April 24, 2024 Greenwich Village

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on April 28, 2024

All Photos © Joe DiMaggio

I don’t remember who the writer was who said you can never go home again. Whoever wrote it was certainly right. I was born and bred in the West Village on 63 Carmine street. At the ripe old age of four, I went to NYU for the first time to see my father graduate. This was of course, after he served 4 years in the U. S. Army Air Force as a waist gunner on b-17 flying fortress. With the combination of “the rent being too high” and 9/11, JoAnne and I made a decision to no longer keep our studio space full time in Manhattan. I must say, we still consider ourselves NYC photographers as it was our original base.

We have a dear friend who is an entertainer by the name of Ronny Whyte who was playing at Pangea in New York this past Wednesday and we decided to go in to see him perform. I took advantage of the time there to revisit my old neighborhood and take some of the rust off my street photography. Twenty five years ago, I was quite good at street photography – not sure I am anymore! If you don’t use it – you lose it! Washington Square really did not change much since I was there last. Great music, people playing sports, lovers and families, dogs and people of all ages just enjoying being outdoors. On our way to the East Village we bumped into the NYU Stern business school’s pro Palestinian demonstration. My blog is not about politics. Did I say that? I’m pro Israel and at the same time I’m not against Palestine and I’m certainly anti-Hamas! For all the years I’ve been to Israel my brothers and sisters would say they are all cousins and I sometimes can’t tell them apart. However, the terrorists are different! Over many years of being a photojournalist, I’ve only been stopped maybe 3 or 4 times either by security, the military, or the police. I’ve never once been stopped by a 19 or 20 year old child who got in my face on a New York City sidewalk which is known as a public conveyance. If you’re on the sidewalk you may be photographed for better or worse. If I was to photograph someone and was invading their personal space I would stop. However, it was funny because these people were demonstrating but yet did not want to be photographed? To have some little shit challenge me was unacceptable by anyone’s standards. We stared at each other for maybe 2 minutes and with his mask on, I could only see his eyes. There was no doubt he was not Palestinian or an Israeli! He probably was not an NYU student or for that matter not even American! I decided not to cause a riot at my father’s former alma mater. I believe in the first amendment of free speech and believe I also have a right to make photographs. A half block away there were three police officers and a Sergeant. I asked the Sergeant his thoughts about me making a photograph on the street and he said of course it was okay. I casually mentioned the fact that I was blocked by their umbrellas several times. The Sergeant offered to escort me back to make some photos. At that point I said no. We spoke for 5 minutes. The irony was the Sergeant happened to be a muslim Arab. There is no doubt, my father is rolling over in his grave. My dad had a doctorate degree. If he was there and that piece of shit blocked him or got in his face, I’m pretty sure he would have bitch slapped him and God knows what would have happened after that. I guess I did not inherit all my fathers nerve and we’re living in a different time. I’m sharing some photos of my day. It’s been a while since I posted a blog.

Later in the evening we enjoyed listening to Ronny Whyte along with the two talented musician who accompanied him. It was also good getting together at the club with friends Steve, Mary, Diane, Quinn, and Errol. Ronny is a great entertainer. An added bonus all around Pangea was to seeing so many framed beautiful Alan Kaplan pastels adorning the walls.

Magic

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on October 14, 2023

Photos © Joe DiMaggio

I’ve been around the world at least twice and it seems once every decade something magical happens. Last week a group of 8 strangers came together. Each person was extremely bright, talented, and lovely. I spent one full day making some amazing photographs of actress, singer and super star Quinn Lemley. Many photographers tend to have huge egos. If it’s one thing I’ve learned, I always check my ego at the door. There isn’t a person who is able to do everything all the time. In the real world it takes a team and we had an amazing one.

