Category — In the Spotlight

After a quick Blackberry Google search, I was on the train ride toward Macaulay Honors College, excited to hear the story of Howard Greenberg the photographer. I sat there hoping to be interested and engaged, but he ended up relating to me on a much more personal level. When he spoke about being a Psychology major who opted out of Grad school to pursue his passion for Photography, I reflected on my own life and where i’m going. I chose a Psychology major because I saw it as the “lesser of the evils,” but I haven’t yet found my “thing,” my passion, something I would be happy to do for the rest of my life. I was astounded by how easy it seemed for him to find what he loved and drop everything else to make a living out of that.

A few things about the discussion specifically stuck out in my mind. I admire that Mr. Greenberg mainly sticks to mid-century photographs, being well aware that there is a lot more money in modern style photography. The unique technique he uses of combining photographs in the dark room to make pictures that are impossible in nature shows me that there is a lot more to photography than pointing and shooting with your fancy camera. Mr. Greenberg even mentioned that it’s not about the equipment at all, an iPhone can take a high quality picture but it’s all about the vision behind it. The Meet the Artist discussion gave me a new perspective of Photography as an art. I don’t think that this is my passion but I’ve learned that whenever that epiphany comes to me and I find what I love, I have an obligation to follow it.

I’m usually critical of any sentence that begins with “Following the dream,” but when Howard Greenberg continued to explain that doing so “gives you that not so common feeling of good fortune and thankfulness,” I was instead inspired. People rarely recognize their own good luck. If they do, whether it was earned drudgingly or serendipitously, giving thanks has continued up a path of infrequency.

Another interesting subject Greenberg touched on was the continual evolution of photography. He would be considered a sort of “old world” photographer having learned and prospered during an age of film and dark rooms. Being a well-established connoisseur of the field in a contemporary market must be awkward at times. He differentiated to us between what he considered the old craft and vision at the heart of photography’s beginnings and modern, conceptual photography, Greenberg described current-day photography as a “documentation of an idea.” Which sounded like a careful way of expressing his lack of appreciation for at what photography has become.

Nevertheless it was lovely to be in the presence of someone who so clearly knows and can explicate his art. Greenberg is a portrait of success not only because of his talent but also because of his attitude.

I entered the small, yet cozy room with bated breath, eager to hear about the views of photographer who began his journey when the industry truly hit it’s peak. As somewhat of a photography buff myself, and two best friends who would give their limbs right and left for new cameras, lenses, film, hot-shoes, etc, I have been to my fair share of contemporary photography exhibits.

The photographic movement in the 1970s was a phenomenal one, filled with fresh new ideas and originality. As Howard Greenberg said, photographers traded their images right and left, and gave a whole new standard to the conceptualization of a photograph. Photographs of the 1970s were about impact; movement; capturing a dazzling piece of history and preserving it forever.

I was quite shocked and somewhat disappointed then, that Howard Greenberg no longer looked for these elements in the photographs he decided to show. He chooses his pieces based on the photographer. He let us know that he was interested in older works that had a background because of who they were photographed by. When I questioned him about this further after the presentation, he told me straight out that, for him, he was not interested in a photograph if it not was not taken by someone historically significant.

I thanked him for the informative presentation, but I left feeling somewhat disillusioned. In my opinion, the most important thing about photography is the actual subject matter and technique of the picture, not who shot it. Although I learned a lot of fascinating information about some famous photographers, I would have liked to know more about the pieces themselves. Perhaps this is the difference between classical and contemporary photograph that Greenberg kept referring to; however, I feel that the photography movement today, as opposed to that of ten or twenty years ago, is closer to that of the 1970s; radical, experimental, and based on what you know, not who.

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One thing that struck me when I walked into the seminar room at the Macaulay building yesterday was the relaxed atmosphere of the space. Rather than delivering a stiff account of his life and work, Howard Greenberg’s tone was friendly and conversational. I could see that students were listening to him out of interest rather than just politeness. I have been to talks before where the speaker has not been able to hold my attention and I have often attributed this to the fact that I am not interested in the subject. Photography is yet another subject that has never been of real interest to me, yet I found myself engaged in everything Greenberg was saying. His obvious passion and love for photography drew in everyone in the room. I liked that Greenberg made the photographs he had displayed more personal by revealing the stories behind them. He especially interested me in the photograph, “American Girl in Italy,” to the point of encouraging me to look up the photographer, Ruth Orkin, when I got home. Greenberg told us how Orkin had set up the photograph, by telling her friend to walk past a group of Italian men. She had an idea of the scene this encounter would create and thus succeeded in capturing what would be the most renowned image of her career. Though taking a good photo isn’t especially hard, as Greenberg himself said, this story made me realize that a true photographer needs a deep understanding of his or her subject in order to capture a meaningful image. Having recently been to Italy, I recognized that Orkin really had a feel for the culture and personality of Italy which was necessary in order to produce such a rich and expressive image. Greenberg’s talk taught me several new things about a subject I knew little of, but most importantly in my eyes, it gave me a greater appreciation for photography and the creativity and deliberation that lies behind each image.

“Life is something that happens to you while you’re living it.” That is how Howard Greenberg started his presentation on Tuesday night. These words are an inspiration in themselves. It gives you the feeling of comfort and satisfaction in the life you’re living. That statement is able to depict the life that Greenberg led. His life and business of work came upon him while he was just living life. It was unexpected, yet gratifying.

Howard Greenberg never intended on making a career out of photography and art. He initially went to school to become a psychologist. That’s what he was planning on doing with his life until the Vietnam War got in the way of him going to grad school. He didn’t realize his true passion for photography until his mother’s friend got him a camera while in Japan. Howard knew he “liked” photography at the time but it wasn’t until he started using the camera and taking various and multiple amounts of pictures where he realized that he actually “loved” it.

Howard Greenberg says how his love of photography, the history of it all, and also the need to make a living is what got him into the business of running a photo gallery. He mentioned how just “trying” to make it was all worth it to him. Whether he could actually make it big or not didn’t really concern him at the time. The aspect of at least attempting to follow his dream made it worthwhile. Luckily for him, he did make it big, owning a well-known photo gallery in New York City, and also being one the top photography dealers in the world.

Greenberg is a big fan on following your dream and from personal experience, he encourages all of us to “make a living out of what you love, rather than what you think you’re supposed to do.” He is an inspiration to me because he accidentally fell in love with photography and as of right now I’m not sure what I love… But now I am at least hopeful that I can be fortunate enough to stumble upon that certain something at some point, just as Greenberg did. And when I do find that certain something, I will be genuine about it because Greenberg said that nothing works better than enthusiasm. When you love what you do and you’re excited about it, the finishing product will always have a good outcome.

“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

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“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.