's if we give up.

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The only way to see New York City is from the air. I offer helicopter workshops for amateur and professionals alike. Contact me today to book a flight. IMG_1718AWARD WINNING PHOTO
The only way to see New York City is from the air. I offer helicopter workshops for amateur and professionals alike. Contact me today to book a flight. IMG_1954AWARD WINNING PHOTO

7th Place Award 3rd Place Award Special Merit Award Special Recognition Award

Passaic Art in Park 2017

And of course dozens of artists like myself will be selling our art. My table will be located at 1544 Main St, Rahway, NJ 07065, in front of the brand new Meridia Lafayette apartment complex. Please come out to say hello and enjoy the festival. You can message me for details and find out more information about this year's Culture Crawl on ww.culturecrawl.org. Hope to see you there!

Culture Crawl 2017 Culture Crawl 2017

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Two of these designs recently won FIRST and SECOND PLACE awards in an International Abstract Fine Art Competition. Read more here. IMG_3595_1THE STORY BEHIND THE PHOTOS

Two of these designs recently won FIRST and SECOND PLACE awards in an International Abstract Fine Art Competition. Read more here. IMG_9778_3THE STORY BEHIND THE PHOTOS

Two of these designs recently won FIRST and SECOND PLACE awards in an International Abstract Fine Art Competition. Read more here.

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But the best thing that happened was on the last night of my stay in Colombia. I was out shooting with the gentleman who did the live translation for some of my talks along with his wife. They are amateur photographers and after hearing me say I was looking for someone to drive me around Cartagena to take pictures, they very generously volunteered. It was nighttime and we were at a distant location away from the colleges. I was helping them with various camera settings and so on. While we were there, a group of young college age men sat down near where we were shooting. After about ten minutes, one of the young men came over and said “I know who you are. You’re that American who is visiting this week talking about your photography.” I was a little surprised he recognized me but after he recounted several points of my talk in great detail, I thought he had attended one of my lectures. I was about to ask him if he had enjoyed the conference when he said he had not been there - it was a friend that told him all about me and my photography. He said his friend was telling everyone about me because I had totally inspired him to pursue his own passion for photography and to live a creative life. I was blown away. I couldn’t believe that someone would be telling their friends about me, especially in such detail. It felt amazing to know that I had made a difference in at least one person’s life while I was there. I'm really happy I was able to go to Colombia and grateful to the Colegio Mayor De Bolivar for inviting me to speak at this year’s conference.

I'm also really happy I was able to take some photos of the beautiful City of Cartagena, Colombia while I was there. You can see all those photos here.

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solar Eclipse 2017 On Monday, August 21, 2017, the US experienced its first total solar eclipse since 1979.  I was just a kid 1979, but I vaguely remember the excitement surrounding the event. I think we viewed the eclipse through a pinhole in a shoebox. Cut to 2017. I am no longer a kid, we have cardboard eclipse viewing glasses, and I am a professional photographer.

A few months before the eclipse, my good friend Neeti Kumthekar, who is also a photographer (check out her Instagram page), told me she was going to shoot it. I was a bit lukewarm on the idea because I didn’t really appreciate how spectacular an eclipse could be. I also had no idea how to photograph one. But she had planted a seed so I decided to find out more. It turns out there are a lot of challenges associated with photographing an eclipse. It requires a special filter on the front of the lens to block the sun’s rays from damaging your camera and your eyes. It also requires anticipating transitions in the moon’s location during the eclipse and quickly switching between camera settings. You also had to be able to track the sun and moon for over two hours as the eclipse progresses. And finally – despite the event being over two hours long, I would only have 2 ½ minutes during the Totality to capture those amazing one-of-a-kind shots of the sun’s corona. Sound a little daunting?

Once I got the technical stuff together, we had to figure out where to be to get the shots we wanted. Once again I have to credit my friend Neeti. During an eclipse, the moon casts a shadow on the Earth. To get the best photos, you have to be in the Zone of Totality - the 70 mile wide patch where the moon’s shadow would block out the sun entirely. (For everyone outside the Zone of the Totality, the eclipse would be partial.)

On the East Coast, prime viewing was down in South Carolina. Neeti’s son goes to school in Clemson, S.C., and it just so happened Clemson was right along the path of Totality. Neeti and her husband would be moving their son into school that weekend, and that they had an extra hotel room. (This was fortuitous since hotel rooms anywhere along the path of the eclipse were booked months in advance.)

After a 12+ hour drive from New Jersey with another photographer friend, we arrived in Clemson Sunday night and planned our strategy for the next day. We ended up having a group of six photographers and it was great fun to be with friends while shooting this event.

