Hurricane Sandy – Six Months After…

Holgate, LBI

Holgate, LBI

Holgate, LBI

Beach Haven, LBI

Beach Haven, LBI

Holgate, LBI

Holgate, LBI

Holgate, LBI

Beach Haven, LBI

Mantoloking

Mantoloking

Mantoloking

Mantoloking

Mantoloking

Ortley Beach

Ortley Beach

Sea Bright

Sea Bright

Sea Bright

Sea Bright

Seaside

Seaside

Seaside

Seaside

Spring Lake

Assemblyman Alex DeCroce, June 10, 1936 – January 9, 2012

“Kind, considerate and trustworthy…” A true Public Servant. You will be missed Mr. DeCroce.

Assemblyman Alex DeCroce and former Governors Brendan Byrne and Jon Corzine attend New Jersey Supreme Court 60th Anniversary recognition ceremony in Trenton, N.J. on Monday, Sept 8, 2008.

Assemblyman Alex DeCroce watches over Governor Chris Christie while he signs bills S2, S3 and S4 into law at the Statehouse in Trenton, N.J. on Monday, March 22, 2010.

Assemblyman Alex DeCroce speaks after Governor Chris Christie signed legislation to (1) encourage public-private partnerships for higher education institutions and (2) to reform land-use development regulations while at Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J.  on Wednesday, May 5, 2010.

Governor Chris Christie always went out of his way to shake the hand of Alex DeCroce. Here the Governor reaches out to shake hand with Assemblyman Alex DeCroce after addressing a Joint Special Session of the New Jersey Legislature in the Assembly Chambers at the Statehouse in Trenton, N.J. on Thursday, July 1, 2010.

Governor Chris Christie, Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, Senator Tom Kean and Assemblyman Alex DeCroce meet in the Governor’s office at the Statehouse in Trenton, N.J. on July 3, 2010.

Governor Chris Christie, Senator Tom Kean and Assemblyman Alex DeCroce at the Statehouse in Trenton, N.J. on July 3, 2010.

Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce with State Senator Steve Sweeney and Governor Chris Christie at his side in the Statehouse in Trenton, N.J. on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

“Tonight I lost a dear friend, colleague and mentor – Assembly Republican Leader Alex De Croce,” Christie said in a statement. “I have known Alex for nearly twenty years.  He helped to give me my start in elective politics in Morris County in 1993.  He was one of the most kind, considerate and trustworthy people I have ever had the pleasure to know.  He was an enormously accomplished legislator and a tremendous servant to the people of New Jersey.  Mary Pat and I offer our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Department of Community Affairs Deputy Commissioner Betty Lou De Croce, and to Alex’s entire family.  This is an enormous loss for our state and for me personally.”

SAVE THE CHILDREN!!!!!!!

Another day, another protest. This time it was for Opportunity Scholarship Act. Normally protesters are not the prettiest group of people but today’s protest was all cute children – first time I’ve seen this.

Community Education Resource Network (CERN) founder Angel Cordero was leading the kids in protest chants – Angel is quite a lively individual with lots of energy – this isn’t the first time I’ve photographed him and it’s fun every time.

And then there was this guy -  Jose Gonzalez

Frackin’ (or not)…

We had an Anti Fracking Protest at the Statehouse the other day – here are some of my selects. I used my new Fujifilm X100 Camera – super nice camera. Great feel, sharp images, old school. One complaint I have it the monotone images are real grey – I like my blacks black and my whites white – too grey for my tastes. Anyway – Frack away:

This lady was shooting the protest with an 8×10 – very impressive, very cool. Tried to talk with her but she was very unfriendly – or very busy. *UPDATE – I found out who this photog is – Judith Joy Ross – she is a well known documentary photographer. The New York Times did a feature on her where she said “This is the way I work, I’m in love with you intensely and I don’t ever have to see you again. I’m not big on intimacy, except in a visual way.” I must change my comment – she wasn’t being unfriendly – she was being Judith Joy Ross.

Google Judith Joy Ross – she is part of the Collections at MoMA. Very impressive body of work and I’m very humbled to have been in her presence. I am truly honored to have been able to watch her work and for her not be intimate with me.

It’s all about the bike!

I love just the legs showing:

I don’t know which I found more amusing – the cops reaction or Jews Against Fracking – does it matter if your Jewish if you are against Fracking?

Monumental…

I took my camera for a walk around the Statehouse yesterday for the final vote on a monumental pension and benefit reform. I was kicked out of a couple of places for being the “Governor’s photographer” which is pretty silly – I’m just a guy with a camera. BTW – I had my camera set on monochrome with increased contrast. I was shooting this day for myself and although it was a very colorful day, I felt black and white better captured the mood.

Right after I took this last image I was told I wasn’t allowed to shoot in the Assembly Chambers because people might get upset if the Governor’s photographer was shooting pictures in there. I was just making art. Sad.

Tick, Tick, Tick…

Lately I’ve been looking at the clock. I don’t know what that means. Up above I notice the clock just struck noon so I took a picture of it during one of the Governor’s town hall. That’s the Governor. Below is a photo in the Governor’s hold room outside his office at the Statehouse. Time was 10:10. The interesting thing about 10:10 is watch manufacturers, back in the day, had their watches photographed at 10:10 so that the hands never take away from their name or logo – the name or logo would always be right in between the hands of the clock.

Roaring 20′s…

This was a really fun assignment for the Associated Press. Atlantic City is trying to capitalize on the success on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire with special events and people dressed in appropriate era wear. This was a six-hour 1920′s style Swing Dance-Off competition where peeps show off their signature dance moves and stamina.

Michael Arenella sings to the dance couples.

Judges, from left to right, NY Swing Dancer/Instructor Roddy Caravella, Director of N.J. Swing Kristine Powell and Lincoln Center’s Jill Sternheimer watch dancers compete.

Heidi Rosenau and Joe McGlynn of New York, N.Y. participate in the six-hour endurance competition.

Peter Strom of Minneapolis, MN throws Naomi Uyama of New York, N.Y. in the air in front of the judges.

Face Plant…

Sergio Martinez of Oxnard, CA knocks out Paul Williams of Augusta, GA in the second round of Middleweight Championship Bout in Atlantic City.  This was a great fight – LOVE, LOVE, LOVE shooting boxing. HATE, HATE, HATE getting covered in blood, sweat and saliva. I submitted the top three images to the Associated Press. The top image was the actual punch that knocked out Williams. The very next frame was that center image – I had to zoom out wide in a split second in order to get both Williams falling and Martinez jubilating – I’m glad I didn’t have a tighter lens because then I would have missed the shot. This is the first time the shot below has seen the light of day… it was the very next image when Williams face planted into the mat.

Election Eve…

Being a full time photog leaves me little time for personal projects. At the same time being the Governor’s photographer allows me certain opportunities that I wouldn’t otherwise have. So Election time is when I’m able to shoot for myself with pretty good access to political events. At political rallies you always have the obvious politician selling his or her wares – but what has always caught my eye was the people who attend the event – the people watching the speaker – take a look:

These images were taking while Governor Christie was stumping for Congressman Chris Smith and Senator Hopeful Tom Goodwin in Hamilton.

Bruins at Devils

I like shooting hockey and I don’t like shooting hockey. For me it’s the hardest sport to shoot because it’s so fast. At the same time, it’s also so nice when you were able to capture some good action. Here  New Jersey Devils’ David Clarkson (23) tries to get the puck in the goal between Boston Bruins’ Mark Stuart (45) and goalie Tim Thomas (30)

New Jersey Devils’ Martin Brodeur (30) blocks a shot while playing against the Boston Bruins.