Category — Howard Greenberg

“Because you’re hungry.”

Hungry may not be the adjective that pops up when asked to describe a young entrepreneur, but it is right on the mark for Howard Greenberg. Oxford Dictionary apparently considers hungry an attribute (“attrib.] causing hunger.” (Oxford Dictionary) A newbie in the field of photography in the early 70s, Greenberg—ironic as it may sound—fed his gigantic appetite with ravenous hunger. And lucky for him, he wasn’t the only one to interpret his hunger pangs as unmitigated enthusiasm. Greenberg’s first employer hired him for just that reason.

It doesn’t take an Einstein to recognize the need for hunger as a driving force to success. But the way in which Greenberg highlighted that need sure scores him high in the intelligence ranks, albeit street smart savvy if nothing else. The now-famous “art gallery tycoon” Howard Greenberg very poignantly relayed the story of his own success, starting with his very humble beginnings in NYC’s Soho artist colony. He described his first 150 square foot art gallery, the long hours he put in, and hard, authentic work he invested—but as he spoke, he kept reverting to the same key word: enthusiasm. By enthusiasm he didn’t mean any plain old eagerness or greed for money. Because every young kid starting out wants to make a buck. By enthusiasm he meant hunger. And by hunger he meant having an appetite for your work.

Howard Greenberg is one man who tells the story of how he set up shop young and determined, but he is just one of many who have succeeded because they have willed themselves to chase their dreams. Good luck!

“I wanted to study psychology,” but “she turned me onto taking photos” recalled a nostalgic Howard Greenberg, laureate man of photography. As Mr. Greenberg spoke at the Macaulay Honors College, he reminded college students what all too many ignore: our ability to take a risk and study what we love.

During the 1960s, before photography gained prominence as an established art form, the merit of a photograph would not afford much monetary value. Mr. Greenberg’s ardor for photography urged him to collect thousands of photographs. Tapping into the reserves of Woodstock, NY he excavated many masterpieces, housing them in his early non-profit art gallery that he opened in Woodstock. While it afforded only a meager living Mr. Greenberg remained in pursuit of his of fascinations. “It meant more to me than selling shoes,” he joked.  Today, however, Howard Greenberg is a reputable name in the world of professional photography. He now represents the works of masters such as Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Weston in his Manhattan gallery, also distinguishing himself as a businessman.

As he became an authority on 19^th and 20^th century photography, Greenberg exemplified personally driven success. If he left the discussions without enticing some students to pick up their cameras, he certainly left them to contemplate the tenacity of their prospects.

Mr. Greenberg’s switch from psychology to photography might have been the best decision of his life.  This is not only because he has attained much success in the field of photography, but also because he is able to approach each day of his career with enthusiasm.  What I remember most from the evening was when Mr. Greenberg told us to never give up our dreams; to me he is emblematic of someone who’s dream came true. He didn’t give up photography to pursue another (perhaps more stable) career, but instead utilized his passion for photography as a means to make a satisfying living.

Photography was something that I had never given much thought to as a work of art.  However after attending the Howard Greenberg event, I saw how capturing a moment in a photograph is as beautiful and valuable as any work of art.  The photo of the dust storm was one that really caught my attention.  It is truly a bleak portrayal of a bleak time period.  The photograph was taken during the Great Depression, capturing a scene from the Dust Bowl.  The small broken down house, and the scene of the people running towards the house to protect themselves, shows the troubles of the time. My favorite photo from the exhibit was the Ghost Taxi.  I had completely failed to recognize the taxi in the picture, thinking it was just a random display of lights.  When I looked closely, I saw the obscure taxi.  The lights, and the mysterious taxi passing by, mystify viewers, and seize the fast life of New York City.

To be honest, I thought that Howard Greenberg truly portrayed a man who followed his dream passionately and had the will to make it as a successful photojournalist and collector. I especially admire the fact that Mr. Greenberg was never in it for the money. When he mentioned working for the Woodstock Times making $15 a week then slowly working up to $50 a week, it surprised me in that his persistence paid off tremendously and now the art community recognizes him as a prestigious member of their world. Additionally, I found it interesting how his car accident in Europe changed his life forever. That unfortunate incident led him to photography.  He quickly immersed himself in its history and grew all the more interested in Mid 20^th Century prints. In conclusion, I found Mr. Greenberg’s lecture not only stimulating, but also informative.

Behind the Gare St. Lazare

http://images.artnet.com/artwork_images_424216256_304268_henri-cartier-bresson.jpg

“The photograph itself doesn’t interest me.  I want only to capture a minute part of reality.”  Those were the words of Henri Cartier-Bresson, considered by many to be a pioneer in photojournalism.  After discovering an interest in photography after receiving a camera as a souvenir from Japan, Howard Greenberg spent much of his time in a dark room to print what he had captured.  “There is a thrill of printing…especially with multiples…I played with layering images so that there was something there that could not be seen in reality,” he said with a slight grin.  “There’s a freedom to work and play within that world.”  Greenberg, much like he developed his own insights into the world of photography, paved his own way to meeting artists, learning history and culture, and building himself a career that he loves.

