Posts tagged ‘Zsuzsanna Luciano’
Three Final Merits & a Lifelong Dream: I’m Now a PPA Master Photographer
I’m thrilled (and a little stunned) to finally type these words:
Professional Photographers of America (PPA) has awarded me the Master of Photography degree.
This degree represents the highest level of image-making excellence that PPA recognizes, and it was completed by the last three Merits I earned this year for my night-sky images:
Beacon of the Infinite Echoes of Eternity Ethereal Descent
In January 2026, at Imaging USA in Nashville, TN, PPA President Mark Campbell, M.Photog.Hon.M.Photog.Cr., CPP, API will officially present the degree. I’ll be walking across that stage carrying not just a medallion, but nearly two decades of hard work, travel, late nights, and faith in the power of photography.
What the Master of Photography Degree Means
The Master of Photography degree is an achievement of the highest caliber. It means the artist has met the standards of excellence set by PPA, earning Merits through image excellence, advanced education, and service to the profession.
For me, this degree says:
My images have consistently met a national standard of craftsmanship and storytelling. I’ve invested deeply in education, competition, and the community of photographers who push each other to grow. My work in conservation-focused fine art is recognized among a select group of photographers committed to elevating the craft.
It’s an honor to see Luciano alongside other Masters and to know that these images—born under dark skies and in wild places—have carried me there.
The Three Merit Images That Completed the Journey
Each of these black-and-white nightscapes earned a Merit in the 2025 PPA Merit Image Review, and together they completed my requirements for the Master Photographer degree.
⭐ Beacon of the Infinite
A lighthouse in Door County, its beam cutting into the Milky Way like a prayer made of light.
This image captures what I feel during my midnight sessions on the shoreline: the sense that we are tiny, yet deeply connected to something far larger and more mysterious than ourselves.
⭐ Echoes of Eternity
Photographed in Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon, where the waterfall roars through the heart of the earth while the Milky Way rises silently above.
The contrast between that tremendous sound and the stillness of the stars made the scene feel timeless—like the land itself was remembering.
⭐ Ethereal Descent
Silky, long-exposure waterfalls pouring through the frame under a canopy of stars.
Water becomes mist, motion becomes sculpture, and the night sky crowns it all. This piece feels like a bridge between earth and sky, gravity and grace.
These three images aren’t just photographs; they are the distilled essence of years of seeking out dark skies, driving thousands of miles with my family, and refusing to let go of a dream—even when I was sore, exhausted, or doubting myself.
A Personal Milestone in a Bigger Story
If you’ve followed my work, you know my heart is in conservation photography—using art to help people fall in love with the wild world so fiercely that they feel compelled to protect it.
Earning the PPA Master of Photography degree doesn’t change that mission; it strengthens it. It tells galleries, collectors, and conservation partners that this work stands on a foundation of professional excellence as well as passion.
To my husband and son, who’ve camped, driven, hiked, and stayed up through many freezing, mosquito-filled nights so I could chase starlight—this degree belongs to you, too.
To my collectors, festival visitors, and fellow photographers—thank you for believing in this path with me.
Who Is PPA?
For those who don’t know, Professional Photographers of America (PPA) is the largest and longest-standing nonprofit photography trade association in the world. Founded in 1868, PPA now supports over 35,000 professionals with education, resources, and advocacy—always working to bridge the gap between photographers and the people we serve.
I’m proud to be part of that community and even prouder to carry the title Master Photographer within it.
Thank you for celebrating this milestone with me.
The next chapter is already forming under the stars—and I can’t wait to share what comes next.
– Zsuzsanna Luciano
Master Photographer
“Imagine: Where the City Meets the Stars”
Reflections from the 60th Space Coast Art Festival
This past weekend at the 60th Space Coast Art Festival, I experienced one of those moments that fill your heart with gratitude and reaffirm why you create in the first place. My photograph “Imagine” — a Chicago cityscape crowned by the Milky Way — was selected by the jury for final judging, and on Sunday morning, I learned it had received an Award of Merit.
