Jono Korchin

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on January 14, 2025

Approximately a half century ago, I met a young man from Berkley by the name of Jono Korchin. He was a bright tough in-your-face kind of guy. At the time the two most important things in his life were photography and music. I’m pretty sure there wasn’t anything in music he didn’t know – in my opinion not so much in photography. He was okay but needed a little work. Because he was based in the San Francisco area and I was based in the New York area we only got together several times a year. Over a couple years we became close friends. To be honest I’m not the easiest going person in the world but JK always found a way of getting to my better side.© Jo

I flew out to the coast in the early 80’s & Jono picked me up in a Mercedes and there was this weird box near the dashboard. He put in an address on Cedar Alley and this magic box took us right there – the back way. Cedar Alley was a half city block long & my close friend Mike Phillips had a studio/home there. When I asked Jono what just happened he explained he was working on the beginning of GPS. Wow! To say that Jono was ahead of most of us, as the truth be known he may have been 20 or 30 years ahead of most of us. He had a concept for music where people could procure one song at a time. He got an appointment with Apple and met with the CEO Gil Amelio. They listened but rejected the concept of the one dollar song. Yet, 3-4 years later they came out with IMusic. Strangely enough you could buy a song for a dollar. Hmm…wonder where they got the idea. Considering I was born in Greenwich Village after the end of WWII there was a coffee shop or two on every block where there was poetry, music, off broadway plays etc. Jono came up with another idea and took it to Starbucks. It was called the MusicBox. Again it was turned down. I don’t have to tell you where Starbucks went after that. Jono came into New York to have a meeting with the mayor to be, Michael Bloomberg a billionaire. Are you sitting down? Bloomberg blew him off and threw him out – could be the fact he was dressed at the time a little like a Pirate as I recall. Possibly his attire would have been more acceptable in California but not so sure in a New York business meeting. But being thrown out by Michael Bloomberg wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. I had a meeting with Roger Penske and 12 minutes into the meeting he threw me out. You have to understand something if you’re going to get thrown out of a meeting it’s a great thing to be thrown out by a billionaire unless of course his initials are…. Shit never mind. In the truest sense Jono was a true visionary. At the foundation, JK met a beautiful strong, and extremely intelligent woman by the name of Season who took him to the next level. Season and Jono became parents of two extremely bright lovely caring sons who loved music and ultimate Frisbee. He became a full time father to end all fathers. He was there 24/7 for Julian and Elias. He loved both of them on a plane most people could not comprehend. They will carry that love forever. I consider it an honor to have been a friend of Jono’s. I know he is traveling on another plane of consciousness probably the same 20 or 30 years ahead of everyone else. Remember Life is not a Rehearsal and you only have one take so make the best of it as Jono did.

Lessons Learned

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on August 20, 2024

Lessons learned… All Photos © Joe DiMaggio

Almost 6 decades ago I worked on Park Avenue – not the same Joe DiMaggio people know in 2024! I had a short haircut, a Brooks Brother’s suit with button down shirt, and silk tie with a double Windsor knot. I wore sterling silver cufflinks and a matching vest. The suit was a light-weight grey and had black stripes. Of course, I had wing-tipped shoes with matching socks (hard to envision both for you and me.) My boss’s name was Bob Cohen. His boss was the senior VP of Smith-Corona Marchant. I was ridiculously young. After 3 months of hire, my boss decided I was going to be a field supervisor with 12 men working with me NOT FOR ME. I explained this wasn’t going to work because one of the men was a retired NYPD officer with 5 kids and three of his kids, were older than me. Bob explained to me I could do the job. Once a week he would take me to a Jewish delicatessen (not Katz’s) and he’d give me a 90 minute lesson on administration and how to treat people. My dad who graduated NYU, 17 years earlier, was a stickler for honesty, positivity and treating my fellow man always as an equal. I was never better than anybody else! Both men, radically different people but they both had similar concepts on humanity and the society we lived in. One of the ninety minute lessons was – never put a man, woman, or dog in a corner where they couldn’t go left, right, or couldn’t get out. That was unacceptable! What’s amazing is now 60 years later that’s imbedded into my brain.

