That being said, I've jumped into the Instagram game. I find it the most interesting of the social media games (I've played with others). As a photographer, Instagram provides a vehicle to create your own living art gallery. It grows and breathes and moves very fast. That said, there are many very talented people out there doing amazing things on Instagram. On a practical level, I get a chance to post photos that I do not have room for on my website. However, Instagram is like a hungry dog, you must keep feeding it more and more. And I'm trying. That said, please stop by, check out my postings and say "Hi."

This is an excellent model for both the galleries and the artists. The galleries are making money from the submission fees, art sales and books. The photographers have the opportunity to exhibit in a variety of established galleries and sell their work. Also this is good exposure for the jurors.

I'm happy to say that I've been accepted into many of these shows. Currently, one of my photos is in a show at the Praxis Gallery in Minneapolis.

Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art. - Andy Warhol/ Artist                                       

Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. - Pablo Picasso/ Artist

Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist. - Pablo Picasso/ Artist

The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between. – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart/ Composer

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. - Albert Einstein/ Scientist

You don’t take a photograph, you make it. - Ansel Adams/ Photographer

It's one thing to make a picture of what a person looks like, it's another thing to make a portrait of who they are.
- Paul Caponigro/ Photographer

I believe that the power of photography is to mark time. - Masayoshi Sukita/ Photographer

Photograph the adjectives not the nouns. - Bryan Peterson/ Photographer

My specialty is not to specialize. - Rick Sammon/ Photographer

These circumstances have had a profound effect on photographers and other artists. I've talked to numerous creative people who are so discouraged with the situation that they've given up making art. There has also been an increase in depression with the population at large.

On the other hand, many artists have turned 'inward' and found this time to be an opportunity to move deeper into the creative process. I fall into this later category. I'm creating more work now than I ever have. It's a matter of letting go and connecting with inspiration and spirit at a deeper level.

While this global crisis will pass, being inside of it today seems like an eternity. As bad as the situation is, it's up to us to decide how we will respond to it.

While it's exciting to go to art openings at various galleries, that has stopped. Gallery openings are very social events filled with people, food, drink, and a good time (and hopefully good art work). And it's exciting to be part of the 'scene.' Instead, we need to stay home. Gallery openings are not happening.

But the good news is everything has shifted to the internet - including art shows. Exhibitions and galleries that I've been involved with are still active and busy. But now they live online. While not quite as exciting as going to a gallery, websites are a great medium for showing artwork. Additionally, lectures and presentations about art can be found on social media such as Zoom, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube.

Unfortunately, 'virtual exhibitions' don't seem to generate the sale of artwork in the same way as visiting a gallery. Sales are down. Art buyers want the tactile experience of art (and I can't blame them). How does it look? How does it feel? Will it fit in my living room? At this point, the internet acts as a 'wall' between art and the audience.

While this it is the best we can do, time will change!

No other road has captured the imagination and the essence of the American Dream quite like Route 66. The Mother Road was speckled with romantic and unconventional attractions and symbolized a pathway to better times.

Peruse this new gallery of photos, enjoy the fun, and imagine what life was like in a bygone era!

This year I've had several requests from Photo Clubs to do presentations on Travel Photography. It has made me think about photography as a sense of place. And ultimately using photography as a medium to express feelings and emotions for various locations. To relive that moment in time that may only last a second, but lives indefinitely through the photograph. And to realize that time is a relative concept.

So maybe I am a Travel Photographer. I guess we all are - as we travel through life!

Some of these clients include: 

Omega Institute 

Panasonic Corp

Huffington Post

Ahimsa Festival 

Mohonk Preserve 

Luminary Publishing (Chronogram & Upstate House)

Berkshire Hathaway Realty

Winnakee Land Trust

Art Society of Kingston 

Human Connection Arts

SOS Triathlon

Care Through Touch

Mayfest 

Cape Code Leather 

R&F Handmade Paints

Shakti Yoga

Milne Antiques

Gary Friedland Antique Arms & Armour

A big 'Thank You' to everyone involved!

I have uploaded a new gallery of abstract photos. In this new series, it is my attempt to explore the abstract side of photography - Impressionism and Expressionism. I should mention that many of these images are still 'sketches' and will be worked on more.

When I was in art school (in a different lifetime), there was a big faction between the 'Realists' and the 'Abstractionists." Not only were their artistic styles different, but so were their social circles. It's kind of like the difference between John Coltrane, U2, and Andres Segovia (for the music lovers out there). I have always had an eccentric taste when it comes to music and art. And to be honest, I don't like a lot of music and art. But what I do like often spans a huge gap in styles and genres.

Check out the new gallery here. However, it's not for everyone. And that's OK!

That said, I recently completed a book project with a colleague called "Path to Healing." Meant more as a memento than a commercial project, this book captures a specific project we worked on. Go to my gallery called CTI (Care through Touch) to read the story behind the project.

This is not just a book with photographs, but there are stories that accompany the images. While this was an exciting project, it was also a lot of work - choosing the right photographs, writing the stories, editing, proofing, etc. With each 'test print' of the book, there were always corrections, edits, and changes that needed to be made. Like photography, everything may look OK on the screen, but once it is printed there are often details that need to be corrected or improved.

We used Apple Books. While I like to support Apple, I do not feel their photo books are of a professional quality. Additionally, their templates are very limited and their support leaves much to be desired.

There are many other companies that specialize in printing personal book. I would be inclined to look elsewhere for my next project. However, I would encourage anyone thinking of creating an art book to give it a try - it's a real learning experience!

The same holds true in photography. There are photogs that specialize in portraiture, architecture, fashion, editorial, weddings, etc. And then there people like the Hudson Valley photographer extraordinaire, Rick Sammon. Rick states, "My specialty is not to specialize." I like that.

If I had to choose, I'd fall into his camp. Everywhere you look, there is a photograph waiting to be taken. A story to be told, a feeling to be conveyed. And there are so many ways to do it. We have panoramas, image blending, high dynamic range, Focus Stacking, infrared, macro, light painting, etc. It's like being a kid in a candy store. Additionally, I believe that photographing different genres will make you a better photographer.

There is a wonderful saying in the East - the beginner has infinite possibilities, the master has few. I'm not sure which is best, but there is room for all of us.

As I write this from the beautiful Hudson Valley, we are in the middle of the 2016 holiday season. And unlike last year, we are having a bona fide snow blizzard. Sometimes it's nice to be snowed in (if you don't have to go anywhere)!

Photographically, it has been a wonderful year. The highlight was winning First Place in the NECCC Sigma showcase photo contest. Also, very exciting was having my work included in the multimedia performance of the "Grand Canyon Suite" by The Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra. Throughout the auditorium were large screens displaying images of the Grand Canyon as the symphony played. It was an excellent performance. And, of course, the photos were great. Additionally I was in several other wonderful Juried and Open exhibitions this past year.

Travel wise, we went to the Grand Tetons for a week of photography and hiking. This part of the country is incredibly beautiful. It's next to impossible not to get great photographs there. We have also been busy with several commercial projects in addition to photographing large events, and also doing portraiture work.

Feel free to get in touch with us (through the Contact page) if you have a photo project you would like to discuss.

Anyway, hope this past year has been rewarding for you, and wishing you all the best for a great New Year.

John A. Verner