Photostalk

2011-12-30T22:44:00.000-05:00

Laughter at Play by Susan Farley

Dear Friends:
"Nothing Great Has Ever Been Accomplished Without Enthusiasm"
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Wishing you a New Year 2012 filled with greatness and enthusiasm

2011-12-01T19:47:00.001-05:00

Brighton Beach Chess Players
by Susan Farley
Photo on Canvas will be shown at:

Holiday Exhibition

Artist's Choice

Opening Reception

Friday, December 2nd, 7pm - 10:00pm

Please come and join us for this fine art holiday exhibition

refreshments will be served.

Focal Point Gallery

321 City Island Ave.

Bronx NY 10464

(718) 885-1403

show will run until Jan. 6th 2012

A Unique Headshot session

2011-09-12T16:56:00.000-04:00

What is a Headshot? A requirement for all actors and other performance professionals, corporate executives, politicians and just about anyone who needs to show who they are along with the printed word. A boring, ordinary or poorly shot image reflects negatively on the subject.

A vivid, honest well produced moment-in-time of a unique person reflects positively.

Photos by Susan Farley

Yes, this is a "headshot" session, having fun, being your best self and being in the moment creates the most genuine images.

While photographing Ghislaine I encouraged her to jump, move and create images in her mind which reflected in her expressions.

A spontaneous moment when a friendly NYPD officer stopped his car while on break and offered to help-!

photos by Susan Farley

Favorite portrait headshot from shoot-
Unique captured moment showing subtext and depth of character.

Dramatic, honest and powerful image.
Ghislaine Sanon is a film, television and stage actress

The friendly commercial image

Loosening up for energy and focus.
Ghislaine is also a captivating talk show host.

http://susanfarley.com

Guillaume Tell at Caramoor Music Festival

2011-07-12T22:00:00.003-04:00

Daniel Mobbs as William Tell

photo by Susan FarleySoprano Julianna Di Giacomo as Mathilde

photo by Susan FarleyConductor Will Crutchfield conducts as Julianna performs

One of the most popularly famous classical scores The William Tell Overture by Rossinit was exciting to hear in person as I photographed the opera for the NY Times last Saturday.

please click on title of blog to read the positive review from the Times music reviewer.

Swarmatron Story for NY Times Photos by Susan Farley

2011-06-21T12:31:00.006-04:00

(Story copied from NY Times written by Tammy La Gorce/ photos by Susan Farley

IT might be a while before Rolling Stone compiles its list of 100 Greatest Swarmatron Players.

As of now, only a small number exist, and only 20 of the handmade analog synthesizers have traveled beyond the homes of their inventors. But Swarmatrons are catching on.

Since Feb. 27, the night of the 83rd Academy Awards, Leon Dewan, 45, and his first cousin once removed, Brian Dewan, 48, have been clambering to fill orders for the $3,250 machines, which generate what they call “a seriously anxiety-inducing sound.”

The Swarmatron, developed by the cousins in 2003, produces eight tones of slightly different pitch tuned to one note, which creates a choral effect. It was the instrument behind the eerie, beehive-ish music that won the 2010 Oscar for Best Original Score for “The Social Network.”

In an interview at his home here, Leon Dewan, who had watched the presentation at an Oscar party in Irvington, said the award was “a real victory for unconventional and forward-thinking movie scores.”

It was something of a personal victory, too. “It felt like the Swarmatron was the foundation on which they built a whole bunch of other musical stuff,” Mr. Dewan said, referring to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, who together created the score.

Mr. Reznor, best known as the front man of the alternative rock band Nine Inch Nails, discovered the Swarmatron through a short YouTube video about the instrument posted by the Los Angeles-based music shop Big City Music, which is currently the only outlet for buying a Swarmatron.

“He started messing around with it, and it was right up his alley,” Mr. Dewan said. “He’s an avid synth player.”

A Swarmatron is a boxy thing, about the size of an old-fashioned record player, with a multitude of knobs and switches. Mr. Dewan has one in his living room perched, like a variety of other vaguely mad-scientist-like creations invented by the Dewan cousins, on the kind of aluminum walkers frequently seen in nursing homes.

(to read entire story please click on title above "Swarmatron" and it will link you to the NY Times story published June, 19, 2011)

URBAN SNOWMAN and HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011 from NYC

2010-12-30T10:34:00.006-05:00

photos by Susan Farley

As Most of you know NYC was pummeled with a fierce snow blizzard the day after Christmas 2010. The City was paralyzed by the snowstorm. I had a portrait shoot at the Columbia U Mailman School of Public Health and I parked a few blocks away in Washington Heights. It was quite the urban hiking adventure to get my photo equipment through the snowy and slushy streets, yet in the early evening when I returned to my car and drove down Audubon St. I saw this amazing snowman. Although there was a delivery truck double parked at the deli (behind me) , I quickly stopped my car and grabbed my camera for a quick shot, as I know that I would have regretted passing this one by.