For this assignment, I was blessed to work with the actress Quinn Lemley – Superstar, Shani Grosz, World Class Clothing Designer, her Wonderful Social Media Publicist, Abby Sultanik, Mr. Wendall, a Super Stylist, Lorraine Altamura, a World Class Hair and Makeup Artist, Caroline Voigt, Quinn’s Amazing Social Media Publicist, Jon Mecca, an Accomplished Dynamic Photographer and Studio Manager. I’ve left the best for last – and Errol Rappaport who in the real world, is a Power Broker to End All Power Brokers. We all came together for the longest 12 hour day imaginable. My contribution was 1/8 of the creative group as the Photographer Par Excellence. I should also give credit to the Mayor’s office, the NYPD and Mihai (Michael) Pasalau at the New York Yacht Club (okay it was the Staten Island Ferry) but I do consider it my yacht!

I’ve always been a NYC kid, born and bred but as truth be known, the combination of Covid 19, my several bouts with Cancer, I’ve been away from the greatest City in the world for a while.

I’d love to take credit for our team prayer at the end of the evening but afraid I can’t. We all held hands and thanked the Universe for a great day. That team prayer originally emanated from Peter, Paul, and Mary who refused to go on stage until I and my son Dylan, who happened to be with me that one day, to gather together and do a prayer prior to their concert. It was a celebration of my 50th year photographing them.

I hope someday in the future the team and can together once again. I know that’s a big ask. But, what the hell… why not? I thank each and every one of you for your contribution to a great shoot. Remember one thing – Life is not a rehearsal – there are no second takes! Enjoy life to the fullest. I like to always say, “ Kick Ass and Take Names.” – Joe DiMaggio.

The System is Broken

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on August 28, 2023

I’ve come to the conclusion the system is not broken. There is no system! My agent in California tells me not to use the term in “The Good Old Days” as people will find out how old I am. I guess my agent never heard of Google!

Hell, I just don’t care anymore…

These photos are from the Good Old Days when Kodachrome 25 was Kodachrome and life was simple and the water was clear blue.

Charlie Girl AKA Psycho Charlie

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on July 6, 2022

Last September Ace, our Springer Spaniel of 15.5 years old, passed away. Months later, JoAnne would be still on the couch at 9:00PM checking her emails and she’d break into tears. She missed Ace. I called in some serious favors and Charlie, a world class English Springer Spaniel, appeared on our doorstep at about four months old.

Charlie is the fastest Springer we’ve ever had, and we’ve had quite a few Springers, She has blinding speed, and unbelievable agility. She flies from one couch to the next couch then over the coffee table and then and over my head, flies over the other couch again and lands on the floor of the dining room. She then makes a severe right hand turn into the kitchen, crashing into the storm door, and will turn around and do it again. That is when she’s in her wild and crazy, I want to play mood! You really can’t make this up! She is certifiable crazy. The breeder where Charlie came from won West Minster three times in the past 30 years. Charlie is royalty. I was told “the dog will love you, be your best friend, go hunting (if you want to go hunting) or can be a show dog if you want her to. You’ve got an amazingly great dog!” “However, she has a little attitude (maybe because she’s so smart).” “Charlie will look you in the eye from time to time and give you a look that says, “What’s in it for me?” Believe me I have gotten that look a few times since she’s arrived!

Given my cancer regime, I usually get up at 4:30-4:45, so I walk Charlie first thing in the morning. Then Charlie expects breakfast at exactly 6:00 or she gives me the stink eye! This is the equivalent of putting her paws on her hips and saying “Can we move this along now!” You get the feeling that Charlie is training me, I’m not training Charlie. Well, yesterday, I was running a little late, say 5:20, I got the treats in my left hand and the strap to put on Charlie. I cracked the door open with my foot a little too wide and Charlie exploded past me, she went out to the front of the driveway, squatted down and did a little pee, she looked to the left, the right, and saw a deer. She took off like a rocket ship. Keeping in mind, I’m not exactly, as light of foot as I was when I played college football, but I still move pretty well. I semi-chased after Charlie yelling her name and clapping my hands as she went through the neighbors yard, the next neighbors yard, and kept going. Keep in mind that if anything happens to Charlie, I’m a dead man! Thats not a joke, JoAnne will kill me! I’m chasing her and I realize that I need to go on a diagonal to cut her off. As I crossed the road carrying her red strap and her treats it dawned on me that I was in my underwear. Now granted, I no longer live in Greenwich Village, New York (where you could walk around in your underwear and nobody will say much!) But in Pennsylvania someone might get a 12 gauge and blow a hole in my ass! Screaming before 6 o’clock on a Sunday morning, my voice echos off the charts! What do I do? Charlie is not allowed to cross the road and she’s crossed it twice. She starts running the opposite direction and I try to cut her off before I realize this isn’t working. I put my hands down and I start walking back to our home. I look, I yell Charlie for the last time and Charlie runs straight at me. She comes right up to me, stops, sits down, and Charlie is waiting for her treat. My first reaction is to strangle Charlie, we dont have to worry about that because Charlie gave me the look…What’s in it for me?” and took off again. I make my way to the front door, threw the strap down, got ready to sit down on the front stairs, and Charlie comes by and goes into the house like she did nothing wrong. Now there’s an old saying, “if I’m lying, I’m dying.” I ain’t lying! To show that I was very upset I refused to make eye contact with her and ignored her for the next 24 hours. Well that was a mistake. Charlie just doesn’t give a shit! I’m the one who needs to go to a psychiatrist and find out what’s wrong with me? Attached you’ll find a few frames of our Charlie Girl.

