The Photography of Mike Randazzo

All my life's a circle, "The seasons keep spinning round again the years keep rolling by." Harry Chapin

2006-12-31T08:13:00.000-05:00

Remember this guy? How cute.

Well this was the first picture I posted on this Picture a day Project I started exactly one year ago today. Doing this has taught me the world is a bigger place then even I thought it was. I thought I would have to rack my brain every day trying to figure out what in the world can I take a picture of today?

Here is another of Brutus who through no fault of his own has had a name change to Chooch. That's a tiny little pug named Fatcha playing with him a year ago today when he was 10 weeks old and 40 pounds.

This year has had such an effect on me it isn't funny. This blog, this little idea I started a year ago today has taught me so much, has lead me to places I never thought I would go, has given me the opportunity to meet some really great people and gotten me published in many different forms of media, including online web sites, electronic news letters to everyone at Microsoft, News Papers and TV.

My work has greatly improved and I even got to shoot an Academy Award Winning actress. All from a little idea to shoot a picture a day. So if you think you might want to start one of these little projects, expect great things. The only people who limit us are ourselves, the journey is the destination. See me in 2007 here: http://pad2007.blogspot.com/

Oh I bet you are wondering what Chooch looks like today? Well here is Chooch and Fatcha as I shot them yesterday, Fatcha weighs the same 4 pounds and Chooch? Well somewhere around 260 pounds. Enjoy.

See you all next year.

Michael P. Randazzo

This is only the beginning.

Why not three of Kristen? BTW Click here for her OMP Profile.

2006-12-30T13:36:00.000-05:00

Kristen 2

2006-12-29T11:55:00.000-05:00

Kristen

2006-12-28T15:05:00.000-05:00

I love this town!

2006-12-26T11:50:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas from Mike Randazzo

2006-12-25T08:54:00.000-05:00

NYC Christmas Skyline

2006-12-24T09:08:00.000-05:00

Sabrett, Fine health food dining from the street.

2006-12-23T18:31:00.000-05:00

If you ever come to New York City, have a Sabrett hot dog, don't know what's in them don't know if the guy serving washed his hands but that is what makes them taste so good. If you ever go to a NY Yankee game make sure not to have one before the 5th inning. Only the dirty water makes them zing on the way down. LOL.

Not to mention how they are expelled. And I do mean expelled. :) Yea a little filthy for Christmas Eve Eve, but hey if you made it into town and had one you know what I am talking about. Only in NY.

Merry Almost Christmas

2006-12-22T15:13:00.000-05:00

This image was chosen as a Showcase image on Christmas Day 2006 on One Model Place. That was a nice suprise this Christmas morning.

Click here to see.

Then and Now

2006-12-21T21:30:00.000-05:00

The old CRNJ Railroad terminal and the talest building in NJ.

New York's Finest and their Times Square Rides

2006-12-20T20:41:00.000-05:00

Radio City Christmas Colors

2006-12-19T18:36:00.000-05:00

NYFD The Bravest NYC has to offer.

2006-12-18T20:24:00.000-05:00

The night I was in NYC to shoot the holiday images I have posted this past week, there was a fire in an unoccupied theater in Times Square. Traffic was backed up into some real gridlock so I took a walk down and shot some images of the men who go where most run from.

Merry Christmas and thank you to New York City's bravest servants. Be safe guys.

"Daddy hold me up I wanna see!"

2006-12-16T08:30:00.000-05:00

Saks 5th Ave.

Everything is a glow around New York City at Christmas. This is a shot of Saks and the snowflakes show. See all those snow flakes go out every half hour or so and then the music starts. To the unbelievable sound of Carol of the Bells the snow flakes start to blink in a light show only available in NYC. The lights dance accross the building in tune with the music which sound wonderful and loud even though you have no idea where the speakers are.

BTW this is directly accross the street from the Tree at 30 Rock.

A Gift to Kekiinani Merry Christmas from Rockefeller Center, NYC

2006-12-16T07:39:00.000-05:00

I posted the abstract of the Tree at Rockefeller Center a few days ago, my favorite commenter said the following: "This is way cool. So are you going to post one of the actual tree?? " These are my answer for Renee aka Kekiinani.

By the way, I am half a block away from the tree in the bottom image. To have an idea how big this tree is look at the tiny people under it. Enjoy.

