Lisa Bertolin with a photo she took at Times Square. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
As someone who loves watching episodes of Seinfeld and Friends, it’s no surprise Lisa Bertolin was inspired when she visited the Big Apple.
“I don’t know what it is with New York. It was never on my bucket list, but when I got there it felt like I’d been there before. It’s a melting pot of nationalities and there’s something happening on every corner,” she said.
The 55-year-old Griffith photographer captured the magic of the city in a series of pictures she took on trips there in 2019 and 2024. Her best work is on exhibition at the Griffith Regional Theatre, all of which can be purchased on the spot.
“We stayed in the Chelsea Hotel, which was famous for creatives back in the 1960s. When you’re in that environment, the creativity just melts into you,” she said.
“We also went to Los Angeles, which seemed so fake. But in New York, they were honest; everyone was just doing there own thing.”
Ms Bertolin, born and bred in Griffith, has been doing real estate photography for her husband Brian at Griffith Real Estate for many years. She’s taken the opportunity to further develop her skills while on holiday in some of the world’s great cities.
One of her favourite shots was of a young man who randomly decided to do a trick on his bicycle when he noticed the lens was on him.
“On my last day of my 2019 trip, I was standing on the edge of Times Square. He obviously saw me and put on a show. I’d love to meet him one day to say, ‘Thanks mate,’” she said.
One of Lisa’s favourite shots, when her subject performed for the camera. Photo: Lisa Bertolin.
The exhibition, unscripted, is a visual story that explores the multifaceted array of the public spectrum taking place in the streets of New York City, as well as San Francisco.
It offers a blend of architecture, abstraction and fleeting, unscripted moments that often go unnoticed.
“Each image holds a story, a feeling, a captured moment in time and my hope is that perhaps, the audience can also get a little lost in the mystery and quiet meaning that my work has helped me uncover,” she said.
Art Gallery Coordinator Melanie Toscan was impressed.
“Lisa’s work imbues a passion for the scenes from the city streets, which she shares with influential photographers such as Vivian Maier, Helen Levitt and Ernest Haas,” Ms Toscan said.
“The palette of her work is alive with notes of beautifully saturated architecture, the curves of a cleverly observed street walk, a fluorescent punch of a bold character mid-walk and greyscale moments that will leave you observing line or tone you may have not noticed.”
Ms Bertolin said her next target was Italy, where she planned to take photos of nuns in Rome.
Unscripted is on display at Griffith Regional Theatre’s Artspace until Friday 8 August during the theatre’s opening hours. All are welcome to attend.
For additional information, contact Griffith Regional Art Gallery on 6962 8338 or via email: [email protected].
