Photographic Interpretations

Musikfest 2018                                 Bethlehem, PA As a professional photographer, every once in a while I take a photograph that brings a smile to my face and has meaning beyond the surface of the image. This year, while photographing some of the great bands at Bethlehem, PA's MusikFest I saw a scene unfolding. I saw a Bethlehem police officer talking to a man and his son.  I watched with my camera in hand and when the officer reached out to shake the little boy's hand I started shooting. The look in the boys eyes and the smile on the father and officer's face was priceless. This captured moment will be the one that I will remember for years to come. I'd like to personally thank the Bethlehem Police Department for doing an outstanding job in policing the MusikFest event and being a role model for the community.

Years ago I started the Red Chair Project because I saw the huge disparage on social equality in this country. when President Obama was elected I thought things might get better and kind of lost my focus on this project. Then of course, we had the 2016 elections and things went back 10 fold from any strides we made those previous eight years. People were outspoken on social media, railing against the divisive and unfair practices of this administration. So I though, yes, the time has come to revive this social equality project and launch a funding page to help get it from an idea to reality. Boy was I wrong. Not about the outrage but about how people really into using social media as a platform but stay nice and comfy in their safe homes. Now I am well aware that asking for money is rough and most people really don't have an extra money to through at this project. Or maybe explanation of The Red Chair Project is just off. So, this is The Red Chair Project: Imagine a...

When are we finally going to say enough is enough? It's only February and we've already had 18 shootings in our nation's schools and in 2017 there were over 50. From the Republicans in the White House, all we get are thoughts and prayers. But never a single word about trying to come up with legislation to stop this violence and start working on sensible gun control. The reason, of course, isn't that they want to see our children slaughtered but their greed is more powerful. The NRA has donated millions and millions of dollars into their campaigns. With having 3 grandchildren a daughter and daughter-in-law who are teachers, I really worry about this awful cycle of violence in schools. Back in 2006, there was a school shooting in Lancaster, PA at a quiet Amish schoolhouse that really moved me. It left me with such a great feeling of sadness and despair that I created a photograph to depict my feelings. I was really hoping never to have to show it as it was jus...

Sensual Portraits at your location, your convenience. It's your turn to have that sensual portrait you've always wanted. A portrait to remember this time in your life,  for a loved one, for yourself or just for fun.  Solo, couples or a photo session party. Whether it's indoors or out, I will create the perfect boudoir portrait for you to give to that special someone in your life, or just for yourself. I have over 30 years experience photographing models on location and now, I am bringing this experience to the Lehigh Valley and beyond. It's not to early to think about that perfect Valentine's gift or for you new brides, that very special gift for your husband-to-be. Check out my website at commissionednudes.com for more information. Bare as you dare, sensual portraits of you, for you.

October 30, 2017 Bringing the Studio to the Client In 2009, photographic artist Michael Barone made the decision to close his brick and mortar photography studio in Perkasie PA to devout more time on his art. In that time he has been in many exhibitions including The Gallery of Fine Photography in Frenchtown, NJ, Side Tracks Gallery in New Hope, PA two solo exhibitions at the ArtHouse Lounge in Harrisburg, PA and also being shown at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem PA, the Baum School in Allentown, PA and a gallery in Miami FL. Barone's latest fine art image will be part of an upcoming InVision Festival exhibition at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem, Pa which opens November 3. His is still committed to offering fine art commissioned portraits. To this end his new focus is to bring the fine art photography portraits sessions to his clients.  The hope is that this new focus will allow Barone to grow his reputation in the arts community without sacrificing the integrity of his...

I was born in the early 60s. A pre-teen during the Vietnam Conflict and really didn't understand or remember exactly what was going on. I do remember a denim jacket I had with a bunch of patches. One patch in particular along side my Apollo 11 mission  patch was a patch that said, "Make Love Not War". And even at the ripe age of 7, this made sense to me. Then, in high school, I think it was 1979 there was a KKK rally right in front of the school, in New Jersey! Now our high school was an inner city, mixed race school but the KKK, in NJ?? This really blew me away, that in 1979 people were still so backwards and not tolerant of others. Almost 20 years went by and in 1997, I lived in Greensburg, PA, a quiet eastern suburb of Pittsburgh. One day I was walking by the County Capital building and again I was shocked to see another KKK rally. (Some of the photos I took that day are included in this post.) It was almost the millennium, and these hate mongers wher...

I have been photographing beautiful women and men for over thirty years. It's always been a really wonderful collaboration of talent, energy and ideas. Most of my models have been professionals, others amateurs who just enjoy being in front of a camera and working on creating artistic images. In either case, professional or amateur, no money ever changed hands. I am a professional, they are professionals but we both traded resources to create something that we are both proud of. I would, from time to time, help my models with money for gas and tolls and other expenses. Provide lunch and refreshments and of course finished images in the way of digital media or if they wanted, an signed print. But now it seems this new crop of millennial models thing they are worth so much more than the quality they put out. If I am shooting a fashion shoot and there is a lot of makeup, hair and outfits involved then yes, sure there should be financial compensation. There is a lot of ti...