Harry Benson Autograph

2006-12-15T17:17:00.000-05:00

This is an image of a famous photographer. You have seen his pictures everywhere. I had the pleasure last year to see his slide presentation "50 years in Pictures" After the slide shot Mr. Benson signed copies of his books. His style and class are unsurpassed. Look for some of his books with everyone from The Beatles to Mohamed Ail to Bobby Kennedy the night he was murdered. They are classic.

Want some Candy?

2006-12-13T22:58:00.000-05:00

Radio City in Black and White

2006-12-12T16:54:00.000-05:00

Love At Radio City

2006-12-11T16:58:00.000-05:00

Times Square as seen from Weehawken, NJ

2006-12-11T16:53:00.000-05:00

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, Abstract

2006-12-10T22:28:00.000-05:00

Patriotic Fireboat Salute

2006-12-10T12:13:00.000-05:00

My Mom, My Car and The Intrepid

2006-12-09T16:58:00.000-05:00

A Real Life Pocket Puppy

2006-12-08T17:47:00.000-05:00

A monument or two as I followed the Intrepid

2006-12-07T17:29:00.000-05:00

On this day remembering that day which will live in infamy, I thought you would enjoy some of the sites on my trip following the Intrepid Tuesday.

These two pictures are very special. As I followed the Intrepid in it's trip from New York City to Bayonne on Tuesday I got to See some special and interesting monuments. This first picture is right near where the Intrepid will be in dry dock. This is a monument donated to the United States by the Russian people in memory of the people lost to terrorists in the first World Trade Center bombing and also on 9-11-2001. The 11 sided wall at the base of this artwork holds the names of the people who died in those attacks.

The image below is in Liberty State Park in Jersey City NJ. In the foreground is the Holocaust Memorial and to the left is the Statue of Liberty to the right in the distance you can see the Intrepid. Very moving to see a United States aircraft carrier which took part in WWII in the background of an image showing the liberation of Auschwitz and the symbol of liberty and freedom on the left. You had to be there.

Golden Morning for a Tug Maybe 2

2006-12-06T17:57:00.000-05:00

Intrepid Arrives in NJ for two years.

2006-12-05T17:50:00.000-05:00

NASCAR Takes Manhattan

2006-12-01T22:54:00.000-05:00

Just Hanging

2006-11-30T17:49:00.000-05:00

Black and White or Color? No wrong answer with Mia.

2006-11-29T18:17:00.000-05:00

My Brother and Buddy

2006-11-26T13:29:00.000-05:00

Self Portrait and Buddy/ "That's one strong horse."

2006-11-25T16:55:00.000-05:00

Rainbow Factory

2006-11-24T15:54:00.000-05:00

Red White and Blue Mia

2006-11-23T07:40:00.000-05:00

Hidden Inner Beauty, Mia

2006-11-20T20:56:00.000-05:00

Congradulations to the 2006 Nextel Cup Champion Jimmy Johnson in his 2006 Chevy Monte Carlo SS

2006-11-19T21:49:00.000-05:00

Little Red Lighthouse

2006-11-15T19:35:00.000-05:00

Click on the title of this post for the history of the Little Red Lighthouse.

In Honor of Our Veretans GWB flys Largest Free Flying USA Flag in The Country.

2006-11-12T14:34:00.000-05:00

Yes I know you have seen this view before but never like this. I took two different images, one was a normal color image with the flag in the image (only the second time this flag was flown BTW) and layered it with a Infrared shot taken at the same time which I converted to black and white.
This image was actually shot yesterday on Veterans Day thus the title. Since this was an Infrared shot as the main image, notice the fact it looks like there are no cars or trucks on the bridge. The Infrared shot was 8 seconds at f8 the color shot which is all erased except the flag was a 2000th of a second at f2.8. Just a little fun you can have using infrared. Thanks Pearl. Don't worry she knows who she is.

604 Feet up, yea that's big.

2006-11-11T07:44:00.000-05:00

Playing with color balance.

2006-11-10T19:37:00.000-05:00

Video Killed the Radio Star

2006-11-10T06:32:00.000-05:00

I think I am getting the hang of this.

2006-11-06T19:31:00.000-05:00

I got it...I got it....I got it.....I ant got it. Intrepid stuck in the mud.