Solar Eclipse 2017The moon begins its incursion across the surface of the sun. Some sunspots are visible on the sun's surface.

The first part of the eclipse (before the Totality) would last about 1 hour 15 mins. At a little after 1PM, we saw the initial incursion of the moon upon the sun. It was amazing to watch as the moon took larger and larger “bites” out of the sun as the eclipse progressed. We all quickly got into a rhythm of taking shots to track the progression. But at about the 30 minute mark we had a problem: clouds. My mind immediately went to a negative place. I feared the weeks of planning and preparation would be lost because of the weather. My friends and I do a lot of full moon shooting over New York City at night and so are familiar with having a shot ruined by clouds. But at least with the full moon you get a chance to get the shot every month. With an eclipse it would be years before I’d get another chance if this one didn’t work out. (The next total eclipse in the US is in 2024.)

I tried to stay positive, but when the clouds got a little worse, I decided to take a break. It was well over 100 degrees and quite humid in South Carolina that day so I went to get some water. When I came out from under the tent and looked up, the sun was still shrouded in clouds. In an attempt to not to let the negative feelings get the better of me, I returned to my camera and starting taking photos as if there were no clouds in the sky. I am happy to say that within a few minutes the sky began to clear, and in a short time the clouds were a non-issue.

Solar Eclipse 2017A crescent sun signals the entry into Totality With the clouds out of the way, I turned my attention back to tracking the moon’s movement and noticed the it was now taking quite a large bite out of the sun. I also noticed it was getting darker and darker on the ground. At a certain point, we became aware of a strange clicking sound coming from across the field. As my friends and I exchanged puzzled looks, I overhead someone nearby identify the sound as crickets. Because of the loss of daylight, the crickets thought it was night and time to come out! (I have to say those Southern crickets must be a whole lot bigger than what we have up North because this was the loudest - and strangest - cricket noise I’ve ever heard!) While hearing crickets in the middle of the day was weird and cool, nothing compared to what was about to happen next… 

“Totality” is the point of perfect alignment of the moon inside the sun. As I watched the crescent shape of the sun get thinner and thinner in my photos, I knew we were just a few minutes from entering Totality. Right before the moon transitioned to completely blocking the sun, we had to remove the protective filter from the front of our lenses. This was the only way to capture the “Diamond Ring” effect, which is the final burst of light from the sun before it is completely covered. This is also the point when the sun’s otherwise faint corona can finally be seen. But this was a tricky maneuver since if you went too early you could damage your camera. I also had to radically change my camera settings to compensate for the loss of the dark solar filter (think welding mask dark).

I have to admit I did fumble a bit at this crucial moment and ended up with a couple of very overexposed shots. But I managed to recover pretty quickly and get a couple of shots of the Diamond Ring before it completely disappeared.

Solar Eclipse Diamond RingThe last moment before the moon completely covers the sun But this was not the craziest part of entering Totality. What really surprised me is that it suddenly got much darker. Whereas up until now we had been experiencing a kind of gradual transition from day to night, now all of a sudden we “popped” into much greater darkness. Like any object placed in front of an intense light source, during an eclipse the moon casts a very well-defined shadow across the face of the Earth. I realized later that reason it got so dark all of a sudden was that the leading edge of the moon’s shadow had just crossed over our location on the ground. Woah!!! How cool is that!!

I remembered that during the Totality you can see stars in the sky. At that moment I looked up and sure enough many of the brighter stars were visible. I drank that in for a moment and then my eyes then drifted off into the distance where I noticed an orange glow just above the horizon. It looked almost like a sunset. Problem is, I was looking South (the sun normally sets in the West) and it was only 2PM (the sun normally sets around 8PM this time of year). It turns out that during Totality the edges of the Zone of Totality can take on a dusk-like orange glow. What was wild was that there appeared to be two sunsets at the same time - one to the South and another one to the North. Now my head was really spinning!

But I couldn’t spin for long: I needed to get back to taking photos! We only had two minutes 36 seconds to capture the most amazing photos of my life.

For about the next minute I snapped photo after photo. But at a certain point I thought I should stop shooting and just experience what was happening. First thing I noticed was how intensely quiet it had gotten. Everyone had stopped talking and was just absorbing this amazing experience (I realized later even the crickets had stopped chirping during the Totality!)

I also have to admit it was a little eerie to experience darkness in the middle of the day. I can see now why ancient civilizations would be freaked out when an eclipse hit. On August 21st we knew the eclipse was coming and yet it was still kind of crazy to experience it firsthand. I can’t imagine what is was like for ancient peoples to lose daylight and not have a clue why. Realizing there was no way they could know what to make of all this, I laughed at the thought that I, too, would haul a few thousand granite boulders up a hill to build a temple if I thought it would keep this $hit from happening again!

