NYC Locksmith and Metal Artist: Philip Mortillaro
Do you know how many times I have walked by this locksmith on 7th Avenue and it was always closed? The intricate collage of keys always caught my eye.
Wednesday morning, Mary and I were returning from the Post Office and the locksmith’s door was open.
Mr. Mortillaro was speaking with a customer. Mary walked on ahead but I signaled to her to wait. After the customer left, I entered and although I’d photographed the facade on other occasions, I asked the proprietor if I might photograph him. Mr. Mortillaro was totally welcoming and agreeable and here is the portrait I captured. He told me he has been a locksmith since age 14!
The links to his website and a trailer of a video are found at the end of the post.
Although he says he is not religious, he has actually made St. Peter (a gift) the Key to Heaven
Just like the New York Public Library- Patience and Fortitude guard the entrance.
You can see a trailer to Mr. Mortillaro’s video Do Not Duplicate
and visit his website to see his Metal Art
Front Porch Ambient Light Portrait- Godmother/Goddaughter
Taking photos of people on the front porch is the nicest light. Not too much, not too little. Like Baby Bear- it’s just right!
No squinting from the midday sun either (but there really wasn’t any full sun this weekend, due to some thick cloud cover and rain, rain, rain)
Was out visiting in Columbus and getting ready to go home. Matty and Maura and I were in a separate car from the rest of the family due to schedules and timing. We swung by Laura and James’ house to see their freshly decorated tree that a few hours earlier had been tied on the roof of their car. I took a Christmas photo of them in their living room so had the camera out as we headed back to the car. ”Quick” Laura said. “Godmother, goddaughter shot!” Pressed once and it shot two in quick succession.
And that is how the Front Porch Ambient Light Portrait got taken on Sunday afternoon before I headed back to Pittsburgh to start a new school week.
Unexpected Gift Late Christmas Eve
Tonight we were wrapping presents, stirring up the breakfast casserole for morning, hanging out after early church and Chinese take-out. A tradition Mark continues from late childhood when the only place open in Shadyside was the Chinese restaurant around the block. Matthew is here from Croatia. Laura and James called on the way back from his parents’ home where they had spent Christmas Eve. Said they might drop by or not. They called again. Said they were at the front door. And James came in carrying a huge brown box. He opened it up on the kitchen table and there was a beautiful oil portrait of Laura looking at me, full of life and beauty, painted expertly by her mother-in-law to be, portrait artist Sharon Weaver. I was overcome, felt a lump well up in my throat, not just for the stunning and beautiful painting. I felt intense happiness that she is loved so well by his family. The painting was such an unexpected gift. An heirloom present. A gift of love. I’ll photograph it again in the light of day. Thank you Sharon!
I am going to go and study how to photograph oil paintiings and shoot it again!
Panza Gallery, Millvale- Interior/Exterior
Formerly a German Dance Hall. There is always an art exhibit, portrait (Mon) and Figure Drawing(Th) classes and expert framing. PANZAgallery 115 Sedgwick Street Millvale Pa 15209 412.821.0959 panzagallery@mac.com Wed.Thurs.Fri.10-5 Sat10-3 Click here to see Mark Panza’s photographs.
Monday Night Portrait Class at Panza's
Where I get all my framing done.
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