As much as a viewer may enjoy a photograph at first glance, sometimes the story behind the photo is just as interesting. Sometimes, too, the story behind the photo adds to the viewer's understanding of what was in the photographer's head when he or she captured the image.

This image is an example of one with a story behind the photo.

Lady Liberty salutes "Adirondack."On my way out of New York harbor, I saw the Statute of Liberty saluting "Adirondack."

This image has received a few awards and many people ask me the same question: how did you get that shot? It is not every day that the photographer is eye to eye with the Statue of Liberty!  I get a kick out of replying, how do you think I got it? Some people ask if I used a super telephoto or I was in a helicopter or small plane. I smile and tell them no, and the answer is more simple: I was on the top deck of a huge cruise ship as it sailed. I was lucky the sailboat was nearby and the weather was somewhat clear. Bottom line was that I was in the right place at exactly the right time and I took the shot knowing it would be good.  I am not that lucky all the time.

The next image is an other example of being at the right place at the right time, and also of visualizing the final outcome.

Red VespaRed Vespa in TriBeCa, in New York City.

 Visualizing is something of a holy grail for photographers--we all search for it or hope it happens, but for some, like me, it is rare. In theory, at least, it is simple--it is seeing the final product before the shutter is clicked.  Sometimes photographers can work to make this happen before that moment, sometimes it emerges only after a long time in post processing.  This image was one I knew what I wanted as soon as I saw it.  But I had a bit of a problem--my only camera was my iPhone. But, as photographers say, your best camera is the one you have with you when you want to take a shot, so I used it.  The results were good, but I knew there would be much post processing to do because we may see in color, but we have to work to create a black and white image.  Indeed, there is more work when you want part of that black and white image to be in color. It took some doing, but I finally got the image I wanted. While it hung in my show at the Virginia Perle Art Gallery, several people asked me where it was taken. Had I shot it in Europe? London or Amsterdam perhaps?  No, I replied, New York, in TriBeCa to be specific.  Afterwards, I was gratified because I sold quite a few copies of that print and my older daughter actually like it so much she asked for the large copy of it I made for the show.

Well, like I said, sometimes story behind the image is as enjoyable as the image itself!