Customer Spotlight – Leo Collins

Welcome to our twelfth Bergen County Camera Customer Spotlight. This monthly posting features a customer who’s made an impression on us. They might have grown in their understanding of photography, gained a mastery of the craft and / or have become a strong advocate of our way of doing business in the world of photography. During the next month you will see this customer’s images displayed on our digital signs in store, in our emails, blog posts and social media.  

Leo Collins is our customer spotlight for the month of March – April. We hope you both enjoy and are inspired by this new addition to In Focus and look forward to your comments and suggestions. Below you will find a word from Leo, followed by some of his images in the gallery below.

Leo F. Collins, a River Edge resident, has held senior executive corporate positions at leading Aerospace and Technology firms for over 50 years.  

He now consults to technology start up firms throughout the tri-state area.  He serves on the Technology Advisory Board of the New Jersey Economic Development Agency and is active in many different roles as an alumnus at Stevens Institute of Technology.

Photography has always been a passion for Leo starting with his help in forming a Photography Club in high school.  The passion has provided him with the opportunity to capture extraordinary images in many different settings from living and extensive travel all over the world.  An important role in recent years is photographing the Bergen County Police Pipes and Drums. Also, a major part of his work involves photographing the gardens in Vermont developed by his good friend Dr. Robert Forte and FDU basketball .

A major stimulus for Leo has been the guidance, encouragement and support provided by Bergen County Camera in Westwood.  Paul Carretta, Bob and Tom Gramegna and staff have embedded in Leo a love of photography that encourages him  to take on new and important challenges all designed to make you a better photographer. – Bergen Camera creates opportunity to improve your skills-  and Leo is very thankful the interaction with Bergen Camera has become  an important part of his life with new friendships and providing increased confidence that you have  the Bergen team with you as you face new photographic adventures. The support, encouragement and friendship provided by the Bergen County Camera organization is of immeasurable value and never to be forgotten.

I am very thankful of  having Bergen Camera a part of my life and for this recognition . I certainly am striving to be a better photographer and still have a long way to go but have with the BCC association the support and assurance to achieve that goal.

 I tell my stories in photography- In doing so I fulfilled one of my important dreams. I have much to be thankful for.

 

I thought it would be interesting, to tell a brief story through my photography  related to the  tragic day of September 11th, 2001.

The photos displayed were taken from the New York Waterway’s vessel, Yankee Clipper in the company of my daughter, Lisa O’Keefe and grand daughter Katharine  O’Keefe, en-route to a New York Yankees Game .

It was a beautiful Friday evening  in September, and I was enjoying the joy  of being with family while taking in  the beautiful view of our national treasures  here in our magnificent city.  I was fortunate to capture some great photos of the World Trade Center and sailboats on the Hudson.

 I took many photos that evening, but one sailboat grabbed my attention, and  I took a photo of it with the Towers in the background.   I noticed the USCG  sailboat number  and  able to trace its ownership,  I found out it was a retired U.S. Navy racer named Grilla.

I shared the photo with its owner, as it was a photo taken on the Friday evening of September 7th, 2001, four days before our peace and joy

were shattered, to never be the same again.

And now rising  majestically is the Freedom Tower in honor of those lost that faithful day and displayed  here in a photograph taken  on a quiet Sunday morning in the spring  from the grounds of Castle  Point at Stevens  Institute of Technology.

Views  that will never grow old and stay in our memories forever.

   

 

Leo F. Collins   February , 2018

3 thoughts on “Customer Spotlight – Leo Collins

  • March 23, 2018 at 6:27 pm
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    Hi Leo,
    Glad to see you in the Spotlight. An honor much deserved.
    Thank you for getting us the opportunities to photograph the FDU Men’s Basketball games. It’s been a lot of fun & a great learning experience.
    You are a special person with a heart of gold.
    Paul Sullivan

  • March 30, 2018 at 4:43 pm
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    Hey Leo, I’ve only known you for a few short years, but I feel I’ve known you much longer. You’re the kind of person everyone should have as a friend. Keep up the good work and keep shooting!

    John Kingston

  • April 1, 2018 at 5:14 pm
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    Dad so proud! You continue to learn from Bergen Camera. What a great place with people of sensational talent!

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