This all started this past June in Paris when I had the pleasure of meeting Eli-Gilbert Ben Zaken owner of Domaine Du Castel at my buddy Yair Haidu’s (world renown wine critic) flat just across from Notre Dame. I immediately liked Eli before I even knew what he did it was obvious this was a very smart man and one of great accomplishments without having to speak of them, I like that. After getting to know one another over a glass of wine Eli was kind enough to invite me to stop by his winery next time I was in Israel. I, of course accepted his card and offer without blinking this sort of invitation doesn’t happen every day. I knew I had this trip planned so ya never know might be able to squeeze in a visit. My friend Yair informed me that Eli’s vineyard has become the best producing boutique winery in Israel so this definitely made my short list of places to go. Domaine Du Castel is located South West of Jerusalem in the mountains (and I mean mountains). I called Eli halfway into my trip and said I would be near Jerusalem the next day would he be around he informed me he would and that this was the last day of the harvest so I knew I had to get there and early before all the grapes were picked. The main facility where they make the wine was very cool you could smell wine in the air diving up it to (seriously!) and everyone there was super professional and friendly. After catching up with Eli he sent for one of his drivers to fetch myself and Yuval to take us to the Vineyard. Now I got to tell you I’ve been to vineyards before but never had I seen one so hidden and desolate in the mountains as this and after finding out that the driver (one of the managers overseeing production) was a tank commander in the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) I could see why he was driving us because you’d have to be a tank commander to drive straight down/up, sideways, backwards as we were  to get to the vineyard. If you were a mountain goat you’d have a heart attack getting to this place.

When we finally got to the vineyard it was pretty much picked but I found a few spots where you could still see the fruit hanging on the vines. Yuval grabbed a few off the vine and handed them to me to taste… it was amazing. I don’t know what I expected but dang them grapes were good!! sweet, full bodied and the connection was made, this is wine!! Cool!! The day was, you guessed it hot as hell the sun just baked you so after about an hour we packed it in for cooler temperatures back at the winery and of course our own private wine tasting. Yuval and I got a chance to taste a chard and two red’s one Grand Vin to boot. They were all smoking good and if not that it was only 10:00 a.m. with a full day of travel ahead of us we would have remained seated and taken care of business but ever the gentleman Eli made sure we could pick up where we left off by packing us several bottles for later. Thank you Eli for the invitation and to your entire team for taking such good care of us during our visit to Domine Du Castel loved hanging out with you your one of the good guys and also for your expertise in producing (and sharing) some tres’ serious wine!!

We arrived in Masada it was night time we are in the desert and you know this once you step out of the air conditioned car the heated air hits you with a physical force, wow!! this is hot !! Checked into the hotel at the base of the mountain of Masada the dead sea is to your left and the mountain to your right. My good friend and client Yuval Edden gets us checked in we throw our bags in the room and grab dinner. Afterwards going on line we find out sunrise is 5:26 a.m. I ask Yuval how long the hike up Masada is he says “about 45 minutes” I said  ”piece of cake” what I’m thinking is my back pack of equipment is 24 lbs this may be some heavy cake. At 4:00 a.m. with about two hours sleep in me I awake to “time to climb up to the palace of King Herrod!!” I’m like… “what… where are we… oh man I’m tried… ok grab another red bull”. I down the red bull in a glup and throw cold water on my face grab my gear and make our way through the lobby to the outside. It’s pitch black out, hot as hell, music is jamming, the kids (bus loads of them) staying at the hotel are everywhere hanging out… and I felt ancient. Walking we eventually made our way to the famous Snake Trail up the side of the mountain and here’s where it gets fun. Yuval has a cool hiking headband/flash light on lighting our way up the rocky trail as we hear voices in the dark in front of us and behind us. Me I have my eyes planted on the ground in front of me making sure I get a good foot hold as we begin our ascent. Last thing I need is a sprained ankle or to go down with my equipment on my back. Here is where I got to send props to Andy my trainer at Equinox because now in front of me the trail basicly just gets vertical we’re climbing one mile up. Besides the rocky trail there are over 700 steps carved into the mountain (do this w/24 lb pack strapped on your back). It was an unbelievable work out (95 degrees out) and soon we started to gain height higher and higher into the sky surrounded by ancient history, battles, palaces, cultures it was all pretty cool. Not thinking about the weight on my back just one foot in front of the other and keeping close to the mountain side of the trail cause to the right it’s a straight drop down to the bottom. By the time you got to the top you’ve sweated through your shirt like 3x over and passed numerous high school, college aged kids (sitting on the ground catching their breath) seems someone hit those big macs and super size fries bit too often. All of a sudden I didn’t feel as ancient… we made the summit in 40 minutes but this was really pushing it. The view was breath taking and the silence surrounding the air was incredible pretty hard to describe. This mountain and archaeological mecca is truly magnificent and wondrous with it’s history and beauty. Staring off towards the dead sea and the mountains of Jordan beyond we watched as the sun began to peak over the horizon and color began to fill the sky I felt on top of the world. Thank you Yuval hell of  climb… hell of a view…

