Ken Blumberg: Photographer of 'People, Places and Things'

Ken Blumberg, whose photos are currently on display at the Stratford Public Library, describes himself as an “extremely happily married photographer of people, places and things.” He lives in Stratford with his four loves: his wife, his grandchildren, his garden -- he has 187 tomato plants -- and his photography.

Having won his first camera in a poker game, Blumberg seems to have somewhat stumbled into the world of photography.

In his 20s, while working at a large New York City publication, Blumberg was invited to play penny poker, which later in the evening led to the wagering of paychecks and a Nikon camera. He won his hand and used the additional winnings to purchase lenses and other camera equipment.

Only two weeks after winning his first camera in the card game, Blumberg snapped a photo which won him first place in a national photography competition.

Here's that story: Running late and barely making it into the aisle in a humid Madison Square Garden, Blumberg shot a photo of the majestic white Lipizzaner horses emerging from the emerald blue curtains.

"The haze on the lens caused the jewels on the horses' hooves [to form] starbursts as they caught the light,” said Blumberg. As usual, he handed the roll of film to his friend who worked in a Kodak store. But unbeknownst to him, his friend enlarged the photo and sent it to Kodak's headquarters. Two weeks later he received a check from Kodak, and found his photograph on the front page of a newspaper.

Soon thereafter, Blumberg traveled across the United States. For the next seven and a half years, everywhere he went, he brought his camera. His subjects continually varied: from people in small towns to unique locations pointed to on a map by park rangers. Many of these photos were made into souvenir picture postcards we purchase while traveling, said Blumberg.

After returning from his travels, Blumberg sold three of his photographs to a Connecticut greeting card company called C.R. Gibson. Ten years later, when the company closed their last warehouse in New York, the cards with his photographs were the top three best-selling prints.

“Flowers are my passion, people are my forte,” said Blumberg, who is often asked to photograph weddings, bar mitzvahs and other family gatherings. “I’m willing to do anything to make people smile. I have no problem playing the fool," he said. "Whatever it takes to get that genuine smile in photographs.”

Having won that Nikon camera over 40 years ago -- and remaining faithful to the brand -- Blumberg estimates that he has since taken more than 24,000 photographs, many of which have been published in newspapers and magazines and as postcards.

In his free time he loves being with his family or tending his garden. He is also a writer, philosopher and historian.

Blumberg's current display at the Stratford Public Library will run through July and August. His primary subjects in the display are an exotic arrangement of flowers. He said uses a tight technique which offers little background. With his human and animal subjects (also in the display), he focuses on the subject’s eyes, he said.

Click here to see a selection of Blumberg’s work on his website.

Have you seen Blumberg's photos at the library? What did you think about the display? Tell us in the comments section below.