Charlie & Mia Sofia Linguine © Joe DiMaggio

Michael Schumacher – Get Well Soon

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on December 30, 2013

To all The Ships at Sea

We are all motivated by a myriad of passions – likes, dislikes, and history. The list is infinite. When I made a decision to call my Editor and tell him I wanted to photograph the inaugural U.S. Grand Prix in Austin Texas he thought I was out of my mind. From a business standpoint his concerns were valid. So exactly why did I find it necessary to invest a week of my life into that specific race? A few reasons were I never photographed Vettel, Hamilton, or Alonso and last but not least, Michael Schumacher and I knew this would be one of his last races. When he decided to return to Formula One I called a friend, Lewis Franck a great race car writer in the U.S. and we both agreed this was not a good idea for Michael to make a comeback. We were both genuinely concerned about his well-being after his retirement from Formula One, as it’s very hard to make a come back. Both Lewis and I were extremely happy that Michael’s second retirement from Formula One left him healthy and happy. Anyone who lived on the ragged edge of F1 and the inherent dangers of open-wheel racing at upwards of 200 mph for him to leave the sport healthy and happy with seven world championships – it just doesn’t get better than that. The minute I heard the word of Michael’s skiing accident my heart stopped and I immediately called Lewis. Race Car fans, let us say a prayer for Michael that he comes out of this okay.

On a lighter moment… at pit stop practice, Michael’s F1 tub very gingerly touched my shooting vest at 55mph it did get my attention (we were both on the proper side of each other’s line.)

The Fire Within

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on February 28, 2013

Hi to All the Ships at Sea,

Keisher McLeod- Wells aka “Fire”, is one of my dear friends. She is one of the most beautiful, lovely, talented, hard-working people I know. Unfortunately, Fire has had a major tragedy in her family. What she’s done, is taken all of the responsibility and done the absolute right thing. I wish her nothing but great luck and God speed.

After friends and family, photography and filmmaking is my life. The three photos above, in my opinion, are excellent. Unfortunately I have a problem with them, I don’t know who took them, there’s no copyright on them and when my studio manager put them in Photoshop, there was no copyright on the back. Therefore, the photographs then become public domain and the photographer, and I must say a very good one, is not going to get his/her credit. All fine photographers have to work very hard at their craft and their art, I really need to know who made these photos and then that photographer needs to protect them. Sir or Madam, you did a great job. For purposes of the blog ONLY, we’ll call it ©Fire 2013.

All the best,
Joe D

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20×30 Adoramapix

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on April 2, 2012

Over the years I’ve had two major printers. One was Par Excellence in Shreveport Louisiana, the other was Ken Leiberman in New York. There is no doubt Ken was and still is a great printer. If you’re going to have a show at MOMA, or a San Francisco gallery, he may be your choice. Par Excellence is unfortunately out of business. My partner and best friend JoAnne Kalish is a master printer “and one hell of a great photographer,” she produces some impeccable “Giclee” prints to die for. As great as they are they just are not a photographic process per se. Without telling JoAnne, I made 60-20×30’s, and 12-16×20’s. They are awesome and if you would like to come by our Learning Center to look at them, make an appointment and I will gladly show them to you. The key is – the blacks are black, the white are white, and the skin tone is dead on, it does not get any better then that. Info on this photo is, Shutter Speed-1/10 second, Lens-100 mm macro, ISO speed-50 and it was taken on the new Manfrotto carbon fiber tripod 190cxpro3.

