Vol XXXIII, Jan '08 | Two Photographers, Two Views, One Great Talent |
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 Vol XXXIII, Jan '08 Foundation: What do you hope to accomplish with your art? Levine: I try to capture my subjects in a way that they are no longer just older people or patients; they’re personalities, stars. We have a culture of youth built by the media. We are bombarded with images, but few accurately reflect aging and the humanity of human beings as they approach the end of life. We rarely see images that reflect positive views of aging. I try to fill this void and show the positive side of aging and the humanity and beauty of our elderly. I also hope that—through my photos—people will see the humanistic aspects of working in geriatrics and that this will help attract more good people to this field. Foundation: How do you choose the works you contribute to the art auction? Levine: I try to pick images that will have the greatest impact and that are complimentary to the organization. I often contribute works that have appeared on the cover of JAMDA. I owe a lot to the journal for publishing my works over the years; and I’m grateful to Dan Osterweil, MD, CMD, Editor Emeritus of JAMDA for supporting my efforts and encouraging my photographic endeavors. Foundation: What does it feel like to see people bidding on your pieces? Levine: It’s a thrill. It’s very rewarding to see that my colleagues appreciate my work and that my photos will be displayed in homes and offices across the country. Foundation: What are you contributing for the 2008 auction? Levine: This year I am donating two pieces. One is a photo I took in Okinawa which appeared on a cover of JAMDA. The other is of a woman I photographed in Venice Beach, California, several years ago. I actually have between 8,000 and 11,000 negatives. I just recently completed a database that will enable me to retrieve images more quickly and easily. This is important because I may take a photo—such as the one of the Venice Beach lady--and not realize that it is important until years later. Foundation: Can you tell us about one of your more unique or unusual shoots? Levine: I recently learned about a retirement community for circus people in Florida. I went there and got some great shots. And the residents enjoyed my visit so much that they put on a backyard show for me with a snake dance and fire eating act. Sometimes scenarios like this just evolve; and you have to open to them and hope you capture them effectively in your camera. Foundation: What do you get out of your photography? Cornacchione: It is tremendously rewarding. It uses the other side of my brain. It provides a creative outlet for me that I really enjoy. I do a lot of nature photography, and I especially enjoy trying to capture on film the beauty of the shapes, colors, lighting, and textures that I see with my eyes. Foundation: How do you choose which works you will donate to the Foundation? Cornacchione: I work with Chris [Foundation’s Chris Danihel] to choose works that are very visually pleasing. I tend to donate more representational than abstract pieces. I also use framing that I think best compliments the photographs. Foundation: Why do you contribute to the art auction? Cornacchione: The Foundation is an important part of AMDA’s future. We need to do more prospective, randomized studies, and they cost money. The more we support the Foundation, the more we can make such studies a reality. I want to see more long term care research to guide us in what we do in this setting and not have to extrapolate studies from other settings. By donating my photos, I can help support research and give people something pretty to look at. Foundation: Have you gotten any feedback from someone who successfully bid on one of your photos? Cornacchione: One of my colleagues won a piece that he displays in his waiting room. He has told me that he gets compliments on it all the time. That is very rewarding to hear. |
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