It seems like the world loves Joe D as long as I says Yes! The minute I deviate from Yes, things become dark grey, swinging towards black. When I left NYC for Centerport and then relocated to the Upper Delaware (Milford, PA), one thing was obvious, I did not need new clients. I had plenty from Manhattan to Tokyo, Rome etc. Many of my friends and I had almost a 40 year relationship. So, the last thing I needed were new friends. I already had great friends that would die for me and I for them. Pat Nap took on 4 men who were beating me possibly to death, when I was just 16, and saved my life. Brandofino was Pat’s best friend and there was no way he’d let anyone lay hands on me. They were both 2 years older than I. So why would I need new friends?

When it came to the arts I had Dennis Wheeler, a world class artist/art director and all around great human being. Dennis was a great guy who’d even sometimes baby-sit my son for hours when I met with clients in NY, and taught him how to paint and sketch while doing so. My son went on to being published in a national Magazine at age 9 (I didn’t get published until I was maybe 23.) Then there was Paul Laddin another great artist who painted in oil. A very disciplined artist and a true master. He was also President of a large Ad agency in NYC on Park Ave. These are just a handful of close friends. There are so many others. At this point I almost forgot my all time best friend, the great photographer and beautiful JoAnne Kalish. Yes, she is a better photographer than I and I just have to live with that! The advantages is that I she has a small ego and I don’t!

We now come full circle to 3 years and 2 months ago, I decided to join AA. Anybody who knows me knows the last thing I would do was join any organization and certainly not AA! The simple reality is without AA my ashes would have been already spread in the Hudson River or the lighthouse at Eaton’s Neck. My brothers and sisters at AA taught me it’s not about me it’s about us. I should also add that my concept of not needing new friends was wrong. I not only needed new friends but want new friends. I love the new friends as much as I love the old friends, whether they are still on this planet or have moved on. I love my life and friends and for whatever time I have left, all I want and need is Health and Happiness for Us All. These are the only things that are important. I will always remember to never put someone in a corner and strongly recommend you not do that either. My “word,” there I go again… Our “word,” Is more important than anything else.

This is Joe DiMaggio master of the run-on-sentences, signing off. God Bless!

Melchior DiGiacomo A Prince

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on March 28, 2024

Cafalu Sicily © Melchior DiGiacomo

Circa 1972. There was a small group of photographers in New York City that came together and were not only competitors but friends. Both JoAnne and I met Melchior at a New York Ranger Hockey Game. Suffice to say, Melchior was a world- class hockey photographer. JoAnne and I were just starting out our photographic careers as a team together. Melchior was an extremely generous person. If a younger photographer had questions Melchior would go out of his way to share experience, in this particular case with ice hockey. His eye-hand coordination in the days of single punch photography was again world class. When we moved into motor driven cameras his work only got better. In our business he was known as an under shooter Three periods of hockey, each period 20 minutes and by that, what I mean is every frame counted. He did not waste film. His career spanned over a half century. He was a gem during the Golden Age of Photography.

Both JoAnne and I were honored to call Melchior a friend. He went onto being one of the greatest tennis, rugby and overall sports photographers. Once he put his mind to doing something he did it amazingly well. The photographic community has lost a great photographer and a generous contributor.

below photo © John Ferrentino

Stan The Man

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on February 28, 2024

Approximately 91 years ago Mr. & Mrs Menscher brought into this world someone I called “Stan the Man.”