He has a very calm demeanor as he tells his biography, sometimes letting the corners of his mouth raise a bit.  His face becomes more animated as he describes the photographers of the images around the room; he has met most of them personally which gives the photos another dimension.  Though clearly knowledgeable about his field, it is his commitment to his passion and emphasis on human interaction that makes him memorable.  He said, “If you’re engaged in what you’re engaged in, things will happen.”  He told us how it was lucky that the small image of Cartier-Bresson’s Behind the Gare St. Lazare was found after it fell out of a book—a hidden gem.  Some events are serendipitous, but it is passion and drive that turn “minute parts of reality” into a continuing journey of thrills and inspiration.

Arriving at the Macaulay building last night, I didn’t really know what to expect from guest speaker Howard Greenberg. I never really took the time to understand photography or research it before that night. Walking in the seminar room and seeing all the photographs I immediately thought that Mr. Greenberg would be explaining in detail the history, angles, lighting, origins, and themes present in each of the photographs. It turned out that we would not only be taught a lesson in photography, but also a lesson in life.

Even though the topic of that evening was photography, the essence of the seminar, which Mr. Greenberg presented to us, was about finding one’s passion in life and the enthusiasm required to turn that passion into a career. Mr. Greenberg almost ended up being a psychologist but after being initially introduced to photography by an ex-girlfriend he dropped what he was doing and never looked back. Not only did Mr. Greenberg follow his passion, he was able to make money in the process without sacrificing his love of photography. He was able to combine the two things that matter most. While most people, especially us college students, seem to be deciding between the two, Mr. Greenberg showed us that we don’t always have to settle.

Howard Greenberg

http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/gallery/2008/apr/17/newyorkschoolHoward

Greenberg started off like any one of us. He was confused with his path in life and play around with his career choices. He thought his life was with psychology but life often plays a trick on us and little did he know his career was going to make a one-eighty turn. Through what it would seem to be a miraculous circumstance, a camera fell into his hands and Greenberg discovered a passion that grew with no bounds. Greenberg was different and many would say he was a pioneer in his time. He took that camera and did something with it. With a certain amount of creativity and ingenuity he shot photos and built his portfolio eventually establishing a name for himself. He was different because he put his faith in the course of life and allowed it to bring him to new places and experience new events. As a result Greenberg was able to build himself a prestigious reputation as he traveled to various places such as Woodstock to get his name out there. As of today Greenberg holds a world-famous exhibition known as the Howard Greenberg gallery on 57th street and continues to collect mid-century photography. Although he has mixed feelings for contemporary photography his fervor for the classics will never change.

Howard Greenberg’s talk at Macaulay Honors College surprisingly soothed some of the anxieties that have been plaguing my mind since the beginning of the school year. As he began to speak about how is career in the world of photography unfolded, it became clear that his journey was not only a success story. It was a story of a dream that he followed and worked for. It was a story of passion. When he started to answer questions about the photographs he brought, he immediately expressed his feelings about each one, noting which aspects of the photograph he appreciated, and adding details of its history and its photographer. It was evident from his responses that he not only had zeal for photography, but also a deep knowledge of it. Later, a student asked how he was able to sell photographs, and he replied, “Nothing works better than enthusiasm.”

As a freshman, lost in a sea of possible career choices, I have been wondering how success is even possible when every path seems to have risks and obstacles.  However, Howard Greenburg showed life in a different light. “Make a life out of what you love,” he said. While I have heard this from countless friends and family members, I am not sure that I ever really believed it until I heard it from this man. It is not because he is wealthy or has made a name for himself as a photography dealer. Rather, it is because he seemed genuinely happy with his decision to pursue photography. In the end, whatever career I do choose to follow, I hope that I will have the same hunger and devotion that Greenberg has for his work in photography.

With a photo gallery located on 57th Street in Manhattan, Howard Greenberg has established himself in the New York City scene, as well as around the world as a renowned photography curator and dealer. However, Greenberg did not start out with the dream career of being a photographer. He initially studied to become a psychologist in college, but stumbled upon photography after a family friend’s trip to Japan landed him with a camera. Many people spend years of their life trying to figure out what they want to do as a career, but with his new camera, Greenberg found his calling and decided to become a photographer.

Greenberg started off as a freelance photojournalist when he moved to Woodstock, NY in the 1970s. Throughout his time in Woodstock, Greenberg created a name for himself and had many of his photographs published in papers such as the New York Times as well as magazines; he opened up the Center for Photography in Woodstock in 1977. He takes great interest in mid-century photography, although he is familiar with both 19^th and 20^th century photography; in 1980 opened up the Howard Greenberg Gallery in Soho, Manhattan to exhibit great works by famous photographers from the past and present. Greenberg’s gallery is now located on 57th Street and consists of a diverse number of prints that show different styles of photography from every artist.

picture found on: http://www.aperture.org/partypics/detail.php?id=2

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