Zsuzsanna Luciano smiles while holding her “Award of Merit” ribbon toward the camera, standing in front of her artwork “Imagine” — a striking photograph of Chicago’s Cloud Gate (“The Bean”) beneath the Milky Way. The reflection of the sky and city buildings shimmers across the glossy surface, symbolizing the harmony between urban light and the star-filled night.
To say I was overjoyed would be an understatement. But beyond the recognition, what truly moved me was the reaction of people who stopped in front of the piece. Many stood in silence. Some whispered “Is that real?” Others smiled and said, “I’ve never seen stars like that.”
And that — right there — is why I created Imagine.
A Dialogue Between Earth and Sky
I have always believed that the night sky speaks a language of connection. Every star, every faint wisp of cosmic light, is a reminder of how small we are and how magnificent the universe is. It humbles us, inspires us, and invites us to look beyond the boundaries of our everyday lives.
Photographing the Milky Way over a city like Chicago is not an easy task — it’s both a technical challenge and a metaphorical one. Cities pulse with energy, noise, and light, while the Milky Way thrives in silence and darkness. To bring them together is to imagine balance — harmony between human creation and the timeless expanse of the cosmos.
That’s what Imagine represents to me: a bridge between the modern world and the eternal sky.
The Vanishing Darkness
Sadly, true darkness is disappearing. Over 80% of people in the world live under light-polluted skies. Many children grow up never seeing the Milky Way at all — never experiencing that quiet awe that has guided dreamers, artists, and explorers since the dawn of time.
Light pollution doesn’t just steal our stars. It disrupts ecosystems, confuses migratory birds, affects nocturnal animals, and even impacts our own circadian rhythms. The glow of artificial light has slowly dimmed one of the oldest forms of human connection — our relationship with the night sky.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. With awareness and simple changes — shielding outdoor lights, using warmer tones, turning off unnecessary illumination — we can preserve our right to starlight.
Why I Keep Looking Up
Every time I photograph the night, whether in Yellowstone, the Tetons, or along the shores of Lake Michigan, I feel the same childlike wonder I felt the first time I saw the Milky Way. It’s not just about the photograph — it’s about the experience. Standing in the dark, hearing the whisper of the wind, feeling the rhythm of the earth beneath your feet — it reminds you that you belong to something infinite.
That feeling is what I hope to share through my work. When someone looks at Imagine, I want them to feel that connection — to remember that we are all part of the same universe, stitched together by light that has traveled thousands of years to reach us.
Gratitude and Hope
I am deeply grateful to the Space Coast Art Festival jury for recognizing Imagine with an Award of Merit, and to every person who stopped to look up — both at my photograph and, hopefully, at the real night sky when they went home.
May we continue to protect the beauty of darkness, celebrate the light of the stars, and never stop imagining a world where both can coexist.
✨
— Zsuzsanna Luciano
Zsuzsanna Luciano stands smiling in front of her art display at the 60th Space Coast Art Festival, proudly holding her Award of Merit ribbon. Behind her hangs her large photographic artwork titled “Imagine,” depicting Chicago’s Cloud Gate (“The Bean”) under a stunning Milky Way sky, symbolizing the union of city lights and starlight. Additional night-sky and waterfall photographs are displayed below, all printed on glossy aluminum panels within her booth.
💍 25 év közös kincsvadászat
A mai nap nem egészen úgy alakult, ahogy terveztük – és mégis, pont így lett igazán mi.
Előre lefoglaltuk a hajóutat egy szigeti kagylógyűjtésre, de útközben jött a hívás: a túrát le kellett mondani, mert hatalmas vihar alakult ki a Mexikói-öböl felett.
De ahelyett, hogy a vihar elűzött volna minket, mi üldözni kezdtük őt!
Gyorsan irányt változtattunk, és elmentünk a Honeymoon-szigetre, ahol a drámai égbolt igazi mesterművet festett a hullámok fölé. A mennydörgés és a sós szél közepette kincseket keresve sétáltunk a parton – tetőtől talpig elázva, nevetve, élettel telve.
Amikor a vihar végül elcsendesedett, az ég ajándékba adott nekünk egy szivárványt és egy naplementét – tökéletes jelképe annak, amit 25 év alatt együtt megéltünk: fény az eső után, szépség minden viharban.
