"Keep Out"

"Keep Out"

Part of my yet to be titled project shooting in the western states, snapped "Keep Out" on a lonely highway in Arizona on my way to Kingman, AZ. (where route 66 intersects).  Possibly my favorite day trip to date, I rented a convertible on a 115 degree day and got in a "day of work" after a weekend in Las Vegas for a friends bachelor party.  Originally, I set out just to shoot the Hoover Dam but I couldn't resist heading an hour in to my favorite state.  You will see many more images and read stories from this day in the coming posts.

Yale Gurney

"Manhattan Bridge"

"Manhattan Bridge"

This photo is unique on several levels.  Firstly, it's a shot almost impossible to garner - there is no middle walkway - or anywhere to stand - to ensure a picture can be taken on this bridge.  As it turns out, I was driving across on our way to Atlantic City on an 85 degree day in the middle of October, 2008.  Traffic was backed up on a bridge that NEVER (or rarely) has any sort of issue.  Not only that, but the cloud cover was perfect to me - nebulous and puffy which turned ominous with a little help from Photoshop.  So happens my camera was handy, grabbed it and leaned outside the drivers side window and shot this.  This image, turned out to be my top seller to date.

Yale Gurney

Behind the Photo: "New York Exchange Of Stock"

"New York Exchange Of Stock"

Commissioned by old friend, Jon Faber of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, this photo was part of the aptly named "Wall Street Project" - which Jon suggested.  I spent two days and many hours shooting the Wall Street area located in the Financial District of New York City.  I shot this with a wide-angle lens to try and spice up the shot to ensure it was different than the billions of others taken of it.  What do you think?

Yale Gurney

Behind the Photo: ""Shoot The Clowns"

"Shoot The Clowns"

Nathan's commission, 2009.  Coney Island.  These fellas can be found near the boardwalk in Deno's (where the Wonder Wheel is located).  I love this shot - they are the classic clowns you expect to see at an amusement park.  Old school.  Anyway, they caught my eye and I shot a bunch of them but this one stood out.

Yale Gurney

Behind the Photo: "Harvey Keitel: King Neptune"

"Harvey Keitel: King Neptune"

Nathan's commission, July 2009.  In the rain and shooting the Mermaid Parade in Coney Island, Harvey Keitel made his way through the parade as King Neptune.  Neptune is the honorary member at the parade each year.  Keitel seemed unfazed by the rain and genuinely having a good time.

Yale Gurney

Behind the Photo: "Nathan's, Wet Street, Woman"

"Nathan's, Wet Streets, Woman"

An underrated photo in my eyes.  I love the woman's silhouette, wet streets, passing car, blurred street lights and neon lights of Nathan's.  I thought Nathan's CEO Eric Gatoff and President Wayne Norbitz would jump at this one.  He liked it but chose others for the headquarters as part of there theme.

Same night as the prior post, same story.

Yale Gurney

Behind the Photo: "Nathan's At Night"

"Nathan's At Night"

During my year-long documentary shooting of Coney Island for Nathan's, I waited for the right night to get this image (and others).  I needed for it to rain and needed to show patience in waiting for it to stop so that the streets were still wet, creating the reflection of the neon lights.  Luckily, when I arrived, there was about a fifteen-minute interval between showers - I snapped away.

My good friend Will Petzel joined me on this night - I think he enjoyed himself.

Yale Gurney

Behind the Photo: "Wonder This Way"

"Wonder This Way"

Coney Island, 2009.  One of the photos that led to my commission by Nathan's Famous to shoot and document Coney Island to furnish the walls of their new corporate headquarters.  The park was closed - it was off-season - and I saw this sign (from the rear), while I was shooting The Cyclone which is located on a public street.  I imagined Berenice Abbott standing in my spot 75 years earlier snapping the same shot.

- Yale Gurney

Behind the Photo: "Love On The Brooklyn"

"Love On The Brooklyn"

Middle of the winter, 2009.  The snow started to pour on Brooklyn and I knew it was time to head out.  I made my way to the bridge - windy and cold but that didn't stop a few lovers from walking it - and snapped a bunch, hopeful to get just this.  As it stands, this photo is one of my top sellers.

Is this something you'd like to see hanging in your living room?

Steiner Sports to feature Yale Gurney?

"Yankee Stadium: The Empire"

Steiner Sports is showing extreme interest in carrying a Yale Gurney fan favorite - "Yankee Stadium: The Empire".  We are still in talks/negotiations but rest assured, I will be the first to report the news.

What size(s) canvas do you think they should offer fans?