Solar Eclipse CoronaThe corona - the outer most layer of the sun's atmosphere is only visible during an eclipse. Yet even in the midst of this intense silence and strange eeriness, the whole thing was totally awesome and awe-inspiring for me. I was experiencing something very special.

During Totality you can look up directly at the sun without glasses. When I did, I was completely amazed to see a black hole in the center of the sun. It’s hard to put to words how strange this was. My whole life I had experienced nothing but intense brightness when glancing toward the sun. Now I was staring right at it and could see - with my naked eye - a pitch black darkness at its center. This alone was a totally unbelievable experience.

It was also totally unbelievable to see the sun’s corona in the photos I was taking. Normally invisible due the brightness of the sun, the corona is the outer-most layer of the sun’s atmosphere. The sun is a huge atomic furnace, constantly pumping material far out into space. The whispy tendrils of the corona were now totally visible in my photos. While the sun’s corona is still a mystery to many scientists, it was an immensely awesome and beautiful sight to see right on the back of my camera.

While the rest of us were shooting, Neeti’s husband, Girish, was periodically calling out the remaining time of the Totality. So much was happening so fast that when he said the first minute had passed, I remember thinking “How could that be?” It felt like it had been an hour since the Totality had begun. When he got to less 30 seconds remaining, I kind of snapped back to reality and prepared for the exit from Totality. I knew I only had a few seconds to replace the solar filter that would save camera - and my eyes - from the sun’s damaging rays.

Solar Eclipse Diamond RingThe Diamond Ring forms as the moon exits Totality It was about this time that perhaps the most incredible thing of the entire day happened. I mentioned earlier that we more or less popped into darkness at the beginning of Totality when the leading edge of the moon’s shadow crossed overhead. Well now, out of the corner of my eye off in the distance, I saw something racing towards us. I wasn’t sure about what I was seeing until later, but it turns out it was the trailing edge of the moon’s shadow streaking over us. It took only a fraction of a second to pass, but it was the most intense thing ever. I had to resist the temptation to duck – that’s how visceral it was.

After the shadow passed, the air was filled with spontaneous cheers and applause from all around us. I don’t know if anyone realized that moon’s shadow had just passed overhead, but the intensity of the applause made it clear everyone knew that something amazing had just happened.

I exchanged “high-fives” with some of my friends and we all agreed it was an incredible thing we had just witnessed. And yet I also knew this meant the Totality was over and things would be winding down for the next hour or so. For me it was bitter-sweet: I felt a little sad that the eclipse was now almost over, and yet, there was also a profound sense of exhilaration at what we just experienced. I knew in my heart this was a life changing event for me.

Solar Eclipse 2017The moon begins its retreat... For the next hour or so, I completed my self-assigned task of photographing the eclipse. Compared to the excitement of when the eclipse first began, my friends and I were mostly silent now. As I looked around, I noticed that the other people near the lake had already returned to their normal activities – swimming, boating, etc. I was struck by how quickly life moves on. By the time we finished shooting, except for a stack of disposable eclipse viewing glasses sticking out of a nearby trash can, you’d be hard pressed to tell that anything out of the ordinary had happened at all.  

My friends and I packed up our gear and said our good-byes. Right afterwards, I fantasized about flying around the world chasing eclipses. Yet I also knew my life back in New Jersey was waiting for me. Still, this amazing event had changed me in some way. I felt larger, more expanded. It’s hard to put the feelings into words other than to say it was “freakin’ awesome”!

Of course one of the great things about being a photographer is that I get to share my pictures with others and see their reactions. The response on social media to my solar eclipse photos has been “out of this world”! (Pun intended.) It has been incredibly gratifying to see how people appreciate the beauty and awesomeness of the eclipse. Sharing my photos in general gives me the ability to take other people along on my journey. The joy of sharing my experiences is a big reason I do what I do.

So I’d like to thank you for coming with me on this particular journey. I hope you enjoy all the photos and consider owning one for yourself. Signed, Limited Edition prints are available for purchase. Contact me for details.

And thanks again to my friend Neeti Kumthekar (and her husband Girish) for arranging the South Carolina eclipse shoot. Check out Neeti’s amazing photos on Instagram @neetikumthekar .

See all my photos from this Collection here.

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From David’s website:

David Jacobson makes hand-blown and kiln-formed glass utilizing contemporary designs based in the Venetian tradition.  Jacobson makes brightly colored functional objects, such as bowls, glasses, vases and platters, and also sculptural objects.

"I employ contemporary colors with classical forms to create a unique expression in each piece. Texture and vibrant color combinations are vital; my pieces are meant to be touched and explored as well as viewed. For me, making glass is an honor.”

