Tom Sperduto Photography

Albert and Rose Kleuser

tomsperduto — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 19:11:12 +0000

Albert and Rose Kleuser, from Galloway, NJ, have been married for 60 years. Albert served in Korea with the U.S. Army and Rose worked as a nurse aid in a nursing home. Both have taught Sunday school and Albert drove the Sunday school bus. They started attending church in 1962. They hug each other and forgive each other for any wrong doings every night before going to bed. They have made an agreement that when one passes on the other will cry tears of joy and not tears of sorrow. “Because we know we’ve been called home,” said Rose. “We’re just passing through right now. We don’t fear death at all. Actually we don’t fear anything. Fear is a terrible thing.”

Getting My Feet Wet Wet with the Profoto B1 Lighting Kit

tomsperduto — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 00:00:28 +0000

I recently purchased the Profoto B1 Lighting Kit and got out and about my hometown to make some portraits today. I met fly fisherman Tim Cussen on the Pequest River and he was kind enough to let me make a few pictures. The Profoto B1 kit is incredibly easy to use. I lugged the B1 kit, C-stand, my Nikon 70-200 2.8 and 24 1.4 and a deep dish Octa down to the river to make these pics.

Coast Guard Ice Rescuers

tomsperduto — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 15:13:35 +0000

Everyday Moments

tomsperduto — Sat, 04 May 2013 13:07:48 +0000

I was at my daughters softball game and as always had my camera with me. I enjoy catching photos of her in action. My favorite photos at her games are the everyday moments that happen all around us. This was a nice moment shared by a mother and her daughter right before the start of the game.

Meet George Gardner

tomsperduto — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:07:15 +0000

Some of my favorite portraits come from driving around and finding cool things, like this old Studebaker, and then seeking out the owner. Meet George Gardner who was nice enough to let me take portraits of him and his family.

Face Your Fears and Become the Lion

tomsperduto — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:34:27 +0000

I have a pair of Grinch Christmas boxers. There I admit it. I can’t say I have worn them much because my daughter who is now seven grew up with a fear of the Grinch. All kids have their fears and for my daughter it was always the dreaded “G Man”. The other night I was folding laundry (my wife just stood up and cheered somewhere) and there they were. The fearsome G Man underwear with the little G Man heads in Santa hats floating around a sea of green. My daughter was next to me telling me a story from school. As in past encounters with the G Man my heart stopped for a moment and I began to mentally prepare for the panicked run into Mommy’s arms and the hour or so for my daughter to calm down and come off the ledge. Trust me, the G Man was always the “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named” in our house. I was in a moment of shock when Emily gave them a bored look and then continued her story. I guess my eyes said it all because she stopped in mid sentence and said “Yea, I’m not afraid of him anymore.” In my own guilty way I was sad to learn of this new milestone. For some reason I always associated the G Man with my daughter growing up. I always felt once the fear of the G Man went away so would a part of my daughters childhood. Maybe it’s because when I was her age I had a fear of vampires. I look back on my childhood nights watching my window waiting for the scratch at my window with fondness. I learned as we grow up there are much bigger fears than vampires at our window. Besides, I had my own wooden stake made from the woods near my home and my India Jones hat if I needed them. The G Man losing his power reminded me of one of Emily’s first fears. The lion. We found this awesome lion costume for Halloween and got it for Emily before she was two. When we showed it to her there was panic in the house. She was scared to death. The lion was banished to the top of a closet safe where it could do no harm. A year later, we brought the lion costume out and the fear was there but she fought through it. Eventually, she worked up the courage to put it on. It no longer fit well but she was able to squeeze into it. My wonderful, beautiful daughter had become the lion and swallowed her fears. Maybe it’s time I did the same.

Happy holidays.