So with all of the disasters and problems faced by New Yorkers in the Blizzard, somewhere On West 169th Street was a snowman with a corncob smile and black pail hat stopping traffic. A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011 to ALL!!!

Rocking Bluegrass

2010-07-06T18:46:00.003-04:00

The Punch Brothers perform at Bluegrass Festival in Caramoor
photos by Susan Farley

Chris Thile on Mandolin and lead singer of Punch Brothers
photo by Susan Farley

Crooked Still's lead singer Aoife O'Donovan performs at Bluegrass festival

photo by Susan Farley

Bluegrass group Crooked Still perform (photo by Susan Farley

Link to NY Times article where photo of Punch Brothers appears

http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2010/07/06/arts/PUNCH.html

Photos from July 3rd three-band minifestival at Caramoor, “New Shoots,” featuring young bluegrass bands.

The music was energetic and lively, engaging the audience and was fun to shoot.

CITY ISLAND

2010-04-06T19:11:00.014-04:00

The Carmans, active members of the City Island American Legion

Christine, City Island mom of two and arm wrestling champion

Children perform in community show Kiddy Kabaret

Boy Scouts are an important part of the youth culture on City Island

City Island is an Island in The Bronx, often described as "New England with a Bronx accent."

"City Island" is now also a movie starring and produced by Andy Garcia, and also starring Juliana Marguiles and Alan Arkin. The movie is a fun and touching take on a "dysfunctional" family of clam diggers .(The name given to residents who were born or have spent their entire lives on the Island)The movie also "stars" the Island.

I have recently added a gallery on my website http://susanfarley.com featuring 18 of the 49 portraits I shot for a personal project on the people of City Island, which I call "Faces of City Island." I exhibited at the Focal Point Gallery and the response was warm and wonderful. The show was reviewed by Time OutNY and I won a BRIO grant from the body of work.

I loved working on the images, setting up a studio with a plain background and inviting an assortment of locals to pose with outfits and personal items which said who they are.

My very last subject was our mailman "Tommy" who took a minute break from his postal rounds to step into my "Studio."

United Nations Fundraiser for Haiti

2010-02-26T11:26:00.005-05:00

"Mother Teresa with young girl" by Susan Farley Photography
This photo will be part of International Women's Day Celebration fundraiser for Haiti at the United Nations on Friday March 5th 2010. The photo will be for sale with 100% of profits for the Heat Foundation.

Invitation announcement of the International Women's Day fundraiser for Haiti at the United Nations..

Hello friends and colleagues:

I would like to invite you to the fundraiser for Haiti at the United Nations on Friday March 5th from 6:30 to 11:00 PM. Work from over 30 artists, including myself will be on display and for sale to benefit organizations for the Haitian people. Any profits derived from the sale of photos I am donating (which includes my photo of Mother Teresa above) to The H.E.A.T. foundation (http://theheatfoundation.org )

There will be a $15.00 donation requested to attend the fundraiser. There will be a cash bar for food and drinks. There will live music, art and other entertainment.

Because of high security at the UN, any attendees must call in advance so that their name will be on the guest list. You MUST be on the guest list to enter.

The phone numbers are on the invitation above.

Taina Glaude 212-963-0331 may be the best contact number to call up until Friday afternoon.

This promises to be a fun evening for a very worthy cause.

I hope to see you there!!!!!!

"Forever Love"

2010-01-31T19:44:00.009-05:00

"Forever Love" is a photo originally taken for a Valentine's Day story while on assignment for The New York Times. I continue to be amazed how the polar bears formed a heart shape as they grazed together at The Bronx Zoo.

Here is an excerpt from the story:
"Eugene Sautner likes to believe he was the first person to instigate a union in front of the Bronx Zoo's polar bears. It was a blustery January day in 1960 that Mr. Sautner, now 70, dragged his wife-to-be Mary Jane to the zoo. She greeted his question with another: Did you ask my mother first? The answer: I didn't think of that. (Both mother and daughter eventually gave their assent.) -(story credit "In City of Excess, No Theatrics Are Too Grand for 'Marry Me' By ANDREW JACOBS The New York Times)

The photo printed on canvas can be seen at the "Meaning of Love" group photo show at the Focal Point Gallery on 321 City Island Ave. , City Island, NY (718-885-1241). The show opening, which is open to the public, is on Friday February 5th from 7-10 and the show will run through the entire month of February.

My photo "Forever Love" will be for sale and the profits of a sale will be donated to The H.E.A.T. Foundation (theheatfoundation.org) , an organization founded by a long-time friend of mine Ghislaine de Sanon, R.N. , is currently working in Haiti on many projects including one to help place orphans in adoptive and foster homes, to help extended families to keep and take care of children, and to get Haitian children back into school.

