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Last Week In Photography - Under Stay At Home Order Week Five

Which now places us here in Michigan at the beginning of week six.

I’ve stated before I’m an ex New York City guy so living in Ypsilanti is an odd experience to me even though I’ve been here since 1997. Although we’re technically a city I always think small town.

As such there are pluses and minuses, mostly balanced to the plus side. Outside my window it’s been uncharacteristically quiet, a counterpoint to the usual morning and evening auto traffic of people going and returning from work. Although there are still runners and walkers, people and dog, as well as families getting fresh air the numbers and frequency are much reduced. When we’re out at the same time there is a distance between us and a quietness to the conversations in the renewed awareness of the value in human contact.

I’m active on a number of neighborhood Facebook pages and although there are differences in geographic areas in Ypsilanti my New York brain sees us as one entity, less separate than we perceive us to be.. There’s a small town caring for our neighbors, people volunteering free food and household items, video chats and cooking classes along with the occasional squabble about our shared circumstance.

I feel we are treading water in a sea of information and disinformation, caught in a rip current carrying us out to sea and then parallel to the shore, one we can’t yet reach until the current disappears.

The decision regarding when and how to return to the daily business cycle is yet to be made….. how, who, what will or won’t be deemed essential…. all still on that as yet unreachable shore.

The photos of the woman in this blog are the last in my file from before I shut down my shooting space. From now on I’ll have to delve into some older files until things reverse… safely.

Clicking in the composites below will enlarge them full size for viewing.

Stay well and stay safe.





Last Week In Photography - Under Stay At Home Order Week Four

There are no verified facts of the origin of the phrase “May you live in interesting times” but it’s pretty well agreed upon it’s a curse and if so, we’re certainly there now.

The neighborhood Facebook pages are filled with posts aimed at connecting us. A neighbor has been posting a series of video kitchen how-to recipes using ingredients most commonly found and ofttimes buried in the back of the cupboard. People are sharing photos of family/pets/backyard wildlife.

Unfortunately there are also a number of sadly hateful trolling posts aimed at feeding the worst part of us.

I’m not buying into it.

I’m an ex-New York City guy who accumulated my home here when my late wife dragged me kicking and screaming into this city, Ypsilanti Michigan for those of you not in this area. Living in a smaller city has its ups and downs but the best of it is the feeling of a tight community and that’s our best and most treasured weapon against the threat of this pandemic.

Early in February I took the first vacation in over 7 years and visited my two daughters in Florida just before we became aware of the spread and danger of Covid-19. I photographed my .. I guess step-granddaughter is the term at the beach in Cape Canaveral, then took some photos of my daughter’s grandmother on her biological dad’s side for her 92nd birthday. Then on to the Tampa area to see the other of my daughters and spend time with her.

The lead blog photo is of the Tampa daughter and the composites below are from that trip including a couple of me she took on a non typical chilly and blustery day near Tampa.

Clicking on the composites will enlarge them full size:

Stay safe

Last Week In Photography - Under Stay At Home Order Week Three

At this point in the process of trying to stem the spread of Covid-19, the virus that has changed our national landscape as much as Pearl Harbor or 9/11, we are finding out a lot about our character as a nation and as individuals.

As many of us have taken the warnings seriously and are sheltering at home some just don’t believe. One woman who posted how much of a hoax it was in a widely shared rant is now dead from the same thing she characterized as a plot. A bus driver who, in an also widely shared post complaining of the thoughtlessness of a passenger who repeatedly coughed in his bus with no attempt to cover up subsequently tested positive and soon after that died.

I’ve never gotten political in these blog posts so here are some observations from my own isolation.

Toilet paper disappeared from store shelves as did all hand sanitizers and isopropyl alcohol. Medical staff nationwide begged for protective gear while masks were unavailable from all online sources. Hair trimming cutters are also disappearing as people are now cutting their own hair.. thus, by the way, spawning some hilarious photos being shared….. be brave, it’ll grow back.

At the same time we came together and thousands of people sewed and donated home made protective gear, donated food and tips to keep children and families occupied. Facebook and Nextdoor are the new neighborhood gathering places and yeast flew off the shelves and became unavailable indicating a vast resurgence of home bakers keeping safe by staying out of the stores and retreating to the safety of their kitchens. People are trading recipes and leaving food in front of their homes for people less fortunate than they are.

As for photographers, we’ve stopped working and are doing self and our own family portraits if living in the same home. Real estate photography is still not allowed meaning yes, I’m frozen in time.

