Blue Angels in Manhattan - December 2013

I braved a cold, but sunny day last week (Friday, 13 Dec) to photograph the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight team as they executed three photo passes alongside One World Trade Center, New York City.

I took these photos from the Paulus Hook ferry terminal, using a Nikon 300mm f2.8 as well as my trusty 70-200 f2.8 lens.

My First New York Times Photo

On Saturday, August 10, 2013, one of my photos appeared in the venerable New York Times, Arts section, page C5. The first time being published in the ol' Gray Lady is a special moment for any photographer.

Thank you to City Parks Foundation for facilitating The New York Times use of the image.

Click on the link below for the web version of the article and photo at the NYT website.

The New York Times Arts Section

Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame Slideshow - Billboard.com

I had the opportunity to cover the inaugural Latin Songwriter's Hall of Fame in Miami, Florida on April 23, 2013. I sat in the center of the auditorium, in the fourth row, with a great angle to shoot the three-hours of performances and awards presentations.

I used my D3s on "Quiet" mode, which is not actually very quiet, but with the amplification of the proceedings, as well as judicious shooting, I did not disturb the attendees around me. Normally I would be at the back of the house or shooting from the aisle with my Jacobsen Sound Blimp.

Check out the slideshow of some of my images from that evening here:

http://www.billboard.com/photos/1559216/latin-songwriters-hall-of-fame-winners-at-the-show-and-on-the-carpet?i=432528

Annual Report Photography

See the work we produced and shot for Reed Elsevier's 2012 Annual Report.

Copyright 2012 Michael Seto, All Rights Reserved.


The client specified a naturally lit, photojournalistic style, which is our specialty. However, we still prepared ourselves with strobe lighting and grip to fill and shape the imagery while retaining that documentary style.

The work involved a tech- and location scouting a week ahead of time, then a full day of shooting at a premier NYC law firm using actual attorneys.

The mandate called for visual portraying the benefits of intellectual property in an office environment, while remaining true to the real-life daily use of the information technology. We chose to focus on the interaction between the attorneys and the multiple devices used to access the information, such as iPads and workstations. 

We also utilized scenarios that illustrated more intangible benefits of the technology - efficiency, efficacy, and expertise.

As the layout and designers were based in Germany, we shot multiple scenarios in various locations in the firm's offices and the building to provide the client with a variety of images to select from.

Download the full report at http://reporting.reedelsevier.com/

East Village During the Sandy Blackout 2012

Some photos I took of the East Village during the post-Sandy blackout.

The view north, towards the Chrysler Building, from my rooftop, well in the dark zone.

Darkened streets lit only by headlights...

...and tail-lights.

Coffee sold by candlelight.

And a hardy loner remains behind in an apartment lit by candles.

The East Village Survivors Club sets up shop at Immigrant Beer and Wine Bar.

Profiled in PhotoShelter's Guide

Michael Seto Photography was recently profiled in a guide to Event Photography from PhotoShelter.

For a download of the full guide, go to http://www.photoshelter.com/mkt/research/growing-your-event-photography-business

Occupy Evicted?

Where did you go OWS? Photos from the brief Occupy Union Square protests in the spring of 2012.