Born and raised in New York, Jacobson graduated from the University of Minnesota, where he first studied glassblowing. He has since studied with Lino Tagliapietra, Elio Quarisa,  Jiri Harcuba,  Davide Salvadore as well as other leading glass artists.  His work may be found in major collections, galleries, and shops around the country."

www.davidjacobsonglass.com

My interview with my friend:

1. Please introduce yourself

I was born and raised in White Plains, New York, a suburb of New York City. I have always been artistic, drawing and sketching and getting in trouble with it all throughout school. Fortunately, I was able to transform that doodling into a career as a professional cartoonist, freelancing as well as on staff for 18 years with a Gannett newspaper in White Plains.

2. How long have you been doing glass blowing and what got you started?

I first saw glassblowing my freshman year of college, and I knew that that was what I really wanted to do. So, I graduated from U of Minnesota in 1977 with a B.A. in glass, promptly quit, and began my cartooning career. I resumed in 1994, while working at the paper.  I would drive to Brooklyn, NY after work and on weekends to rent time in a public-access studio called Urban Glass.  I took classes there, as well as at the Corning Museum of Glass. I’ve been glassblowing ever since.

3. Who or what inspires your art?

I’ve been inspired by all sorts of glass artists, and mainly Italian glass.  It is beautifully intricate, finely crafted, well designed and never-ending in its ability to amaze me. I’m also inspired by textiles, animal markings,  and nature. I love my glass to have texture to it, as well as being pleasing to view.

4. What's ahead for you as an artist?

I have recently started carving glass to make sculptures, having learned this technique at The Corning Museum of Glass this past January. I am continuing that study this summer in Prague, where I will take a week-long class in this whole other way of working, called cold-working. It is not with blown glass but with large masses of glass that have already been cooled down. I am really excited about the possibilities.

5. How can people get in touch with you?

Please visit my website www.davidjacobsonglass.com or you can reach me by phone 914 715 6848 or email [email protected]

In addition to being a master glassblower, David teaches glassblowing and runs a small B&B in his home adjacent to his studio for people who like an extended experience. He welcomes individuals and corporate clients and can accommodate up to six people at a time in his glass studio. Please check out his website to get more information and to book a visit. Also please “Like” his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheDavidJacobsonGlass/

David Jacobson: YOU INSPIRE ME!

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Instagram Photo of the Day 6-21-17 Instagram Photo of the Day-6-21-17 Double Rainbow New York City<u>THE STORY BEHIND THE PHOTOS</u><br/> <br/> <em>On Monday June 19, 2017, a ferocious squall line moved thru the New York City area bring rain, high winds and thunderstorms. After being pummeled for nearly two hours, just before sunset there was a sudden break in clouds and the City was bathed in an-otherworldly glow of golden light. And then almost on cue an amazing, awesome, awe-inspiring double rainbow appeared over NYC. A complete 180 degree capsule of light engulfed the metropolis. Everyone around me slowly stopped what they were doing and fell silent. One person had tears in their eyes, and another brought his hands to his chest and started praying. Like most rainbows, it only lasted a few minutes. I've never seen anything quite like it but it has left a profound and lasting impression on me.</em>

Telegraph UK 6-22-17

Double Rainbow NYC<u>THE STORY BEHIND THE PHOTOS</u><br/> <br/> <em>On Monday June 19, 2017, a ferocious squall line moved thru the New York City area bring rain, high winds and thunderstorms. After being pummeled for nearly two hours, just before sunset there was a sudden break in clouds and the City was bathed in an-otherworldly glow of golden light. And then almost on cue an amazing, awesome, awe-inspiring double rainbow appeared over NYC. A complete 180 degree capsule of light engulfed the metropolis. Everyone around me slowly stopped what they were doing and fell silent. One person had tears in their eyes, and another brought his hands to his chest and started praying. Like most rainbows, it only lasted a few minutes. I've never seen anything quite like it but it has left a profound and lasting impression on me.</em> IMG_9995THE STORY BEHIND THE PHOTOS

On Monday June 19, 2017, a ferocious squall line moved thru the New York City area bring rain, high winds and thunderstorms. After being pummeled for nearly two hours, just before sunset there was a sudden break in clouds and the City was bathed in an-otherworldly glow of golden light. And then almost on cue an amazing, awesome, awe-inspiring double rainbow appeared over NYC. A complete 180 degree capsule of light engulfed the metropolis. Everyone around me slowly stopped what they were doing and fell silent. One person had tears in their eyes, and another brought his hands to his chest and started praying. Like most rainbows, it only lasted a few minutes. I've never seen anything quite like it but it has left a profound and lasting impression on me.

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London Times 6-9-17

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