Emmaus Triptych Dedication

Yesterday I was lucky enough to photograph the Dedication of the Emmaus Triptych paintings by Pennsylvania's own preeminent realist painter Dana Van Horn, at the Church of Saint Joseph in charming Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania.

After the dedication service we headed over to the funky restaurant/art gallery in Jim Thorpe called Flow, a "sparkling tavern" inside a silk mill dating back to the first half of the 19th century. Why the name "Flow"?...there's a creek running through it, visible through glass panels which reveal the exposed subterranean space below! 

Dana Van Horn has now added a fourth masterpiece to the other three murals he has painted for churches in the Diocese of Allentown. He is creating quite a legacy of iconic religious paintings in the Lehigh Valley area.

Food and Photos

I am frequently asked by brides if there are any restaurants I'd recommend in Easton for a rehearsal dinner.  Easton is rapidly becoming known for its fine dining options - Valenca (above photo), Sogo, River Grille, Phenom, Mex Tex Trio, Touch of Thai and last, but not least, Sette Luna, where I had lunch on Thursday with three remarkable photographers: Ed Eckstein, whose book "Bricks and Mortals" reminds me of Eugene Smith's photo essay "Country Doctor"; David Haas who has documented our national parkways and taught photography at Muhlenburg College, Lehigh University, and Kutztown University; and Leif Skoogfors, who has covered the White House for Gamma, and photographed conflicts in many parts of the world for Time as well as documenting disasters in this country for FEMA.  


The discussion ranged from bullet-proof Kevlar, to copyright infringement, to how taking a photograph at the wrong moment can escalate a potentially volatile interaction during wartime negotiations (knowing when NOT to take a photograph).  Such photojournalists have my unending admiration for putting themselves in the most dangerous situations so that they may witness and document history for us all and for generations to come.  

*Any serious students of photography should visit Larry Fink's new website at  www.larryfinkphotography.com .  It felt like an online retrospective show that I attended in my pajamas . . . and you thought only Julian Schnabel could get away with that!
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On a sad note, one of the masters of the medium, Roy DeCarava, passed away on October 28th.  His book the "Sweet Fly Paper of Life" about everyday life in Harlem in the 50's had a great impact on me. The book was produced in collaboration with the 'Shakespeare of Harlem',  Langston Hughes.

To become a better photographer, study their work.   'An artist who has not mastered the tradition cannot be truly innovative'. (T.S. Eliot)