2006-11-06T13:29:00.000-05:00

Mo's Breakfast Joint, Crystal Dinner Dumont,NJ

2006-11-04T12:14:00.000-05:00

That would be 8 Points

2006-11-03T23:22:00.000-05:00

You gotta do what you gotta do.

2006-11-01T18:53:00.000-05:00

75 Years Young, you don't look a day over 50. Happy Birthday

2006-10-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

Old, to tired to go shoot today.

2006-10-23T22:17:00.000-04:00

Ex Chief, Oradell, NJ, FD

2006-10-21T11:15:00.000-04:00

Modesty

2006-10-19T12:02:00.000-04:00

Emotive Headshot

2006-10-18T22:02:00.000-04:00

Photoshop, gotta have it.

2006-10-16T17:19:00.000-04:00

I am still amazed at how I have learned to use Photoshop and am able to improve on images I shot in the past. Both these images are cropped from the same original. The top one today the bottom one in 2005. Maybe by 2007 I will be right inside the plane.

GOP-USA-NJ conservative of the Year Award congressman Scott Garrett of NJ

2006-10-14T18:31:00.000-04:00

Cell Tower Worker David 200' up

2006-10-13T13:47:00.000-04:00

Harvest Moon and a Flag

2006-10-09T18:06:00.000-04:00

Why just take a picture of the Harvest Moon when you can get a picture of a flag and the Harvest Moon too?

Well looking at the buildings across from Liberty State Park in Jersey City the moon, as expected, rose right behind one of the buildings just north of the World financial Center which had a flag on the roof. Needless to say I had to take a picture of it just as it dissected the moon.

More Renee King

2006-10-08T14:20:00.000-04:00

Dumont NJ Fire Department "Lets Roll"

2006-10-08T08:03:00.000-04:00

No it's real, I was there yesterday.

2006-10-06T23:17:00.000-04:00

1440 X 900 Wall Paper from MPR Productions

2006-10-04T21:18:00.000-04:00

No Really this is what sunset looked like over NJ, not Utah or Arizona.

Feel free to click and save this image for your wall paper. Enjoy.

NYC Panoramic from 12 images

2006-10-03T00:13:00.000-04:00

Simply Dawn

2006-10-02T07:01:00.000-04:00

Powerful

2006-10-01T07:56:00.000-04:00

Happy Pulaski Day

2006-09-30T08:54:00.000-04:00

'65 Cobra Replica

2006-09-26T17:35:00.000-04:00

Barbara Nitke Workshop

2006-09-25T07:37:00.000-04:00

I had the pleasure to learn from and hang with a great photographer Saturday, Barbara Nitke is one of the most accomplished photographers I know, she has a long and well established career in New York City and in a very short time we all learned a lot and had a great time.

Thanks Barbara.

Zeb and Mike

2006-09-20T18:25:00.000-04:00

Well folks remember me talking about Extreme Makeover Home Edition? Well this is Zeb Llanes and myself Sunday (9/17/06) night at the screening of the show at the church where the Llanes family go. The First Baptist church of Hackensack held a reception for the family and friends who took part in the makeover. All the volunteers were also invited. Vic and Maria Llanes (Zeb's mom and dad) wanted a way to meet the people who changed their lives for the better in a week and say thank you directly to them. It was such a nice thing to meet all of them.

As I have said before this was a life changing experience for this well deserving family and it was life changing for many who took part in this event as well.

Zeb just told me he was very into photography and is getting a new DSLR camera soon. I promised him I would teach him photography if he would teach me sign language, he said that was a good deal. Thanks Zeb.

Jessica Pretty in Pink

2006-09-17T17:36:00.000-04:00

Alexandra

2006-09-16T14:56:00.000-04:00

Since everyone liked that last tug I posted, I thought I would send you another shot the same night.

For those of you not familiar with this shot of NYC, the area directly behind the mast of the Tug is where the World Trade Center once stood. It is hard to imagine but those two buildings were about twice the size of those buildings left on the sky line of the World Financial Center.

The first building to the right of the mast of the tug is the rebuilt World Trade Center #7. That was the last building to fall and the first rebuilt. If you look in front of the Statue of Liberty at the black building, that is the Deutsche Bank Building on Liberty Street. This building is going to be demolished eventually since it was so damaged on 9/11/01. I don't know what they are waiting for but it is going to go.