(top Pic Yuval – only person I know who birds fly to and eat out of his hand in mid air, totally amazing!! bottom pic – Sunrise at Masada)

Not only am I in Israel shooting the countries landscapes for a friend and client (boutique VIP travel company, more on this later). I get to visit other friends who live here and they rock. Netta Ness Cohen is such a person and please don’t get me started on how brilliant she is suffice to say Netta is top shelf in every aspect imaginable she will probably “kill me” for writing about her my only saving grace is I’ll be traveling through the desert by the time I let her know (I don’t think of it as being chicken… just cautious and no cell reception there). Netta heads up the international business development for the Litvak Gallery an insane Tel Aviv (TA) location, 3,000 piece private glass art collection of the creme de la creme in glass art. Guaranteed you’ve never seen anything like it, period. Were talking multiple floors in the #1 office building in TA (including exec. offices). Okay so you get the picture Netta is awesome and one of my dearest friends so she invited me to lunch, cool I was in town that day had no idea about her new job or who or what this hybrid gallery/museum was. Well no doubt it was one of the high points of my trip and that’s saying something. If ever in this part of the world or looking to borrow a collection for exhibition (assuming your a museum) you’ve got to make the Litvak Gallery a must do simple as that. Netta even showed me pieces in the private viewing rooms (bubbles anyone?) I was and am simply baffled at how the artists are able to do what they do. I saw pieces that defy logic that “A” were glass and “B” how the colors are so vivid perfectly drawn but no paint is involved!! I mean I always liked glass art as much as the next person but this is a totally different plain of awareness. Afterward we grabbed lunch downstairs in the plaza on a beautiful day I was on a roll rare glass artwork, summer weather, great food and the best of friends. Only caveat is the pic I took (Vaclav Cigler’s work) was in open space, low special gallery lighting was used for this installation I totally had the wrong lens (left it in Tribeca). This is just a snap shot and does no justice to this piece. The reason I liked this piece particularly is because as one of the lovely young ladies who toured me around told me if you look closely it’s like your seeing into the universe through the Hubble Telescope (stars and planets, ect.) and she was right. Thank you Netta for a great afternoon and lunch next time in the city I got the next one.

Seems everywhere you look you can find beauty in Israel whether north exploring the coastline and caves or the rich cultural towns having been in the same spot and named the same for thousands of years. It’s hard to describe the feeling kinda leaves you in awe the perfect weather helps in this regard sunny in the 80’s with big puffy clouds taking their time just floating around. Been driving day after day onto the next town or site and see the actual remains of ancient villages, ruins of crusader castles and coliseums all right out of the history channel and books it’s surreal. Definitely puts things in perspective back in the real world I mean where your from, problems and successes alike, real or imagined seem much smaller. More to talk about but my tanks empty and early start in the a.m. got a run on the beach first thing with my name on it (top pic early morning on the coast, bottom pic late afternoon in the mountains… enjoying an espresso).

Long day, traffic was brutal thankfully was rolling in style so can’t really complain. We are up north very close to Lebanon’s border with Israel. Went to dinner wanted to order light so salad and some chicken soup please (yes we were in a kosher restaurant) what?? no chicken soup!! Come-on, your kidding me, I mean I’m in Israel right no chicken soup it’s on the menu!! Next thing you’ll tell me you have no corn beef or pickles “come on people pick up your game”. Alright lets get back to todays sunset we rented a fishing skip about an 18 footer to take us out of the harbor want shots of the city from an ocean view. We had to get these shots and the sun was setting we got out there in a hurry beyond the break wall and the swells were rolling!! I think we got lucky cause the light was beautiful and then some. On the way back in the skipper impressed with how I was able to balance myself feet spread apart in the middle of the boat camera in hand shooting as the skip rolled heavy back and forth with the engine cut. “Where you learn you not fall overboard two hands on camera feet middle of boat” he asked, “oh that, that’s easy” I said, “just take the 6 down to Canal after a while, you’ll get the hang of it”.