Here are some photos taken at different times of a mother and daughter, both great to photograph and both, hopefully to come back to my studio when we can be in the same place at the same time.

Clicking on the composites will enlarge them full size.

Stay safe take care.


Last Week In Photography - Under Stay At Home Order Week Two

Here we are at the beginning of the 2nd week of sheltering at home and the Facebook posts range from heartbreaking to hysterically funny.

I’ve taken the 1st week as a chance to do some long deferred home and studio maintenance. My windows are now clean inside and out, all the wood floors have been vacuumed, washed and sealed with a wood treatment and shine. My studio lighting has been re-aligned and calibrated.

Spice drawer is alphabetized…

I’m in good shape here but some are not and I’m heartened to hear of people supporting others not as fortunate.

I’m posting some photos from a session with a musician, student and hockey player. It was fun to have musical accompaniment while we worked.

Also, since I’ve mentioned the real estate listing end of my business, I’ve included a couple of composites of before/after using sky replacement software. These are a bit more dramatic than simply adding a blue sky and puffy clouds on grey days. The range of what can be done is amazing.

Clicking on the composites below will enlarge them full size

Last Week In Photography - Under Stay At Home Order

The state of world health has come to us here in Michigan with a Stay At Home order effective as of 12:00 AM today.

I had been busy photographing portraits, head shots and families in my studio. That came to a halt a week ago when I decided it was safer for all concerned to no longer have people in and shut down all upcoming sessions.

The real estate market, even during the ramp up to the order, was booming and I was photographing one to two listings daily seven days a week since the beginning of the month.

I had been wearing gloves, only doing listing shoots where the occupants were not there and liberally using disinfectant on my hands and cameras.

Yesterday, with the announcement from the governor’s office that, too came to an abrupt halt as my realtor clients shut their offices when all transactions were noted as non essential per the order.. this is still being sorted out but the photo portion hit the brakes.. hard.

None of us know where this will end as we are at the beginning of the process.

I wish all of you well and am thankful I will be OK as I have food and a roof over my head, more than others sadly.

The photos in the composites below are from the studio and I thank the people who shared their time with me to produce these.. more to come in the next few posts.

Clicking on the composites below will enlarge them full size.


Last Week In Photography - Diversity

The current popular definition of diversity means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies.

As an ex New York City guy (if there’s such a thing as “ex” when the city’s in your blood) I miss walking the streets of Manhattan immersed in the sea of different faces, languages, food smells coming from street carts and colors of clothing.

I know this is Last Week In Photography but this larger than the normal content of my blog collection is from the past few years I’ve been in business here in Ypsilanti. I’ve been honored to have a little bit of NYC here in my studio.

Clicking on the composites below will enlarge them full size.



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Last Week In Photography - Pianos As Props

I have a good sized collection of photographs stored for use in these blog posts and while going through them spotted a group captured at different times and locations with a common theme, all used a piano as a prop or defining setting.

Here are some of them for your review….. and, for you musicians out there, you’ll be glad to know all these were done to the tune of the piano being actually played during the sessions.

Clicking on the header and the composites below will enlarge them full size.

Stephen SilverbergComment
Last Week In Photography - Headshots, A Sister-Brother Real Estate Team And A New Master's Degree

Clients have been preparing for the new year!

I’ve been photographing head shots for business and social media usage, a sister and brother real estate team and a young woman who came back into the studio after a previous session to celebrate a shiny new Master’s degree.

My schedule slowed over the holidays giving me time to make some lighting changes and update my website. Now my dater is filling and I’ll keep sharing here on the blog page.

Clicking on the composites below will enlarge them full size.



Stephen SilverbergComment
Last Week In Photography - It's All About Family

In this holiday season the one constant is family.

For many of us it’s the family we’re born into. For others it’s the family we make… or happily find by accident. Unfortunately there are others without any of these and at this time of year end celebration and reflection it seems the best time for those of us lucky and blessed with family and friends to reach out and share the joy.

Here are some photographs of families who visited my studio and I visited this year.

Clicking on the composites below will enlarge them full size.

Happy Holidays to all. Thank you for your support.


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Last Week In Photography - Back In The Studio

Last week I posted a group of outdoor photos knowing the season for warm, sunny and green on-location sessions had come to a close. Barring a few brave souls wanting to shoot in the snow it’s back to the studio.

Here is a collection of some senior / headshot / portrait photo sessions taken inside.

Clicking on the composites below will enlarge them full size and width.