Az estét egy meghitt vacsorával zártuk – tele nevetéssel, melegséggel és hálával. Ideális hangulat a 25. ezüstlakodalmunk megünneplésére.
És mert minden kaland megérdemel egy kis csavart, a nap végén moziba mentünk, ahol a Tron című izgalmas, kalandos filmet néztük meg – tökéletes befejezés egy naphoz, amely ismét emlékeztetett bennünket, mennyire szeretünk együtt felfedezni.
Hazafelé boldogan, elégedetten, lelkünkben és zsebünkben a nap kincseivel tértünk meg.
Íme 25 év szeretet, nevetés és kaland, és még megannyi felfedeznivaló horizont előttünk. ❤️✨
#Ezüstlakodalom #25ÉvEgyütt #HoneymoonIsland #Viharkeresők #Kincsvadászok #LucianoKalandok #ÖrökkéMi
💍 25 Years of Treasure Hunting Together
Today didn’t go quite as planned — and yet, it turned out perfectly us.
We had reservations for an island shelling boat ride, but as we were driving there, the phone rang: the trip was canceled due to a large storm developing over the Gulf of Mexico.
Instead of letting the storm chase us away, we chased it!
We quickly adjusted our plan and headed to Honeymoon Island, where the moody sky painted a masterpiece above the waves. Between thunder rumbles and salty wind, we wandered the shore treasure-hunting as the rain soaked us head to toe — laughing, drenched, and completely alive.
When the storm finally softened, the sky gifted us a rainbow and a glowing sunset — a perfect symbol of our 25 years together: light after rain, beauty through every storm.
We wrapped up our evening with a cozy dinner, filled with warmth, laughter, and quiet gratitude — the perfect atmosphere to celebrate our silver wedding anniversary.
And because every adventure deserves a twist, we finished the night at the movie theater, watching Tron — an unexpected, electric finale to a day that reminded us how much we love our shared adventures.
We came home fulfilled — hearts full, spirits renewed, pockets (and souls) filled with treasures of the day.
Here’s to 25 years of love, laughter, and adventure… and to all the new horizons ahead of us. ❤️✨
#SilverAnniversary #25YearsTogether #HoneymoonIsland #StormChasers #TreasureHunters #LucianoAdventures #ForeverUs
Florida’s Black Bears in October: A Season of Urgency and Abundance
“The golden light of fall catches the sheen of a bear’s coat — a reminder that even in Florida’s warmth, nature prepares for change.”
October in Florida is a month of transition—not only for people trading swimsuits for light jackets, but for the state’s black bears, who enter a season of intense preparation. As the air turns slightly cooler and the daylight shortens, these wild residents of Florida’s forests, hammocks, and swamps shift their focus entirely to one thing: food.
Feeding for the Future
Unlike their northern relatives, Florida black bears don’t face months of deep snow or a long, frozen winter. Still, they instinctively prepare for leaner times by entering a phase called hyperphagia—a biological frenzy of eating. During October, a bear’s day is ruled by its stomach. They spend up to 20 hours foraging, searching tirelessly for high-calorie foods to build fat reserves that will sustain them through the cooler months when natural food becomes scarce.
In Florida’s oak and palmetto forests, acorns become the prized treasure. Bears crunch through the underbrush searching for patches of fallen nuts, sometimes traveling miles between feeding spots. They also feast on saw palmetto berries, wild grapes, beautyberries, and the last persimmons of the season. Opportunistic and highly adaptable, a bear will also dig for grubs, raid anthills, or peel bark for beetle larvae. Every calorie counts.
Solitary Wanderers with Overlapping Paths
Florida black bears are mostly solitary by nature, but during this time, their paths cross more often than usual. When food is abundant, multiple bears may feed in the same area with a quiet tolerance for each other. You can almost sense an unspoken truce—a mutual understanding that October’s bounty won’t last forever.
Mothers with cubs often stay close to reliable feeding zones, teaching their young where to find seasonal foods and how to prepare for the coming months. Young males, on the other hand, begin wandering farther—sometimes covering dozens of miles—to establish their own ranges. This seasonal wandering often brings bears closer to human communities, especially in suburban areas where trash cans and fruit trees mimic easy natural meals.
