I love feeling inspired. Unfortunately, I'm guilty of putting work first so often and letting things like personal creative time, outdoor appreciation time, and artistic continued education time fall by the wayside. What a terrible habit to have formed, but a good thing to remedy in the coming year. I did, however, find time to visit Pier 24 in San Francisco last month- a breathtaking photography museum in San Francisco's Embarcadero that I'd been wanting to explore for many years. Their rotating collection of historical and contemporary photography is like none other I've ever seen, and larger than probably any other collection in the country. For a photographer- it is a dream come true. Their current exhibit focuses on portraiture- my favorite mode of photography. I walked through the halls of Pier 24 in silence, alone, visiting quietly with my good friends Diane Arbus, Annie Leibovitz, Jim Goldberg, Robert Mapplethorp, and Richard Avedon. Never in my life had I been allowed the space to move through such large collections from each artist in such a private way- which is why Pier 24 is so special. A controlled number of visitors are allowed in each day, avoiding over crowding and distracting noise. This museum is meant for art appreciators, people who are seeking a specialized photographic experience. And for me- it was all of those things. It filled me up, reminded me why I love my work so much, got me back in touch with my fascination with portraiture and the power of the camera. Here are some my favorite images from the visit. And here's how to schedule your own appointment at Pier 24:

Pier 24 The Embarcadero San Francisco CA, 94105 Open By Appointment Monday - Thursday 9am to 5pm Phone: 415.512.7424 Fax: 415.512.7456 email: info@pier24.org

Andy Warhol and members of The Factory: Gerard Malanga, poet; Vi

1965-two-friends-at-home-by-diane-arbus1

Pier 24 Visit