My nephew, David Paul, is six years younger than me and the line between uncle and brother has always been blurry. David doesn’t like to be photographed but he gave me this moment; I can feel a lifetime in his eyes.
Making portraits is my favorite part of being a photographer. It’s a two way street based on listening and trust.
I met David at Algebra Tea House in Cleveland, Ohio around 2002. We were both new to photography and the fire that was just beginning to burn continues to fuel us today.
In addition to being a fine portrait photographer, David has been traveling and making photographs on Route 66 for more than 20 years. His love for the history of 66 is only surpassed by his respect for the people who keep the “Mother Road” alive.
I realize how special it is to have someone in my life who “knew me way back then.” Our friendship continues to evolve and I’m thankful that David is a part of my life.
When November comes around here in Cleveland my day starts off with an inspection of my Christmas Cactus, I’m looking for that first little bud that will ultimately turn into a firecracker of a bloom. Once there is one, its off to the races.
The mother plant of this cactus goes back to my maternal Grandma, who passed before I was born. My mom inherited the cactus and I remember watching her care for it. It wasn’t until I got a little life under my belt that I started to wonder what the plant meant to her. I never asked so I’ll never know, but I do know that I think of my mom every time I look at this plant.
A few years ago my friend gave me the coolest gift, a bird feeder. I never tire of watching the beautiful motion of birds.
Lately I’ve been wondering why I make photographs of moments like this. Sometimes I think I just like to hear the sound of my shutter.
The older I get the more things like this strike me as being unbelievable.
Music is my first love, and it’s the one thing that has been constant all of my life. I started playing the drums when I was 6 or 7 years old and I spent many years in a van touring around the country. Around the turn of the century the drums gave way to photography but, as they say, the beat goes on.
With my parents it was never, “Lock the door behind you.” They always waited until the car was out of site before they went back into the house.
As far back as I remember
I’ve loved sharks.
I don’t want to be in the water with one.
I don’t know if this guy caught anything or not, but I’m willing to bet he was enjoying the morning calm.
Mack is, without a doubt, my right-hand man. From the beginning my little dude has been like a shadow to me. Where I go, there goes Mack.
Pit bulls get a bad rap. Like any animal (or human for that matter) there are some who behave well while others do not. While Mack has a “king of the jungle” style bark, he is a lover to any human who comes into his home.
I turned fifty in Carovilli, a small mountain town in Italy where my maternal grandparents lived before they moved to America in the 1920’s. They both died before I was born but I have the trunk they brought their belonging in when they immigrated to America. It sits at the end of my bed and I think of them every time I walk past it.
A few years ago I applied for Italian citizenship through an amendment to the Italian constitution known as The 1948 Law. The application was based on my grandparents and I was approved a month after celebrating my birthday in front of their home. I am still pinching myself.
My grandparents came to America from Italy in the 1920’s. They bought a home and they worked hard to give their children a chance to have a better life than they had. I never met them, they passed before I was born, but I grew up in this same home and I watched as my parents did the same thing for my brothers, sisters and me.
Frank is my oldest brother - we are the bookends of eleven kids. When I was a teenager Frank had a family, a mortgage and a career; our lives were very different. As I grew older and had my own experiences the distance between us became smaller and, thankfully, we have grown closer. Frank has been there for the best and worst times of my life - what a gift.