Over my career, I’ve had people who became mentors to me and became close friends who have helped me in many ways. You might say, I’ve been a lucky son-of-a-bitch! A long time ago I met Stanley. Stanley was what I would call a visionary. He was up there in my book as being one of the finest advertising photographers in NYC. He had clients like General Motors, RJ R Nabisco, Burger King, IBM and the list went on. He was a master of large, medium, and 35mm format photography not to mention 16mm film. Stan was the second Instructor hired to teach the Nikon Photo Workshop. He was a great teacher, motivator, great husband, father, and a wonderful friend. When it came to the computer and putting multimedia shows together he was far ahead of his time. Stanley would put together 26 projector shows, using two rear screens, and the shows were unbelieavable. Stanley’s heart was full of love and caring for his fellow human being. The only thing I held against him was, he never smoked or drank. That’s me trying to be funny.! He and his lovely wife Kathrin would come visit JoAnne and myself maybe twice a year and we’d always have a great time. I went to see him last year and it was obvious he was not feeling well.

I’ve attached this short funny video I did when we were together last. Stanley Video I want to say, Stanley thank you for the help you gave me and for the help you gave so many other photographers over the years. You were light years ahead of us all! I will always consider you a true visionary and a beautiful human being. We last spoke at Christmas. Kathrin called and told me that you had moved onto another level of consciousness. She said you had no pain and that you went peacefully in your sleep. Rest in peace Stanley. Several friends of yours shed some tears. Love you Joe D

The Silver Star

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on June 9, 2013

One of Jess’s Books

This blog should have been put up June 6, 2013

There are many people who judge their wealth by how much money they have in stocks, bonds, bank accounts, the size of their automobiles and how many summer homes they have. I’m not going to question them for the simple reason I am one of the richest men in the world. There are only 8 or 9 people who can verify that. I became this wealthy because of great friendships. The oldest living friend I have , since Will Barnet has gone onto his studio in the sky at 101 years old. It now brings me to Jess Weiss my second oldest friend. The great part is he’s alive and well. The first time I stepped into his office I noticed there was a letter from President Franklin D. Roosevelt thanking him for his bravery and next to the letter was the Silver Star, Purple Heart and several other Medals which unfortunately, I’m not familiar with. That was approximately 20 years ago. I said to Jess, “my God you’re a hero” and he looked at me and said, “no I’m a coward.” Like most true heroes they never speak of the war. They lived it and bled with it and it’s imbedded in every fiber of their being forever and probably will remain with them to the next level of consciousness. He explained he saw 3,000 men die that day and during the balance of the war about another 7,000 men. He never elaborated on why he received all the medals he did. Jess was there for me when my mother, father, my son and my brother died. His words of wisdom, his teaching allowed me to go on and not give up. That translates into an infinite amount of money. Obviously the money is meaningless but the friendship is worth everything. So on the 69th Anniversary of the D Day Invasion I take my Beret off to my dear friend Jess Weiss. Monday he will be attending a dinner held by the French consulate and will be giving a short speech on Omaha Beach. I hope they’re not disappointed because Jess is not only one of the bravest men I know, but one of the humblest as well . God is truly in him. The French Government has just bestowed this Medal for Jess’s outstanding service 69 years ago on Omaha Beach. Thank you my friend. All Americans and all Frenchmen thank you.

Knight Medal of the French Legion d’honneur

©DiMaggio/Kalish

David Lynch and Jess Weiss (Transcendental Meditation Conference)

Paul Laddin Sends Joe a Poem

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on February 15, 2013

Hi to all the Ships at Sea,

There are hundreds and maybe thousands of photographers and filmmakers that make a lot more money, than I do. I’ll tell you what I’ve got though, I’m the richest man in the world because I have so many beautiful and special friends. My friend Paul Laddin is a true Renaissance man. He’s been a working artist for the last 6 decades. At one point in his career he was one of the original Madmen in the advertising business. He’s won many many awards for his talents. With all of that, he is just a regular guy and beautiful person. After a conversation we had, he sent me this poem and I’d like to pass it along. If you go to dimaggiophoto.com and click on Paul Laddin you can see some of his artwork.

Photo tip for today: anytime you’re photographing snow, always remember to open up 1.5 stops; no one wants to see grey snow and…and while you’re at it stay away from the yellow snow.

