The joy of LIFE is to celebrate moments and milestones with friends and family. However, the frenetic pace of everyday life makes it difficult to slow down and relish the wonderful bliss that true family bonding brings. That is why I work so hard towards the finish line of each year – to celebrate my year end vacation.
Laughing at silly jokes, playing sports with the kids, or simply sitting next to the one you love as you watch a sunset – those are the precious little things in life that matter and are remembered. Those are the times that you want to hold onto forever.
Photographs tell so much more than the moment alone. They unfold generational stories for your families to treasure again and again. When I began this blog nearly 16 years ago, I intended to create a visual record of my life. It continues to be just that – yet so much more.
Each year a new chapter unfolds, new family connections are made, new friends are created and new stories are told. Let’s rewind 2016 with a look back to the adventure, art, and meaningful memories that shaped the year. Enjoy!
ADVENTURE
This summer, Gal and I had the unbelievable experience of photographing families on their spiritual journey to Israel. We spent the entire month of August living in Israel to document the holiest rite of passage.
We didn’t really know what to expect – it’s not easy to pick up and move to another country, but words really can’t describe the experience. It was one of the most fulfilling journeys of our life. Here are some of the moments that were especially touching…
You can feel the power of love in Israel. This image was captured at sunset when we first arrived.
One of our first assignments – a mother/son b’nai mitzvah – how special!
THE BIG STORY: FINE ART LAUNCH
I realized a long-held dream in 2016 – to birth a fine art collection. Infrared was a huge success! It was an incredible night that truly radiated creativity and art in every way!
My deepest heartfelt thank you to Harriette Rose Katz and Melissa Rosenbloom for believing in this work and believing in the spirit of collaboration.
What a thrill to collaborate with my artist/designer friends in The Chosen Few – thank you to Jennifer and Marco at Stone Kelley Events, Frank Alexander, Jennifer Gould, Anthony Taccetta, Pat James and Glenn Jacinto from PatGlenn Productions, and Dejuan Stroud. Huge thank you to Beth Banker, Perry Brocco at The Glasshouses, Marc Jason from Total Entertainment, Peter Markowitz and Serge from Frost Productions (the lighting was exquisite), and Matt Miller Events, Trisha Stern, Melissa Rosenbloom and Claudia Warner and their team at Gourmet Advisory.
I’d also like to thank John O’ Connor from Guiding the Shift and Jessica Arisohn and Rysia Murphy Arisohn & Murphy who helped shape the show from seed to execution. Loving thanks to my incredible wife Gal whose support and vision are my greatest source of strength!
The beautiful invitation designed by Fancy That
Please visit the home of my fine art work here at michaeljurick.com – and check out the installation space at 641 Lexington Ave. b/w 54th/55th in the lobby of Alchemy Investment Partners where my fine art infrared photographs are currently on display.
EXPANDING TREND: FASHION / SPORTS SHOOTS
The fashion/sports shoot is a huge part of the Mitzvah coming of age experience. We take this part of the story to the next level and aim to capture heirloom-era photographs which ultimately become fine art for your home. We scout the hippest locations and hollywood-light the set. Our fashion and sports shoots are the gold-standard.
ROOM TRANSFORMATIONS
I am wonderstruck each time I walk into a room designed by the very best artists in the industry. I have to pinch myself when I aim the camera around the room to capture the incredible details.
So much color and creativity goes into each vignette, each story, each created set-piece. Thank you to all the artist who transform a room into a portal of party goodness.
PARTY TIME
What could be better than going to a party each time you go to work? Not much. That’s why we work hard to make your parties look incredible, because after the lights go down, our photographs are all that remain. They are your time machine transporting you back to the night of your life.
ROMANCE
EXOTIC
2016 took Gal and I on many adventures, some quite exotic. From rhum plantations in Martinique, to real life rodeos in Montana, to unforgettable birthday parties on Lake Como, to the hippest neighborhoods in the Florentine district of Tel Aviv to the jungles of Costa Rica. I always have my camera on me, so capturing beautiful landscapes and breathtaking locations is part of the fun.
MY PERSONAL FAVORITES
Sometimes after narrowing down hundreds of thousands of photographs, a few speak to me in ways that are unique. Some are lighting related, some are the powerful connections between two people, and some are just outright fun.
LOOKING FORWARD
A deep heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone on our team, our families and friends who helped shape the business and our life in 2016. Cheers to a fresh new year filled with many good times, laughter and lots of color!
