Title: CENTRAL PARK SERENITY / Parasol Parade Series

Location & Year: Bethesda Terrace, Central Park, New York  / 2012

16”x24” / Edition Size of 15 / $1,000

24”x36” / Edition Size of 10 / $1500

30”x45” / Edition Size of 5 / $2500 (Artist Proofs)

*All of my photos are hand-signed and numbered and come with a certificate of authenticity.

*Hahnemuhle fine art gallery paper, 100% cotton, 308 gas using archival pigment inks.

Description:  Located in the heart of Central Park, Bethesda Terrace is a superb gathering place. It was originally conceived of as the Park’s most prominent display of art and architecture by Calvert Vaux. His approach to the buildings in the Park was to design them as subordinate to the design of the landscapes, but the Terrace was the Park’s showpiece. As you might imagine, the Terrace is a great place for people watching which made it incredibly difficult to capture without huge crowds. For several days I watched and patiently waited, trying to capture the best light. When the moment had finally arrived, I was ready with my tripod and camera in position. Just before I snapped the shutter, a woman carrying an umbrella walked into my composition and blocked the light in the center tunnel. At first I was annoyed, but then it became immediately apparent that she had significantly enhanced the landscape. I quickly reeled off several snaps before she disappeared into the park. It was truly an incredible moment in one of New York’s most beautiful landmarks.

ARTIST STATEMENT:  As though by a magnet, I’ve always felt the world pulling me, luring me to explore its mysteries and wonder.  For a long time, I put my dreams on hold.  Then one day in my practice as a radiologist, I met a patient whose journey would forever change my outlook.

In the Fall of 2006, a man came to me with a nagging discomfort in his chest.  At 38 years old, he was so young that I thought surely it must be something benign or otherwise inconsequential.  In a matter of a few short hours, his CT scan revealed that he was suffering from terminal lung cancer.  His story is a reminder to us all that each day must be viewed as a very special gift. 

I’ve witnessed hundreds of patients whose lives have been abruptly changed by a life-altering or life-ending diagnosis.  At times we may convince ourselves that we are immortal, and that cancer or some other catastrophe only affects others, but we have no guarantees in this life.  Time is too short to get lost in a blur of days, weeks, and months.

And so, I began to think more seriously about all those overseas adventures waiting for me, and soon enough, I grabbed my camera and voyaged to all 7 continents.  I’ve observed Tibetan monks in prayer, hiked up the Virunga mountains of Rwanda to marvel at the Silverback gorillas in their natural habitat, and watched Bengal tigers cool off in a shallow lake to escape India’s searing heat.

I’ve met people, young and old, who have lived amazing yet ordinary lives.  Along the way, I’ve spent several decades honing my craft as a portrait photographer. Whether I’m making candid images of women immersed in prayer in Abu Dhabi or portraits of television actors in my Venice Beach studio, I’ve continuously sought to capture life’s fragility and beauty. 

There are no rewinds in life, so find the time to discover your inspiration, explore the extraordinary, create the unimaginable, and then leave nothing on the table.

~ Harv Greenberg, M.D.