Poem by Dylan Thomas,

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on that sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Dylan Thomas

All the best,
Joe D

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Wine Gets Better with Age

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on February 7, 2013

“I was a young lad when I met Joe and JoAnne, I was a junior (maybe) in high school, showed up at their waterfront house to interview. Thought JoAnne was his daughter, good thing I kept my mouth shut and didn’t say that. They’ve become more of my second family rather than a job, and that’s why I never truly got fired. I processed black and white film and printed,(my 14-year-old asked “whats a darkroom?”) stamped color slides for days on end, drove cool cars, traveled and sat ringside at the Cooney Holmes championship fight. Fished, moved them to the sticks and idealized all they did (almost All). Love you guys dearly, I don’t blog but that’s all”

Andrew started with both JoAnne and myself when he was 15 years old. He loaded my cameras at heavyweight champion fights. Over the years, we all became very close friends and now the relationship has grown into absolute family. He has an extraordinary family, beautiful wife, children and is extremely successful in his business. He has taken photography, his original passion, to a whole new level. He has a brutal schedule. His passion is so strong, that he will drive two hours in one direction, shoot for half an hour and drive three hours back in traffic. Not only to make a great photo, but it becomes a zen like experience.

Of course I told him he was out of his mind to do that. Thank God he doesn’t listen to me all the time. To this day, if I called Andrew and said, I have a 6 figure assignment and I need your help, he would come out of retirement, (there’s no doubt in my mind) he would drop what he was doing and join me anywhere in the world. If I told you once, I told you a thousand times, I’m the luckiest guy in the world. The following two photographs, well they need not be explained. Photo tip for today: take what you really like, turn it into a passion. You’ll make great art, and maybe take a little stress out of your life. His black and white photos motivated me to go out and shoot some serious black and white.

This image is shot in raw, processed w. silver efex pro and Lightroom. Nova Scotia, Peggys Cove, Lighthouse.

All the Best,
Joe D

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Old Friends, New Year, Life Itself

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on January 15, 2013

©Joe DiMaggio

Hi to all the ships at sea,

I would like to wish everybody a healthy happy, new year (hey idiot, it’s the 15th-where have you been?!) Sorry guys, the last 45 days have been brutal, and I’m not going to go there today. I decided to take Saturday off, and I went to visit my former English professor/football coach, who has just been admitted to the Stoney Brook VA Nursing Home. It was the best 60 seconds and the worst 19.5 minutes I’ve ever spent in my life. I’ve loved this man for 50 plus years, and I’ve resolved myself to the fact that will be the last time I get to see him. I drove 7 miles to see one of my former assistants, he showed my three photographs that blew my head off. They were just gorgeous. He explained how he did them,why he did them, not that he had to; the photographs did not require any information, they moved me from a very negative place to a very good place. 15 miles west and an hour later, I went to see my oldest friend Pat Nap and he looked great! In the day he was a great football player and a world-class amateur wrestler, and ya know what, he still looks great today. OK-this moves us another hour and a half down the road and I stopped by to see my spiritual advisor, Jess Weiss. We had three or four emails in the last week, and three or four phone calls. His lovely bride of 38 years passed away four weeks ago. I went to see him because he’s my hero. The first time I walked into his office, above his desk was the silver star and ten other medals. I told him he was a true hero. He explained to me that he was a coward. He felt guilty that he left Omaha Beach alive during the D-day invasion and thousands of his brothers did not. Jess has written five books, I strongly recommend reading one of them or more…he’s not only a true hero, but he’s a visionary. He is one of the most spiritual people I have ever met. His 97th birthday is in two weeks and looking into his eyes, I saw a 20 year old man. Thank God for Jess. My life partner JoAnne Kalish reminds me that I’m a photographer and filmmaker and that my blogs should be about photography and filmmaking. This blog IS about communication and respect and history. That’s what photography is. I remember someone telling me, life is hills and valleys. In twelve hours I went from the highest mountain to the lowest peak and back to the highest mountain, so I guess that person was right. LIFE IS PRECIOUS. Please spend every second you can enjoying what you have.

Healthy, happy new year
Joe D

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