Just some FYI.

Mike

Skull

2006-09-14T20:48:00.000-04:00

NYC Tug

2006-09-13T18:46:00.000-04:00

Industrial Sunset

2006-09-12T09:51:00.000-04:00

Remembering

2006-09-11T14:50:00.000-04:00

Remember 9-11-01

2006-09-09T00:10:00.000-04:00

Pictures, yes I have been really busy at the day job, seems Verizon has an emergency and I need to work 12 hours days. Could this be the precursor to a fish eye lens? Well maybe not that much but no pictures for at least the next two days.

For now pause and remember 9/11 and the loss of those days. I was asked to write something for a web site, Family security Matters. Here is what I wrote, yea I write too.

“Tomorrow we might get a big storm, did you hear?” I complained all weekend about the fact that what was left of the erstwhile “Ernesto” knocked out my power for two days and my food all went bad. I went to Stop and Shop today to pick up all the stuff I needed because of the spoilage of the past two days and people there were just going about with their daily lives as if there was no war going on. As if so many of our sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, Moms and dads weren’t risking their lives to keep that roast beef I just got fresh. Oh you don’t think so? Well it boils down to that simple item my roast beef.

What if the planes didn’t stop falling on 9/11/01? Did you know before 9/12/01 that there were only 4 planes that would drop from the skies in a murderous rampage on our friends and family? Did you know there were super heroes who not only placed their lives on the line but gave them freely to protect even more on the ground in Washington DC on Flight 93? Did you have a clue why it was all happening or were you like me were staring at the bodies falling from the World Trade Center (thinking it was just burning debris) listening to Katie Couric saying on the Today Show “it seems a small plane has hit the World Trade Center” as a picture of the city block sized side of the WTC was sliced complete across was displayed on the screen and thought to yourself, “That was no small plane.”

You need to remember that fear, that terror, it is not and will never be too soon to feel t pain and sorrow and helplessness you felt as you started to hear all the reports of smoke rising from the Whitehouse, the Pentagon, and Washington was burning as it hasn’t since the war of 1812. You didn’t know what to believe. Fear screamed through my body but I held it together driving to pick up my daughter at school because if the world was going to end today I didn’t ant to be alone and I didn’t want her to be alone. You know it was that bad.

So as you watch on 9/11/06 and complain that your Stories are not on this afternoon because people some in uniform, some kids, some moms are reading an endless list of names of people you never met and don’t have any desire to know; remember that fear, remember not knowing what was going on. Remember that fear you felt ever time you heard a low flying plane ever since.

Standing on 31st street on September 14th 2001 outside the church where Farther Mychal was in repose, I watched as hundreds of people, Firemen who just lost family and friends at the pile, well wishers who were supporting the firemen with food and prayers, a producer and camera crew from a talk show seeking out a bigger hook for their ratings, little children, old ladies and men, police and EMS workers all froze and looked towards the Hudson River as a plane heading for the traffic pattern for LaGuardia AirPort flew by. It was as if we all thought it was going to land on us. It was a knee jerk reaction which everyone in New York City was feeling as we started to realize how we had sustained a living nightmare which we would never awake from. We do not have the luxury of forgetting and I will continue to speak my mind so anyone reading this remembers the pain which was thrust upon us, a war we did not ask for, we did not provoke and we will not shrink from as long as I can breathe. Weather you know it or not, feel that same pain or not you are one with us, it was not New York that was attacked on 9/11 it was the United States of America. If your biggest concern is the freshness of your roast beef this September eleventh, remember, you have given the enemy a victory.

Interesting links about 9-11 by Michael P. Randazzo

Frather Mychal Judge

Ground Hero

Flash Tribute

See you all on the 12th.

Unrequited Love

2006-09-06T16:44:00.000-04:00

Don't You Just Love a Renaissance Fair? Weekends through 9/24/06

2006-09-05T20:02:00.000-04:00

Ernesto Grrrr.

2006-09-04T22:01:00.000-04:00

Well folks I bet you are asking where have I been, well a little storm formerly known as Ernesto blew through here Saturday and cut off my electricity until tonight so this is one image I took Saturday while in the middle of the storm, and yes that is a bus passing right by where a minute earlier a 50' tree dropped out of the sky blocking the road. I have no idea where the tree came from since there were no broken trees near where this landed. Spooky isn't it? This happened 5 cars in front of me. Needless to say I went home and kept my head down until it stopped, and at that I was without lights.