Stephen SilverbergComment
Last Week In Photography - Goodbye Warm Weather

Since spring of this year I’ve been photographing people in a variety of locations in the local area. Parks, back yards, city streets and university campus settings are outdoor studios and it’s been a while since I shared the results.

As the colder weather moves us to indoor studio sessions I want to share these spring/summer/fall days in the sun.

There are a lot of photos here.. It’s been a great year!

Clicking on the composites below will enlarge them full size.

Stephen SilverbergComment
Last Week In Photography - Headshots And More Headshots

It’s been a while since my last blog post and I’ve accumulated quite a varied selection of session photographs.

I’m starting here with some studio headshots and over the next few weeks I’ll play catch up and share some of the summer’s results.

Clicking on the composites below will enlarge them full size

Stephen SilverbergComment
Last Week In Photography - Sunset In Saugatuck VI

If you follow my blog you know I make an annual pilgrimage to Oval Beach in Saugatuck to visit my wife whose ashes are spread on the bluff overlooking Lake Michigan facing west into the setting sun.

September 13th is our anniversary.. we were together 31 years, 27 of them married.

Apparently she’s not alone as I met a few people this and last year whose spouse’s ashes are also spread in the same area. Knowing Maureen there are wonderful dinner parties being hosted when we’re not around.

Here are some composites of photos I took this year.

Clicking on them will enlarge them full size.

Stephen SilverbergComment
Last Week In Photography - Head Shots, Senior And Modeling Sessions Plus Interiors

Another busy week. I photographed a very sharp young woman for her school photos, did a couple of head shot sessions and put together a shoot and photos for one of my favorite models who’s getting older by the minute (aren’t we all… it just looks good on her as a kid) for her modeling agency visit in Chicago. Plus more interiors.

Clicking on the composites below will enlarge them full size

Last Week In Photography - Head Shots and Homes
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It’s been a while since I posted so maybe the title should start with Last Weeks as I’ve been working 6 and 7 days weekly for a while.

My studio has been visited by some great people and the real estate listing end has had me on the road as well. I’ve been accumulating photos for the blog so here are a few from a few weeks ago with more to come soon.

Clicking on the composites will enlarge them full size.



Last Week In Photography - It Really Is a Miracle 2.0

At 6:34PM on March 26th, 2016 I was honored to photograph the birth of this couple’s first child, a son. This time, at 11:57AM on April 5th of this year I was honored to be at the birth of their daughter.

The labor went quickly, the recovery not so much.

So on this day, Mother’s day 2019, I’m posting some photos to honor the event that starts the journey.

Clicking on the composites below will enlarge them:




Last Week In Photography - Headshots and Senior Photos

Business has been very strong early this year. Lots of real estate listings and proposals flying out the e-mail door. Bodes well for another productive year (I doubled my business in 2018..thank you all).

Also, these two great people came in the studio for a headshot session and some senior photos.

Here are some samples. Clicking on the composites will enlarge then to full size.


Last Week In Photography - Solving the Winter Blahs

March is an interesting month. Basketball fever and Saint Patrick’s Day balanced by the ritual of losing an hour in the resetting our clocks ritual during the last of cold, uninviting weather.

I’ve been blessed this past week by an early and active real estate market with requests for listing photographs and at this point one request for a head shot session.

The session is pictured here. I met this woman’s husband during a commercial shoot highlighting a group of assisted living facilities he owns and to which he devotes his time and caring attention.

Here is a composite.. standard head shot format, differing backgrounds.

Clicking on the composite will enlarge it full size.


Last Week In Photography - A New Year... Off and Running!

Last year was outstanding. My business increased dramatically as did the time allotted to making it all happen.

There’s a lot you’re not seeing here; real estate listings and a fair amount of commercial work and headshots for which I don’t have releases.

I’ve accumulated a collection of head shots, portraits, senior and family sessions some of which are below.

Thanks to those who supported me last year as well as new people who’ve just found me and allowed me to be involved in their lives.

Clicking on the composites below will enlarge them full size.

Stephen SilverbergComment
Last Week In Photography - Portraits And More Puppies

A new year is starting and right out of the gate the puppies were back in the studio. This is part of an ongoing project for greeting cards, calendar and a book all centered around a series of seasonal and non seasonal puppy sessions.

Ten puppies and a number of puddles later we were done for this go around.

Along with the pups I photographed the brother and sister who are part of the family involved in the project.

Clicking on the composites will enlarge them full size and width.



Stephen SilverbergComment