American Musical Royalty

I had the opportunity to document a distinguished group of musicians who recorded prior to 1972. They were lobbying on Capitol Hill for fair treatment and royalties for their work played on satellite and digital radio.

Pictured are Martha Reeves (Motown great, sans the Vandellas), Gene Chandler (the Duke of Earl), Roger McGuinn (Byrds), Sam Moore (Sam & Dave), Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad), and Richie Furay (Poco, Buffalo Springfield). Also along (though not pictured here) were famed rock manager/producer David Spero and Otis Redding's daughter, Karla Redding.

Congressman John Conyers

Lovely people all.

I was particularly taken with Dr. Reeves, who sings pretty much all the time. And, Lord have mercy, that woman can surely sing.

I trust that with the help of their coalition, which met with Congressmen John Conyers (pictured, last in the series), Steny Hoyer,  George Holding, and others, that they will get fair compensation for the broadcast use of their recorded performances.

Check out SoundExchange and Project 72 to learn more about the issue.

Thanks to all of these artists, and to Marie Farrar Knowles and CEO Michael Huppe of SoundExchange.

Messages | Baltimore

Four signs I encountered one morning in the city of Baltimore.

Two messages are from a Hare Krishna fair, one from an ice cream stand, one from Ripley's Believe It Or Not, and one from U-Haul.


And there you have it.

Karishma | henna

Karishma Patel the day before her brother's wedding.

Middle-East experts

I recently photographed a conference for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Among the many experts who spoke, I documented American peace negotiator, Ambassador Martin Indyk, former Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Barak, Palestinian scholar Dr. Mohammed Dajani, and Washington Institute scholar and former  Mid East peace negotiator, Ambassador Dennis Ross.

Robyn Helzner | Robyn Helzner Trio

I recently documented a concert by the Robyn Helzner Trio.

Robyn  and her able musicians, Dov Weitman and Matt Holson, play a wide range of beautifully spirited Jewish folk music, both original and traditional.

This shot was my favorite among many made during the show.

Fuse Visual interview

Cameron Davidson of Fuse Visual has published a thorough and engaging interview with me about my photographic work. It highlights a range of my projects, working methods,  concerns, and some advice for new photographers.
The link to the interview, which includes samples of my photography is here.

Thanks Cameron for your dedication to promoting the work of photographers to a wider public.

On Deaf Ears exhibition- JCCNV

"On Deaf Ears" is an exhibition at the Northern Virginia Jewish Community Center's Bodzin Art Gallery. The  exhibit commemorates Yom Ha’Shoah and reflects the theme of public response to injustice today. This year’s JCRC annual Holocaust commemoration is themed “On Deaf Ears: Media Coverage and Public Response in the Holocaust Years.” 

Artists have been asked to exhibit works that represent contemporary connections to this theme. 

I am honored to have my work included alongside the images created by my colleagues Hector Emanuel and Michelle Frankfurter.

Hector Emanuel is a Peruvian-born photojournalist. 
Michelle Frankfurter was born in Jerusalem and is now a documentary photographer from Takoma Park by way of Nicaragua. 
Photojournalist Lloyd Wolf has documented homemade shrines to victims of murder and violence that appear throughout the Washington, DC area.

These images show some aspects of the installation. Many thanks to the Jewish Community Relations Council  and Irene Gavin of the JCCNV for their help in hosting the exhibition.

Coming of Age in America (Carnival Judaica)

A few personal visual observations from a bar mitzvah I documented recently.

What a mysterious carnival life is.

APRIL FOOL 2014

April Fool!

This is the 40th year of my annual incarnation of the spirit of this season.

Joan Mulholland, Freedom Rider, with Operation Understanding DC Class 20

Civil rights activist, Freedom Rider Joan Mulholland recently spoke with the participants of Operation Understanding DC.

Joan was arrested for her activities to end racial discrimination in Mississippi during the civil rights era, and served time along with other Freedom Riders at the notorious prison, Parchman Farm. A moving film about her life, An Ordinary Hero has been produced. She has retired from teaching in Arlington, Virginia, and continues to be involved in community work.

A quote from the film: "I saw something was wrong and I decided to do something about it."

Straight up. Thank you Joan.

A minor note: I taught photography to a couple of Joan's sons when they were in my high school class at the HB Woodlawn Program.

Alan Bern | with Joel Rubin and the University of Virginia Klezmer Ensemble

Alan Bern, noted klezmer musician with Brave Old World and The Other Europeans, recently was in residence and in concert at the University of Virginia, with their Klezmer Ensemble.

Thanks to Joel Rubin of UVA for his vision, and his help.

Folger Library at night/ US Capitol

This photograph was made on assignment for the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC. They have lit the building in a festive way in preparation for the 450th birthday celebration of the Bard.

The US Capitol Dome in the background.

Thanks to Garland Scott of the Folger.

This land is your land, this land is my land...

I made this photograph of two homeless folks sleeping outside near the US Capitol this morning, on my way to cover events in Congress.

Perspective.