IT’S HOLIDAY TIME AGAIN!

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on December 15, 2010

Artist/Photographer Gary Nicamin

Every time the Holidays come around I tend to get melancholy. You think of old friends, old times, and of singing Auld Lang Syne. I think of the good old days. A psychologist friend of mine tells me it’s normal. I was working with a new intern today and noticed he was removing some digital dust from a photograph of a dear friend of mine, who passed away. My friend’s name was Gary Nicamin. He lived in Hollywood, Los Angeles While I’m feeling in the mood, let me tell you about Gary. He was one hell of an amazing artist. I met Gary in 1970 and he was the photographer for Chicago, The Beach Boys, Blood Sweat and Tears, and The Turtles. He photographed all of the great sixties and seventies bands. He was also a full blown art director and master of cut and paste. When I had an artistic technical problem I always went to Gary. He also could answer any rock and roll trivia question you could think of. Gary wore a long Raccoon coat, drove a car that was originally a taxi, and had a penchant for colorful bowling shoes (he had a closet full) which he wore all the time. At a time when everybody seemed to be stoned on something, Gary NEVER drank or did any type of recreational or prescription drugs. His only drug of choice was Pepsi Cola. When he wanted to get really high he would eat a chocolate chip cookie. I could spend a long time telling you stories about Gary. So for purposes of this blog we’ll call this Gary Episode One.

Here’s the story behind the photo; It was approximately a little after 5 AM in the morning. Gary was in his bedroom and I was sleeping on the couch in his studio. I always stayed with Gary whenever I was on assignment in L.A., and in those days it was at least several times a year – usually more. Anyway, I heard sirens screaming, so I got up looked out the window and it seemed like the building next door was on fire. I ran into Gary’s bedroom – he was sitting there reading the LA times and watching the local news. I said “Gary I think the building next door is on fire.” He said”calm down it’s an abandoned building that is being used as a crack house.” He non-chalently, mentioned that it caught on fire frequently. He led me to the window and we climbed through to get a better view. I obviously took the opportunity to make this environmental portrait of Gary. Notice the bowling shoes, one of his trade marks. I loved Gary and I sure as hell miss him. A true renaissance man.

-Joe DiMaggio

It’s Springtime

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on May 5, 2010

I had an assignment to photograph a springtime event. I chose to photograph a mother bird feeding her newborn babies. How would I go about doing this? One way would be to walk around find a nest, set up a camera, wait for the mother, and spend 2-3 weeks photographing mother and her chicks.

Possibly this alternative is much simpler… At the end of the cycle of life, mothers and babies abandon their nest. So what I suggest is to go out and collect one or two nests the year before and put them in an elevated position extremely close to your home in a place safe from harm. Why would you do this? Because it allows you a mini studio. The mother discovers the nest, she lays her eggs and you now have a period of 3-5 weeks to make some interesting photos. Your going to want to shoot at least 1-2 times a day over a period of a couple weeks. This is also a great opportunity to utilize your electronic flash. What I used for this photograph was a 300mm f/2.8 lens and a 1.4 extender, at maximum aperture. You want a very shallow depth of field to throw background clutter out of focus. I used a Dyna-lite Uni 400 and a Jack Rabbit power pack on absolute minimum power. We were not looking for a flash photograph but rather a fill light and a catch light. By moving the strobe away and using less power I was able to utilize mixed light successfully. I also used a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod, self timer on-camera, and a Lastolite reflector. You may read this and say to yourself, isn’t that an awful lot of work to get the photo? The answer is no. Pre–production is what its all about. One of the greatest sports photographers in the world was Neil Leifer. Neil had literally hundreds of Sports Illustrated covers and the reason for this was he was a fanatic about research & pre-production so he would get the best possible photographs. He covered all the bases all the time. There were no accidents.