Ghost Motels of Arizona
Much of the history and romance of America has been bypassed by the Interstate system. This past winter I traveled to Arizona and drove down old Highway 60 from Wickenberg to Quartzite and encountered a living museum of Americana in its defunct roadside motels. A few were repurposed as homes or businesses, but most were abandoned and crumbling. On a bright sunny day with desert skies …Read More
Faces of Istanbul
I took these shots last spring after completing a ten day trip through Russia and Central Asia to photograph aging. I didnt intend to do a lot of picture taking in Istanbul, but the visual lure of this picturesque city got me out with my camera. One of the largest cities in the world, Istanbul is bursting with history and visual delights. Former capital of four …Read More
Quartzite: Where Snowbirds Come to Roost
In my pursuit of growing old in America, this past February I went to Quartzite, Arizona to photograph and talk to the locals. This dusty town off Interstate I-10 is a destination for thousands of elderly retirees seeking an inexpensive getaway from the cold winter months. To my surprise I discovered that Quartzite is a barometer for economic changes affecting the elderly across the United …Read More
Sketching in the Desert
There is no better antidote to the busy streets and crowded subways in Manhattan than a few days in the American Southwest desert. Last weekend I flew to Phoenix, rented a car, and drove to Wickenberg – a cowboy town replete with Saguaro cacti and blazing sunsets. Living in New York City makes a horizon-to-horizon view in complete silence with nobody around an amazing treat. …Read More
Aging in Central Asia
In May 2012 I traveled to Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia to photograph aging and gain better understanding of international differences in how people grow old. I was amazed to learn the extent that elders are revered in traditional Kyrgyz society. The collapse of the Soviet Union and globalization have caused rapid economic and cultural change, and their effects have not been to the benefit of …Read More
Tradition and Healing at the Santa Fe Indian Market
I’ve traveled hundreds of miles across Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah to photograph the scenery and the people but I never made it to the Santa Fe Indian Market until this past summer. There I discovered an explosion of Native American art that builds on culture and traditions, honors ancestors, and provides a healing path to the future. There were 650 booths centered in the …Read More
In Search of Aging and Mother Teresa in India
It’s been over a year since I traveled across northern India to photograph faces of aging, and I’m still sorting through the images that I brought back. In the holy city of Benares, home of the great god Shiva, I heard of an old age home founded by Mother Teresa. As a geriatrician with a camera the thought of visiting and photographing inside this place …Read More
Victory Day in Moscow: Part II
It was Victory Day in Moscow, May 9, 2012 – the day that commemorates Russian triumph over the Nazi regime after a long and bloody war. I went there to take pictures. The day started with clouds and rain but by noon the sun was gleaming off the massive columns of the Bolshoi Theater. Water splashed in the fountain as elderly veterans milled about collecting roses, …Read More
Victory Day in Moscow: Part I
Victory Day is the Russian national holiday commemorating surrender of the German army on May 9, 1945. The country fought for 6 bloody years and lost over 26 million people including 8.5 million soldiers. In Moscow there is a military parade in Red Square, and afterward there is a gathering near the Bolshoi Theater that honors veterans, many of whom show up in full dress …Read More
The Lucky Dogs of the Moscow Metro
As a New York City resident I found riding the underground railway of Moscow a sublime and surprising experience, particularly as a fan of canines. Built by Stalin in the 1930′s, the stations are constructed with marble and granite and many are adorned with chandeliers and elaborate sconces. The sparkling chrome-clad trains run every three to five minutes and there are no delays between stations. Workers …Read More
