John Gastaldo Photographer

My encounter with David Letterman's famous stalker Margaret Ray so many years ago. From my years in Connecticut.

Finally got around to do a blog. What's that? Please stop by and take a read!

Anti-Covid-19 closure protesters gathered in downtown SD to be heard. Many without masks.

It's energizing when I get the chance to do my first photo passion, photojournalism. This was a piece for UC San Diego Health's magazine Discoveries at Father Joe's Villages.

Cinematographer Kent L. Wakeford turns 93 tomorrow. His name might not sound familiar, but the film world owes him a debt of gratitude. He was a successful industrial filmmaker before teaming up with Martin Scorcese, fresh out of NYU film school, to shoot Mean Streets. The resulting film, not only established the careers of Harvey Keitel and Robert Deniro, but is considered one of the best movies of the 20th century because of its amazing up and close and hand-held cinematography. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG-zRh4qq_U

Making cookies out of cookie dough. My circa 1992 photo and the story about illustrating the usual suspects. https://www.sandiegocaphotographer.com/blog/

Photographed Nick Cannon last fall when he came back to his hometown of San Diego for a dedication. ViacomCBS just fired him for anti-semitic comments.

High School Graduation 2020, on assignment for The San Diego Union-Tribune in the era of COVID at the Santee, CA Drive-In where graduating seniors watched their friends from a distance and then the pre-taped ceremony through their windshields.

Air Force Thunderbird F-16s pull a turn over NAS North Island while flying over the county of San Diego. Some patriotic PWC riders also were visible on the bay next to the USS Midway Museum.

Danielle Gomez and friends couldn't have a big party for her 28th birthday, so they improvised, getting everyone's attention on Texas Street in North Park to at least get them to toot their horns. "This is more attention than I thought I'd get," she said. #covid19 #coronavirus #streetparty #streetphotography #selfassigned

My encounter with David Letterman's famous stalker Margaret Ray so many years ago. From my years in Connecticut.

Taking some time out for bioluminescence and watching the watchers.

Finally got around to do a blog. What's that? Please stop by and take a read!

Anti-Covid-19 closure protesters gathered in downtown SD to be heard. Many without masks.

It's energizing when I get the chance to do my first photo passion, photojournalism. This was a piece for UC San Diego Health's magazine Discoveries at Father Joe's Villages.

Cinematographer Kent L. Wakeford turns 93 tomorrow. His name might not sound familiar, but the film world owes him a debt of gratitude. He was a successful industrial filmmaker before teaming up with Martin Scorcese, fresh out of NYU film school, to shoot Mean Streets. The resulting film, not only established the careers of Harvey Keitel and Robert Deniro, but is considered one of the best movies of the 20th century because of its amazing up and close and hand-held cinematography. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG-zRh4qq_U

On personal assignment in South Korea with my family and the collective HalfKorean.com family

If you're ever walking near the corner of East 20th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan, please look up and notice a street sign bearing the name Glen Pettit. He died a hero on 9/11. Back in the early 1990s we attended more than one photo workshop together and often shared meals and rides. He from eastern Long Island, me from the city. We talked photojournalism and the future and I really dug his hustle and determination to make it in the New York Tri-State area. We ...lost touch after I moved to the west coast. Eventually he became an NYPD officer and gravitated to the Technical Assistance Response Unit videotaping rescue efforts at crime scenes for new recruits. On September 11, 2001, he was filming a video showing officers handling crises. He was last seen running into World Trade Center South Tower minutes before it collapsed. If I know Glen, he was worried about missing the shot, the footage, the message. Officer Pettit was posthumously awarded the New York City Police Department's Medal of Honor for his heroic actions. This photo of the two of us is from the early 1990s taking a break from an early digital workshop, singing karaoke with our team, without a care in the world. Glen's the baby-faced one in the light shirt. Glen Pettit, you are not forgotten. See more

Don't be put off by the title, this is not just a gear review video. This is how you do street photography. Especially in a foreign country. Speak the language, ask permission. Well done! https://youtu.be/EQZr-t7BKa0

Working photos from the #woundedwarrior #carryforward 5K in #SanDiego Saturday. A lot of enthusiasm, wonder and support for our wounded warriors and their families. Please take a look at the whole gallery. https://bit.ly/2NvvG0E