“Florida’s bears are excellent climbers — they’ll scale trees to escape danger, nap in the canopy, or scout for ripe fruit.”
The Conservation Challenge
For wildlife biologists and conservationists, October is a reminder of how crucial natural food sources are to the bears’ survival. When forests produce good mast crops—especially acorns and palmetto berries—bears stay deep in the woods. But in poor crop years, they’re more likely to follow their noses into neighborhoods. This is when education and coexistence matter most.
Securing garbage, removing bird feeders, and harvesting fruit from backyard trees may seem small, but they’re acts of conservation. Every human choice that keeps bears wild and wary helps preserve not only their safety but also the delicate balance of Florida’s wild spaces.
A Quiet Pause Before Winter
By late October, as the bear’s body grows heavier and their fur thickens, the pace begins to slow. In some northern parts of the state, they’ll retreat to sheltered dens—under fallen logs, in dense thickets, or beneath the roots of old trees. In the subtropics, where winter is mild, many remain active year-round, emerging on warm days to forage or explore. But even there, a calm descends over the forests—a sense that the rush of the season has passed.
Florida’s black bears remind us that even in the heat of the South, the rhythms of nature endure. Their October dance of hunger and preparation is as old as the land itself—a story of resilience, adaptation, and the quiet intelligence of wild creatures who still find a way to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
“A Florida black bear on the move — October’s mission: eat, explore, repeat.”
When Art Speaks for the Soul
By Zsuzsanna Luciano
There’s a moment every artist knows too well — the quiet pause after you share a new creation, waiting to see how it’s received.
That moment came to me recently after finishing my latest piece, Where the Earth Dreams the Stars.
It’s a black-and-white long-exposure image — a waterfall cascading beneath the Milky Way, where motion meets stillness and the Earth seems to dream of infinity.
I poured everything into it. Even through illness and exhaustion, I sat at my computer, shaping light and shadow until it felt like breath — like prayer. When I finally finished, I felt peace. Creation itself was the reward.
And then came feedback.
My husband, who has always been honest and grounded, said he preferred color. He reminded me that some of my color images had sold better or received recognition in competitions. His words weren’t cruel — just honest. But still, they stung a little.
As artists, we sometimes forget how vulnerable it feels to create something straight from the soul and then place it before the world — or even before the people we love most.
It’s not just an image; it’s a heartbeat made visible.
But that morning, instead of letting discouragement take root, I reminded myself of something simple but true:
This piece came through me, not just from me. It was a whisper from the Creator, expressed through my lens.
So when someone critiques the work, they’re really critiquing the divine conversation I merely recorded.
And how could I feel bad about that?
Art is subjective. What moves one person may leave another untouched. But when art flows from a place of truth, it always finds the hearts that are meant to see it.
Later, when the competition results came back and neither of my entries received a merit, I smiled. Not because I didn’t care — but because I realized I no longer needed validation to feel complete.
I had already won the moment I created something honest.
That’s the quiet liberation of being an artist: knowing that your worth isn’t measured in ribbons or likes, but in the courage it takes to reveal your soul.
So today, I celebrate not just the image, but the conversation it started — between me, my art, my husband, and something far greater than both of us.
Because in the end, creation itself is an act of faith.
And faith, like art, doesn’t always need to be understood — only felt.
🕊️ Artist’s Note
Where the Earth Dreams the Stars is now available as a limited-edition fine art print on Chromaluxe aluminum.
It’s a reminder that even in darkness, light finds a way to flow — and that creation, in all its forms, is the most divine conversation we can have.
A long-exposure photograph capturing the silent dialogue between motion and stillness — between Earth and infinity.
Zsuzsanna Luciano Photographer Named Silver Medalist at International Photographic Competition
Zsuzsanna Luciano of Luciano Photography is honored by peers and jurors for high-quality photography
Matawan, New Jersey – Zsuzsanna Luciano of Luciano Photography in Matawan, NJ was named a Silver Medalist during Professional Photographers of America’s 2022 International Photographic Competition.
