an unexpected Christmas gift

Opened up Facebook this Christmas morning and saw the Hoops In The Sun status page with a video compilation of my shoot (their championship game at Orchard Beach in the Bronx) I did for them this past summer.

My NIKE Basketball work

What I notice and maybe you will too, is that faces and emotions tell a story sometimes better than the ball does? I hope to continue working with them (H.I.T.S. organization). The Cruz brothers do an excellent job - very professional and one can easily see how deeply embedded their emotions are in running this tournament in memory of their father.

On this Christmas day I wish them and all who read this blog best wishes, a joyous Christmas day and a productive and prosperous New Year.

this could be their last day on Earth

Had a shoot today at Calvary Hospital which is mostly a hospice for those whose days are severely numbered on this planet. When you go here, death awaits you yet on this day at their Christmas party for patients and their families, I saw smiles and an ineffable joy for those few days left to enjoy the remainders of their lives.

Not only did I enjoy being with these fellow travelers on life's path whose end was close at hand but the NYPD Emerald Society bagpipers expressed the same feelings I had. This was their favorite site to perform at.

Being there for those who more than any need the presence of fellow human beings is a "good feeling" - being human is being there for others.

Thank you for letting me share your existence through my critical lens.

Life is shorter than we realize. Live it well.

How did they do it?

 Every time I visit England and their cathedrals, I'm amazed.  With no modern technology, they built these amazing edifices. Maybe the motivation was different? Maybe they had better specific skills handed down over many generations? I don't know but I'm thankful every time I'm in one.

a real "mini-me"

Ricky Syers makes marionettes - puppets that are manipulated by strings. But what makes him special is his ability to model them after real people and quite accurately.

The weathered individual seen here was chosen by Ricky because of his love and care for the animal life in Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village in Manhattan (NYC)

Was was also interesting was the fact that just before I showed up at this site, the guy who is the face and camera of "Humans of New York" (HONY) came by. Check out his site on Facebook and maybe if you so decide, buy his book. Fascinating stories that accompany his portraits.

Just like the story that is evident in these pictures.

 I wanted to learn more but I was with friends so I couldn't linger too long.

But what I saw I won't forget.

working with little people will make your day

Some shoots are a burden, others are pure joy. Working with little people is immensely rewarding.

They see life the way we all should - positive, fun, curious, intriguing, wonderful and essentially happy. Getting them to smile is easy; most already are.

Makes one wonder. When do most of us lose our innocence? Maybe some of us haven't? I've been told I'm childlike (though not childish). I take that as a compliment.

Life is way too short to be negative. Doesn't the Bible exhort us to be like little children?

I was today. And it made my day.

happiness is in serving the needs of others

Some assignments enrich your soul. This was one of them

Happiness is getting a Hanukah food delivery to your door.

A wonderful community project put on by the Bronx Jewish Council to low income and isolated senior citizens. This was my assignment this morning as I followed a mother-daughter team who just happened to make a delivery in my building to one of my neighbors!

Serving the needs of others. What a better place this would be if we all thought this way!

shooting the shooters

While shooting the local Veteran's Day Parade, not only did I shoot veterans (soldiers who might've shot other soldiers in combat) but some other photogs as well. All in fun, seeing others do what you do and being filmed in the process.