Play! A Collection of Sixty-three Toy Camera Photographs

Play! A Collection of Sixty-three Toy Camera Photographs Made by Thirty-six Photographers in Twelve Countries has been published by CWIP (Composing With Images Press) and two of my photographs from my Brooklyn Book Project are included on pages 38 and 39.

It is an international effort with100% of the proceeds will go to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to benefit children affected by areas in the United States ravaged by tornadoes in 2011. 

The cover features “Selah” by Lori Bell. 

The book includes:

63 Photographs and reflections

taken on 30 different toy and homemade cameras

by 36 photographers 

from 12 countries

on 5 continents

Right now there are two versions of the book online, both at 7x7 size:

The Standard version with high quality acid free paper, cover, and end sheets: $42.95.

The ProLine version, which has ungraded linen covers, upgraded end sheets, and Pearl photo paper: $70.95

You can also view a preview of the entire book for a limited time, click here or purchase here.

Recent Photo Features for Nona Brooklyn

All images © Valery Rizzo

I shoot a monthly photo feature for a great Brooklyn website called Nona Brooklyn, which is all about good food in Brooklyn and the people behind it. To keep you up to date here are some recent features I have shot for Nona in the past few months...

Dekalb Market...full feature click here

Added Value...full feature click here

Tenth Acre Farms...full feature click here

Brooklyn : West Indian Day Carnival

Wanted, West Indian Day Carnival, Crown Heights, Brooklyn, 2011.

All images © Valery Rizzo

I had two objectives, one to eat some great home cooked West Indian food and two to get the photograph I did not get last year which was an image of some of these groups of kids that go around wearing bandanas covering their faces, sort of like bandits or thugs. One day I will find out why they do it and I don't want to make the wrong assumptions, but I know they do it so as not to be recognized. Anyway next year I should photograph J'overt, and the kids covered in powder and paint. J'overt is a pre-dawn street party the night/dawn before carnival where people take to the streets playing calypso and soca, dancing and masqueraders wear oil, mud, powder and paint. Although there is always a sense of risk at the Carnival due to shootings, it is still one of the most culturally interesting events in Brooklyn.

The Naked Beekeeper

Naked Beekeeper, Bedford Styvesant, Brooklyn, 2011.

Photo © Valery Rizzo 

Michael Hegedus, aka Michael Beaman, aka The Naked Beekeeper, is founder of The Beekeepers Association and Three Sisters Honey made from his six hives in Bed-Sty Brooklyn. Why Naked you ask?...to show how safe it is to work around honeybees, if your careful and gentle the bees will leave you alone. 

Three Sisters Honey can be found at Choice Greene in Fort Greene, Lucy's Whey at Chelsea Market and at the Brooklyn Victory Garden in Clinton Hill. Every jar of organically produced honey is adorned with the sweetest labels, each handmade by Michael's three young daughters. 

Food Scene at Rockaway Beach

This month I went out to Rockaway Beach to shoot my latest photo feature for Nona Brooklyn about the new food scene out there, and although the beach is technically in Queens many of the vendors or chefs are from Brooklyn. It was so much fun, surfers and all! To see the full feature click here.

All images © Valery Rizzo

Brooklyn's Greenmarkets for Nona Brooklyn

Last month I shot this Photo Feature for Nona Brooklyn about Brooklyn's Greenmarkets and its farmers. Nona Brooklyn is a resource for Brooklynites looking to discover local, artisanal, sustainably-produced and just plain good food in Brooklyn.

Rhubarb being sold by Red Jacket Orchards at the Greenpoint / McCarren Park Greenmarket

KIra Kinney, owner of Evolutionary Organics holding a bunch of their green garlic at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket. The farm from Ulster County, NY. specializes in growing certified naturally grown vegetables, carries seedlings for your garden of every kind and collects your compost. 

Artwork by Sally Mara Sturman for Blue Moon Fish. There is always a line to buy the local seafood caught from their boat, The Blue Moon, off Eastern Long Island.

Will McEvoy of Blue Moon Fish at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket.

Cayden Lovejoy pausing to show us some of the freshly caught fish. They sell whole and filleted fish, shellfish and their very own smoked and pickled fish.

Apples and Rhubarb at Red Jacket Orchards from Ontario County, New York, at the Greenpoint / McCarren Park Greenmarket.