Aidan's close-up

2009-10-14T09:32:00.005-04:00

Aidan, my charming,yet often michievous cat jumps on the chair I had set up for part of a portrait shoot for my next-door neighbors, an actress and her psychologist husband, who both needed publicity portraits. Even though I am 99% an on-location photographer, this time it made perfect sense to set up in my home instead of loading and unloading my lighting equipment a few doors away. Aidan loved it as he had never been at a photo shoot before.
Aidan has given me an idea to possibly photograph local animals this way and donate the creative fees to a local shelter. Stay tuned..........

Rug Fanatic Commercial shoot

2009-08-28T12:43:00.013-04:00

photo by Susan Farley
Kassandra Geddes, Rug Fanatic's owner and creator of custom-made rugs

photo by Susan Farley

Fun and mysterious photo tableaus for various rugs

photo by Susan Farley

Spontaneous, lively story-telling at home of rug designer Kassandra Geddes

Kassandra Geddes, is an innovative and creative rug designer who has a selection of her personalized rugs in her home. I was asked to create a fun, lively commercial campaign for Kassandra to be launched at a recent home design show in NYC.
The ideas for images flowed with the inspiration of each rug and mood. We experimented and took chances culminating in a creative photographic depiction of the energy of the rugs and the designer.

It was a fun shoot involving dynamic rugs, a creative and unique rug designer and two cats Cassandra and Autumn.

More photos from the shoot may be seen at http://susanfarley.com/ under the portfolio New Commercial Work.

Commitment Ceremony

2009-04-14T18:45:00.024-04:00

photo by Susan Farley

Chance and Rey exchange vows at their Commitment Ceremony in St. Paul's Chapel of Columbia U.

photo by Susan Farley
Couple at St. Paul's Chapel

photo by Susan Farley

Chance and Rey outside of the Chapel after their commitment ceremony.

On April 4th, 2009, Chance and Rey declared their commitment to each other in front of over 100 guests in St. Paul's Chapel of Columbia University in NYC.

I first met Chance when I photographed him for a NY Times freelance assignment.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/23/nyregion/23bigcity.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Chance%20Nalley&st=cse . He called me when the assignment ran and asked if I would photograph the church ceremony at St. Paul's.

Chance wore a tuxedo and Rey a suit when they made a dramatic entrance into the chapel as the doors opened and the bright sunlight blasted into the darkly lit chapel.

The ceremony included songs, readings and words from their wedding party. Two very young child guests surprised everyone when they walked onto the altar to stand with Chance and Rey. The moments added a sense of leviety and delight to the already upbeat mood within the Chapel.

They exited the Chapel with exhilaration, happy to have shared their vows and commitment to each other with their friend's and family.

"People with Fur"

2009-04-02T21:04:00.014-04:00

"Smiling Dog" photo by Susan Farley

"Kitten with rope" photo by Susan Farley

"Aidan on carpet "by Susan Farley

"Harry runs" photo by Susan Farley

There is a story in the City Room section of the NY Times online today(4/02/2009) , titled "Pets feel the Recession too." http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/pets-feel-the-recession-too/?scp=2&sq=pets&st=cse#comment-394489

"John Ziegler, co-founder of the Manhattan doggie gym with six locations called Biscuits and Bath, said he had never seen so many dogs abandoned by owners who had just spent thousands of dollars on them. " (NYT)

The photos in the story include two of the newly homeless pets, a chihauhau named "Peanuts", and a poodle named 'Coco' taken by John Ziegler who is trying to help find them new homes.

These pets don't care about grooming spas, fancy foods, and elegant collars, they just want to be with their owners, their best friends. It is a fact that pets are known to be very healthy additions to a person's life, reducing stress, giving continual unconditional love, and even lowering one's blood pressure.

The casting off of these furry friends like old furniture is nothing short of heartbreaking.

As a pet owner and a photographer I always look for the personality and soul in pets,which is why I like to call them "People with Fur." The pet images I photographed and posted above, are shown living in the moment, I hope they make you smile.

PhotosTalk

2009-03-26T15:19:00.007-04:00

"Rush Hour" photo by Susan Farley

" Life's a voyage that's homeward bound.", Herman Melville

Hello friends, Welcome to Photostalk.

Sometimes the story is obvious, other times it is subtle. A photograph’s tales are based on the interplay of the subject caught in a captured moment, the photographer's unique vision and then interpretated by the viewer's mind and emotions.

The photo above I shot in Grand Central Station in NYC called "Rush Hour" tells a story of a sole commuter being still for a split moment as the world around him rushes to their destinations. Yet, what feelings, thoughts, or memories does the image evoke for you?
I hope that you enjoy visiting Photostalk and please do share your thoughts.