More to follow and some renaissance Fair shots too I shot today. Keep coming back.

Life Experience

2006-09-01T21:35:00.000-04:00

1936 Was a very good year.

2006-08-31T23:13:00.000-04:00

Down in the Boondocks...Well Peirmont NY.

2006-08-29T19:19:00.000-04:00

"Summer fling it don't mean a thing, but Ohhh those summer nights."

2006-08-28T18:27:00.000-04:00

Darling are you still listening to me?

2006-08-27T19:13:00.000-04:00

Renee King, Peek a Boo

2006-08-26T23:51:00.000-04:00

I had the pleasure Saturday to work with a talented and outstanding figure model Renee King. Renee is an accomplished photographer herself as well as a stunning Model and the most professional Model I have ever worked with.

For example, as I was giving her direction it was like she was reading my mind and was there before I could get the words out. Very experienced lady.

Thanks Renee for letting me share in some of your voluminous talent.

BTW if you would like to see more of Renee besides my images:

http://www.onemodelplace.com/model_list.cfm?ID=70575

http://modelmayhem.com/member.php?id=630

Celebration

2006-08-26T10:08:00.000-04:00

Alien Attack

2006-08-24T19:30:00.000-04:00

Summer Evening Fun

2006-08-23T22:55:00.000-04:00

Planning

2006-08-22T19:51:00.000-04:00

It isn't all glitze and glamour this photography, there is a lot of planning that goes into each shot.

Oh ok it's fun too.

Just Hanging On

2006-08-21T19:12:00.000-04:00

Thank You Takena

2006-08-20T22:45:00.000-04:00

I had the pleasure of shooting a very exciting and funny young lady yesterday in New York City. Tanaka is a blast to shoot and very dynamic. So here publicly I say thanks to you Taneka.

For those of you who have enjoyed seeing some of my figure work here, I will be moving all of my figure study work to a new blog. http://mprnudes.blogspot.com/ will be the home of my figure work from now on. Keep an eye open to see when I post some new and some old work there.

Not Forgotten, 9/11/2001 Tribute

2006-08-19T11:40:00.000-04:00

Only 35 available.

Taken from images shot by Michael P. Randazzo in 2005 including firefighters at work, a rescued bald Eagle and last but not least the Tribute in Lights from 2005 as seen from Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ, this collection of images brings to memory again the losses we suffered on that fateful day.

50% of profits from the sale of this print and associated items will be donated to support Military families.

Click on title to see available items.

Colorful Bridge

2006-08-18T21:14:00.000-04:00

Americana

2006-08-17T06:47:00.000-04:00

"Nothing on TV Tonight" "Oh give me that remote and for pete's sake stay on a channel for more then a second."

2006-08-16T23:41:00.000-04:00

Under The Lights

2006-08-15T21:27:00.000-04:00

Remember?

2006-08-14T22:39:00.000-04:00

Free Picture for you, Enjoy

2006-08-13T12:31:00.000-04:00

Hello friends, thanks for all your support this year in my Picture a Day blog. As a show of thanks I invite you to download this image for your use. Print it out and hang it up the first of many to come. This is a 4x6 print of some fireworks I shot last night in New Milford, NJ. Be well and thanks a lot for all your support.

I Love This City!!!

2006-08-12T00:45:00.000-04:00

A Twirl After the Storm

2006-08-11T17:59:00.000-04:00

Native American Pride

2006-08-10T19:03:00.000-04:00

September 24th Season Premier. Extreme Makeover Home Edition

2006-08-09T20:17:00.000-04:00

This is a shot of the Llanes arriving at their new home for the first time. See below for new info.

Hey folks, I got this e-mail from an insider at Extreme Makeover home Edition about the Bergenfield episode shot in May:

Hello everyone,
It is not 100% confirmed yet but the word on the street in that the Bergenfield episode will air on September 24th. Hopefully ABC will confirm this next week. I Hope you all get a chance to tune in. Thanks again for all of the support and a great build!!!!!!
Ciao!

More Color

2006-08-09T00:33:00.000-04:00