The Last Saddle Tramp

tomsperduto — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 12:24:32 +0000

Johnny Warshuis "The Last Saddle Tramp" is traveling from Redding, CA to Times Square, NYC, on horseback. Warshuis left California with $40 in his pocket on March 28, 2011. He sleeps where he can and he relies on the generosity of others. His goal is to raise awareness for GBS/CIDP a rare disorder of the body's immune system that attacks the peripheral nerves. This disease attacks only one or two in 100,000. His mother is a victim of the disorder. Johnny Warshuis "The Last Saddle Tramp" is traveling from Redding, CA to Times Square, NYC, on horseback. Warshuis left California with $40 in his pocket on March 28, 2011. He sleeps where he can and he relies on the generosity of others. His goal is to raise awareness for GBS/CIDP a rare disorder of the body's immune system that attacks the peripheral nerves. This disease attacks only one or two in 100,000. His mother is a victim of the disorder.

Eddie Adams Workshop 25 Years and Counting

tomsperduto — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:31:46 +0000

Photography legends Nick Ut and Bill Eppridge share a moment at the 25th Eddie Adams Workshop.

I had the honor of being a student at the Eddie Adams Workshop in 2005. I have been a member of the Black Team for another six years. The workshop, now in it’s 25th year, is a great opportunity to be inspired, tired and feel the joy of being part of a wonderful family. This year was extra special being number 25 and I am glad I had the opportunity to be there. It’s always great meeting old friends and making new ones. Being a member of the Black Team with all it’s leaf raking, barn cleaning, long drives to the airport and everything else that goes with it is a special opportunity. You get to feel the pride of knowing you had a direct impact on the 100 students who experience the whirlwind that is Barnstorm. It’s an opportunity to give back as freely as you got it. I have never met a student who hasn’t let me know that the workshop was a life and career changing experience. I’ll never forget my walk up the driveway to the barn and seeing my friends there to congratulate me on “arriving”. I did a lot of soul searching at this years workshop and had some amazing conversations that have reminded me how much I love being a photographer. I was also reminded how fortunate I am to be part of such a wonderful group of passionate and love filled people. Some of the conversations I had this weekend will be ones I will remember forever. Anytime that happens it’s special. I’m tired as everyone is who experiences Barnstorm. But I am also inspired. I am thankful for the opportunity to have my friends, lessons and memories from the Eddie Adams Workshop. I’m excited to get to work and make some pictures.

Intimate Portraits from the D.C. Shoot Off

tomsperduto — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:42:16 +0000

The D.C. Shoot Off held every year in Arlington, VA, has quickly become one of my favorite events of the year and this one was no different. I enjoy the opportunity to mentor the photographers who attend it’s an opportunity for me to see old friends I love dearly. For a few months leading up to the Shoot Off I have felt a photographic funk and its been hard to break out of. Sometimes all it takes is a workshop with like minded passionate individuals to get your wheels turning and heart racing once more in the right direction. I had many light bulb moments at the D.C. Shoot Off listening to my fellow speakers present their work. For me, there is usually one lesson that I sink my teeth into and hold on until I own it. This year, it came from Preston Keres and it’s something I’ve heard several times over the years but this time it really hit home. It’s the hierarchy of successful photos. In a nut shell the hierarchy of photos goes like this:

A beginning: Informational

Getting there: Graphically appealing

REALLY getting there: Emotional

You have arrived: Intimate

I realized during Preston’s presentation that it’s the intimacy in photos that drives me and what I love about portraiture. I realized it’s what I am always seeking but often calling it gesture. It’s nice to connect with a word and move forward with it as a photographer beating in your head and in your heart. Below are some of the portraits I shot in my hotel room in between mentoring our Shoot Off students.

Kareem and Mariah.

JD and Sharon

Drew and Mila

Andrew and Annie

The Bivera's.

Flywheel Photos, Millburn NJ

tomsperduto — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:46:07 +0000

Flywheel Staff Portrait, Millburn, NJ

Flywheel Staff, Millburn, NJ

Flywheel Staff Portrait, Millburn, NJ