I’m writing from the back porch of my clients home surrounded by the families dog (Joy) and cat (toot, which mean strawberry in Hebrew) they have officially welcomed me to their home with non stop attention. The dog a mix of a golden, husky and wolf and is lying at my feet wagging her tail after I had thrown her blue ball about a hundred times already and the cat a Callaway with a tail striped like a tiger is playing with me swiping my arm as I type this. She is a yard cat not one who is timid or afraid of anything pouncing on you and anything it wishes. It is 6:00 a.m. and the sky is blue the temperature is perfect and I am drinking my 3rd espresso. Life is good, I think to myself as the soothing sound of water falls into the carp filled pond just behind me. Yes life is very good no sirens, trucks or subway noise just silence except for Joy bouncing the blue ball then pushing it onto my laptop wanting more of my attention. Today we leave for the north with about 4 stops until we end up towards Lebanon. First before anything else time to take a 3-4 mile run to loosen up after yesterdays 10+ hour flight.

If you live in NYC you’ve experienced it, we’ve all experienced it walking down any NYC street you can see dozens of beautiful, tall and lanky models or women who could be models. Each are eye catching and a few even warrant that over the shoulder glance as they pass (go on admit it you’ve done it too). While it is certainly true these splendid genetically gifted people are so pleasing to the eye we can’t help but sneak a peek if even for a moment. This photographer sees the beauty from within a woman as the most alluring and attractive not youth, perfect bone structure or measurements none of that can compete case closed!! Given the choice to shoot a top ten model with a horrible personality or a far from the top ranked model who comes with a natural beauty from within, the latter wins hands down every time. Now I’m not taking about shooting for a client or editorial you have to shoot what the shoot calls for. This is a personal preference whether large scale fine art prints or just having fun in the studio nothing completes with the beauty from within, so ladies tap into what makes you so special and let the natural beauty within, out!!

It’s not everyday you get to shoot an Iconic Film Director and Producer with over 58 movie notches in his belt, having acted in 91 movies (so far), having created an international cult following of his movies and comic books and lets throw in a Broadway show in for good measure. I had the good fortune to have met  Mr. Lloyd Kaufman socially several times prior to our shoot along with his lovely and charming wife Patricia. Let me tell you Lloyd is one smooth operator putting you at ease from the get go but be forewarned Lloyd’s a character and quick as a whip and if you can’t keep up with his razor wit well too bad for you cause you don’t know what your missing, literally. You’d think being a pro photog in NYC this sort of thing happen all the time not so!! I mean really this guy was directing and producing his own independent films when I was still trying to sneak booze from my parents liquior cabinet and not get caught. When I think about the decades of experience in lighting and directing a set as Lloyd has it was an incredible honor to have him in my studio.

My objective was simple to create a dark, moody 50’s style portrait an iconic photo of an iconic director but not just that I wanted to capture below the surface and see the man that years of so many unique experiences has now given us. You can’t just snap your fingers and get this style of shot but I think we may have just got lucky this night. Before I continue, I want to mention beautiful Lily-Hayes, Lloyd and Patricia’s oldest daughter who also graced my studio with her presence that night having just returned from overseas in Yemin. She and Patricia both walked in just as the fun was beginning Lily-Hayes recorded some video with her trusty phone you can see the link here and catch some of the live action. Not used to being in front of the lens rather than safely behind it I was trying not to stutter too much. Once Lloyd and I finished with our shoot I had the equal pleasure to shoot both Lily-Hayes and Patricia and then with Lloyd all together. I don’t believe I’ll be posting the family pics that’s just for them but here are a few of Mr. Lloyd Kaufman after allowing me the kindness to humbly direct the director. So in closing the whole night was a blast Lloyd had me laughing so much I had to stop shooting more than once. Thank you Lloyd, Patricia and Lily-Hayes for making what I thought was going to be a quick shoot into such a fun evening, I didn’t want you to leave.