Luciano’s work will be on display at the upcoming Imaging USA, held January 22-24, 2023 in Nashville, TN. Imaging USA is one of the largest annual conventions and expos for professional photographers.
A panel of 36 eminent jurors from across the United States selected the top photographs from over 5,000 total submitted entries at PPA headquarters in Atlanta. Judged against a standard of excellence, 1,926 images were selected for the Merit Collection and 1,225 (roughly 24 percent) were selected for the esteemed Imaging Excellence Collection—the best of the best. The Imaging Excellence Collection images will all be published in the much-anticipated ” Excellence Collection” book by Marathon Press.
The level of the award is determined by how many of those four images receive the highest possible honor—acceptance into the PPA Loan Collection, which is displayed at photographic exhibitions, conventions, and other photography events. Luciano was named a Silver Medalist, meaning that one of their four merited images entered the PPA Loan Collection. In 2022, they were one of only 81 Silver Medalists.
About PPA:
Founded in 1868, Professional Photographers of America (PPA) is the largest and longest-standing nonprofit photography trade association. It currently helps 30,000 professionals elevate their craft and grow their business with resources, protection, and education, all under PPA’s core guiding principle of bridging the gap between photographers and consumers.
Contact:
Zsuzsanna Luciano
1-732-858-3414
photographyluciano@gmail.com
Zsuzsanna Luciano in Panobook 2015
I sincerely enjoy the process of creating panoramic images with multiple shots that are stitched together with the software from Kolor called Autopano.
The company Kolor not only created superior software Autopano but they also publish a Panobook showcasing Panoramic Photography from around the wonderful world we live in. Each year they have open submissions allowing anyone to submit their best panoramic images. The result: an unequaled pleasure for the eyes and an invitation for an unforgettable tour throughout the world.
My largest image up to date is a panorama of the Great Synagogue in Budapest, Hungary where I was born and raised. The Synagogue is made of 82 photographs and countless hours spent waiting on site as the light conditions kept changing.
This year for Panobook 2015 they selected the Angel Oak – as pictured on top – The Angel Oak I created from 32 individual images and was selected out of 2,800 submissions. In total Panobook only selects 150 images. Being chosen to be part of this very exclusive and inspiring book is a sincere honor.
If you would like to purchase the Panobook 2015 from us – a signed and dedicated copy – please contact us at sales@zsuzsannaluciano.com
PPA Loan Collection 2015
Local Photographer’s Work goes to International Exhibition
Zsuzsanna Luciano of Luciano Photography is honored by peers and jurors for high-quality photography.
Matawan, NJ December 3, 2015— A photograph created by Zsuzsanna Luciano of Luciano Photography in Matawan has recently been accepted into the Loan Collection of Professional Photographers of America’s 2015 International Photographic Competition. Luciano’s work will be on display at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia Jan. 10-12, 2016. This International Photographic Exhibition is held in conjunction with Imaging USA, an annual convention and expo for professional photographers and several photographic associations.
A panel of 43 eminent jurors from across the United States selected the top photographs from more than 5,000 total submitted entries at Gwinnett Technical College in Georgia. Judged against a standard of excellence, just over 2,100 images were selected for the General Collection and 1,085 (roughly 21 percent) were selected for the esteemed Loan Collection—the best of the best. The Loan Collection images will all be published in the much-anticipated “Loan Collection” book and over 200 selected General Collection images will be published in the “Showcase” book by Marathon Press.
Titled “Eternal Serenade” Luciano’s photograph will be in the International Photographic Exhibition alongside other top photographic works from the competition and traveling and special invitational displays. These images constitute one of the world’s largest annual exhibits of professional photography gathered simultaneously under one roof.
About PPA:
Professional Photographers of America (PPA) is the largest international non-profit association created by professional photographers, for professional photographers. Almost as long-lived as photography itself, PPA has roots that date back to 1869. It assists more than 28,000 members through protection, education and resources for their continued success. See how PPA helps photographers be more at ppa.com.
Contact:
http://www.ZsuzsannaLuciano.com
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
Luciano Photography 