Pirate of the Treasure Coast
March 19th Treasure Coast of Florida
What happens when you take one of the best photographers in America and put her with one of the best actors/impersonators from the east coast and put them both on one of the best beaches in America with the most beautiful sunrises this writer has seen in a long long long time………..what do you get???? You get the most amazing photoshoot that only the best of the best can achieve…….the perfect combination, the most perfect conditions and the best artists I have seen in a very long time work together in perfect harmony.
The pictures speak for themselves, I don’t need to say much about them but what is important to elaborate on is how two perfect artists can come together under the florida sunrise to create magical images that will live forever.
On the morning of March 19th Zsuzsanna Luciano and Matt Kay met with myself and my son on an undisclosed beach on the East Coast of Florida or as some call it the Treasure Coast of Florida…..and what a perfect name for such a photoshoot. Ever hear of Johnny Depp? Ever hear of Pirates of The Caribbean…..well certainly, almost everyone has………..A true friend, who I have know for many years Matt Kay is the best ever Johnny Depp impersonator I have ever seen…..mannerism, language, facial expressions and personally, Matt Kay has it mastered to a fine science……he becomes the part he plays, he lives it, it is inside of him…..he is not only an actor but a true artist…..I don’t say this because he is a true friend, I say it because it is the truth…..Florida is lucky to have him, he should be in Hollywood…..NOW put such an individual on a beach in Florida and you have a movie in the making….NOW put him on the beach with the sunrise in front of an artist such an accomplished artist as Zsuzsanna Luciano, who by definition is a conservation photographer, and you have images that are not only breath taking but are true artistic works, works that not one person would not look at and say WOW, OMG, who shot that and who is that???!?!?!?!
Zsuzsanna Luciano doesn’t take the shot she makes the shot and anyone who has worked with her can testify to this fact….her eye, her vision and her ability to see light in her pieces separates her from all the rest. As a conservation photographer Zsuzsanna is very used to using light, lenses and filters to capture a three dimensional images that needs no post processing. Zsuzsanna Luciano is the real deal, not an “ill take it now and fix it later in photoshop”……..her images are captured so perfectly that many times the use of enhancements only hurt her original images…..and so was the situation on this past March 19th……
I was privileged to be there that day to help out and be able to record the events as they happened…..I knew it would be great I never knew it would be unforgettable and one of the best creative experiences of my life. Matt Kay with Zsuzsanna Luciano arrived on site at roughly 6:45 just about 20 minutes before the sun broke through. Both ready to go but not really knowing how it would be to work with each other. Matt Kay has been in front of the camera more times than is possible to count and Zsuzsanna has been on more assignments then can be recorded in a full volume of encyclopedias. Well within seconds it was clear that this was a win win situation…….Zsuzsanna had an actor that jumped right up on the most dangerous coral with his back to the rolling waves and dangerous ocean and Matt had his perfect photographer that braves the elements no matter how challenging to get that perfect image……..both fully understanding each others art, both fully appreciating how hard the others job was and both knowing what to do even before it was asked!!
It is common knowledge not to put your back to the ocean and don’t climb on jagged coral in the crashing waves….well don’t tell that to Matt Kay……and don’t take your equipment in salt water, and don’t shoot into the sun and always safety first……well don’t tell that to Zsuzsanna…….to be there was to understand, for me to attempt to tell you about it is ok at best…..but to see the images……………it was never more true that a picture is worth a thousand words…….they are awesome, magical and awe inspiring…..capturing a day of times gone by, the times of the brave pirate, the romance of the sea and the power of mother nature……..all in one image, all in one day and all created by two of the most talented artists I have the honor of knowing!!!
By Michael John Luciano
Invitation from the Big Cypress Gallery.
There are milestones in ones life and in ones career and it is a tremendously wonderful feeling when you are present in the moment enough to realize this. Today is one of those days. The art of Zsuzsanna Luciano will now grace the walls of the Clyde Butcher Gallery in the middle of the Florida Everglades. A man compared to the great Ansel Adams, a man whose goal is conservation and a man who truly understands the importance of family!!! It should go without saying that to have ones art next to the internationally respected Clyde Butcher is an honor to say the very least.
Zsuzsannas goal as well as her husband Mike Luciano, and son Michael Luciano has always been preservation through the use of Conservation Photography for the past decade. Her carear has spaned much of the globe and Zsuzsanna Luciano has had her works featured on the Disney Cruise Ship, is on display at the Blue Gallery in Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Las Olas Florida and is now proud to be welcomed into the Clyde Butcher Gallery, a true milestone in ones carear! We look foward to a wonderful relationship with a truly wonderful group of individuals. Thank you to the Butcher family and all the gifted and beautiful people who work there everyday to promote and educate the many visitors from all over the world in regards to saving this amazing planet we call home! Thank you from Zsuzsanna Luciano and the entire Luciano Family….May we save what God has created…..
A Day To Remember…The Clyde Butcher Studio
Art enthusiast, art collector or art connoisseur………What trip to Florida would be complete without a trip to the iconic and world renowned Clyde Butcher Studio and Gallery in Venice FL ?
This is what my family and I choose to do this past Monday.
I myself am a professional conservation photographer and I was absolutely overwhelmed at the breathtaking images that Clyde Butcher, along with the help of his family was and is able to achieve. A modern living legend, many times compared to the great Ansel Adams. My family and I were lucky enough to have a private tour and showing of Clyde Butchers darkroom, studio and gallery. If this wasn’t great enough our private showing was all conducted by the gracious Jacky Butcher-Obendorf, his lovely daughter.