Jo Mickek working the never ending line to pick up fresh dairy milk, yogurt, butter and ice cream from Ronnybrook Farm, from Columbia County, New York.

Zubin Hensler of Madura Farms, from Goshen, New York, selling exotic mushrooms, many of which have medicinal properties. Pioppini are just one type of the many they have on hand at the market.

Father and daughter, Ray and Kelly Kettenring of S. & S. O. Produce Farms from Goshen, New York.

Rubarb, bok choy and scallions are just some of the many varieties of produce they haul to the market in beautiful wooden crates.

Onions, radishes and tatsio are all displayed in abundance by S. & S. O. at the Greenpoint / McCarren Park Greenmarket.

And if all that great food was not enough there are also gorgeous flowers sold by Brooke Green and Caroline Contillo of Dutchmill Garden as a well as a Dobro player for your listening entertainment. 

All images © Valery Rizzo

Botanical Artist - Angela Mirro

Photo © Valery Rizzo

I photographed Botanical Artist Angela Mirro in her greenhouse filled with plants and orchids which is housed in an extension off of her Clinton Hill, Brooklyn ground floor apartment.

Angela's work is contained in many private collections and is included in The Shirley Sherwood Collection , London, England, The Brooklyn Botanic Garden Florilegium Society, Brooklyn, NY, The Atlanta Botanic Garden, Atlanta Georgia and that of The American Orchid Society’s Headquarters in Delray Beach, Florida. 

She was commissioned to create the posters for The New York International Orchid Show, The Miami Orchid Show, The Club Peruano De Orquideas Orchid Show and The American Orchid Society's 75th Commemorative Anniversary.

www.angelamirro.com

Featured Artist on Toycamera.com

I was honored to have my work featured with a short story by the nice people over at Toycamera.com. Toycamera is the world’s largest independent Toy Camera community forum which strives to bring together photographers from all over the globe to share ideas, images and concepts. See the full story here...

Daina Platais Ceramics

All images © Valery Rizzo

Last month I photographed ceramic artist Daina Platais in her studio in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Daina Platais is an independent designer based in Brooklyn, New York. Her work is focused on creating handmade ceramic pieces that merge within design, art and craft. Currently she is creating a collection of ceramics that is hand made in the studio with a consciousness towards sustainability and the synthesis of design, art and craft. 

Photo story : Food Vendors at The Brooklyn Flea for Nona Brooklyn

SCRATCHbread serving up MOZZtoast, made with their own fresh pulled mozzerella on Parmaloaf...bread with a parmesan crusted bottom, sea salt, cracked black pepper and fennel, all topped with extra-virgin olive oil.

Riley Soloner of Pizza Moto slicing several freshly baked individual pizzas. 

Dave Scarlow, owner of Pizza Moto cooking the pizzas in their mobile wood burning oven.

Anna Viertel and Frank Saliani making the pizzas for Pizza Moto, at the Brooklyn Flea.

Mark Sopchak of Whimsy & Spice...sweets with a dash of spice, handmade in Brooklyn.

Porchetta serving up their staple Porchetta sandwiches...a hormone and antibiotic free boneless pork shoulder cooked with fresh herbs and wine.

Georgie Cashe from Fine & Raw Chocolate...artisan confections using conscious ingredients. All ingredients are organic and packaged using recycled paper printed with non-toxic vegetable based ink.

Rue Snider and Joel Horowitz of People's Pops serve fresh local fruit ice pops and shave ice to a constant crowdof people at the Flea.

Market goers Ruthie Fish and Laura Hinman getting ready to enjoy their hot dogs with asian-inspired toppings from Asia Dog.

All images © Valery Rizzo

I shoot a monthly photo story for a website called Nona Brooklyn. The site is a resource for Brooklynites looking to discover local, artisanal, sustainably-produced and just plain good food in Brooklyn. My previous story for April was about Urban farms and gardens, which you can see here.

Brooklyn Book Project : Greenpoint Waterfront

All images © Valery Rizzo

I have been shooting along the Greenpoint waterfront lately. I wanted to explore the area while all the streets leading down to the river are still open and raw. Its what Williamsburg used to be before all the real estate developers started closing off the side streets and building all the luxury condos and commercial space. Its only a matter of time before that happens in Greenpoint as well and all its original character is gone.