Title: STRUCTURE - JOURNEY
Location & Year: The Manhattan Bridge, 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: The Manhattan Bridge is one of the most photographed landmarks in the world. It’s an architectural masterpiece that requires time and patience to adequately capture her unique beauty. I spent the better part of three days photographing her from various angles. In the process I became in awe of the immense engineering required to build this bridge back in 1901. Late in the afternoon on my 3rd day of shooting, the clouds began to gather over-head and the winds picked up. I had a feeling something magical was about to happen. I quickly set up my tripod beneath the bridge and waited for the clouds to move in closer. I opted for a long exposure to increase the drama in the sky and also to properly expose the intricate details beneath this immense structure. Black and white seemed the perfect choice to display both the strength and majesty of this iconic New York bridge. As I snapped the shutter, I knew I had finally captured the soul of my subject.
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.