It’s extremely hard to pinpoint the highlight of that Monday afternoon, was it the hospitality of Jacky, was it the outstanding images of mr Butcher or was it the fact that Jacky found “Orange Afternoon” – (which is in my body of work) – to be so special that she offered to exchange “Orange Afternoon” for her Dads limited edition collectors book, which is limited to an edition of only 150.
There have been many highlights in my carrier as an artist, Blue Gallery, David Schluss, Disney, my special relationships with our art festival promoters… Too many to name here. However our time this past Monday with Jacky at the Clyde Butcher Studio will be ranked as one of the top highlights in my carrier as a professional artist and photographer. Thank you Jacky and thank you Mr. Butcher for giving this world a special view of Florida and the many other places that you captured over the years. You guys are very very special and we are honored to know you!
Gold Coast Art Fair in pictures – June 30./July1. 2012
The Gold Coast Art Fair is a very prominent art festival in the heart of Chicago. Close to 600 artists gather together for this great event. This year was our second time in the show.
Set up took a little longer as we had to dolly everything in to Grant Park. The weather was hot and muggy so we also had set up a second tent for shade. My brother was a big help for us.
The people were very nice and receptive for the artwork. I received an “Outstanding Achievement” award and at that time I didn’t even care about the storm that just swept across the field. After the storm sales started again and the final $ number supported the award that I just received.
Art Festival Schedule 2012
Check out the summer show schedule:
- 2012 June. 23. 24. – Crosby Festival of the Arts – Toledo, OH
- 2012 June. 30. July 1. – Gold Coast Art Fair – Chicago, IL
- 2012 July. 6. 7. 8. – 21. Annual Chicago Tribune – Chicago, IL
- 2012 July. 21. 22. – 3rd Annual Redstone Art Fair – Park City, Utah
- 2012 July. 28. 29. – 10th Anniversary Downtown Aspen Art Festival – Aspen, Colorado
- 2012 Aug. 4. 5. – 25th Anniversary Beaver Creek Art Festival – Vail, Colorado
- 2012 Aug. 11. 12. – 6th Annual Main Street to the Rockies Art Festival – Frisco, Colorado
- 2012 Aug. 18. 19. – Lincolnshire Art Festival – Lincolnshire, IL
- 2012 Aug. 25. 26. – Port Clinton Art Festival – Highland Park, IL
My brother Karcsi is arriving from Hungary…June 28. 2012
Anticipation is growing and excitement is in the air:) My brother is already on the plane and flying in to Chicago. He sort of disappeared after the connecting flight but we figured out he would have already called or text-ed if something vent wrong.
As we are arriving at the Chicago airport my Mother is on the phone worrying a little. We were walking to terminal 3. and all of the sudden my Mom says its terminal 5. Oops….Get in the car again and try to get there in time…
Ok, arrived to terminal 5. As we are walking in my Mom says it looks like on the flight tracker that they are going away from Chicago. That is not possible. I told her maybe they are just going around the airport to find the right spot… I was wrong again. A storm just hit Chicago and yes their flight was redirected to Detroit.
No panic, no panic and no panic… A really helpful immigration officer told us that they will refuel and will fly to Chicago after the storm around 8PM
That’s how it happened. He arrived and me my husband and our little son was very happy to see my brother Karcsi:)
47th Crosby Festival of the Arts
As we started our driving we just realized. We have not got any sleep for the past 2,5 days, about 12 hours driving ahead of us and we have a 6 year old who’s getting enough sleep and extremely energized:) But still managed it…
Driving through beautiful Pennsylvania was breath taking. The summer is still in its climbing faze so literally see a thousand shades of green. Flowers are popping out and see saturation everywhere.
We stopped for a 30 minutes sleep in the car and that was when the sky opened up and sent its blessings. It was a great storm. The wind shook our truck and trailer like we should not sleep, get up and drive. Lightning were banging around us saying get ready and go…I guess I was the only one to see the play as my son and husband slept through it.
Arrived to Toledo Botanical Garden around five in the morning. Set up was quick and easy and we had a great spot. The whole weekend went great with art loving people around us. Mike almost couldn’t keep up writing orders. Found new friends and our little son had a playmate the whole day Sunday.
Take down of the show was even easier. I wish we didn’t feel tired but I guess it just have to be part of this life style that we don’t sleep sometimes for days… As we were finishing the packing up of our trailer the friendly staff invited us and some other artists for a drink in the garden.15-20 people gathered around and shared stories of their life. Everybody had a drink or two already so funny and funky stories were the most common. Felt great to be part of this crazy travelling circuit and to be free for become whoever I want to be.
Monday was the first day after about a week that we had a full night sleep. And the adventure just beginning:)
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We are starting our Great Western Art Festival Tour on Midsummer Night. I am very excited:) National Parks, adventure, hiking, biking and discoveries are awaiting upon us.
Check out the show schedule:
- 2012 June. 23. 24. – Crosby Festival of the Arts – Toledo, OH
- 2012 June. 30. July 1. – Gold Coast Art Fair – Chicago, IL
- 2012 July. 6. 7. 8. – 21. Annual Chicago Tribune – Chicago, IL
- 2012 July. 21. 22. – 3rd Annual Redstone Art Fair – Park City, Utah
- 2012 July. 28. 29. – 10th Anniversary Downtown Aspen Art Festival – Aspen, Colorado
- 2012 Aug. 4. 5. – 25th Anniversary Beaver Creek Art Festival – Vail, Colorado
- 2012 Aug. 11. 12. – 6th Annual Main Street to the Rockies Art Festival – Frisco, Colorado
- 2012 Aug. 18. 19. – Lincolnshire Art Festival – Lincolnshire, IL
- 2012 Aug. 25. 26. – Port Clinton Art Festival – Highland Park, IL
