PARIS MOODS ~ Paris, France.

The Eiffel Tower, one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, was actually never supposed to stay there. It was designed and built in 1889, solely for the temporary Exposition Universelle, but because it looked so strange and became so popular, it wasn’t destroyed with the surrounding buildings. The weather during the week I had planned to shoot the Eiffel Tower had been dreadful. Nothing but rain and overcast skies. As always, it was critical to capture not only the truest essence of the tower, but also what it meant to the French people. One late afternoon when the winds had kicked up, I saw a large flock of birds crossing the sky and heading directly for the tower. Fortunately, I already had my camera mounted to the tripod and managed to fire-off several exposures as they approached and then circled overhead. The movement in the clouds combined with the perspective provided by the birds created a uniquely magical image of this architectural masterpiece. I captured the photo in sepia to add a certain old world charm to the final image. 

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.