![\"Janet](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/headshot.jpg\")
Janet Nina EsagoffJanet Nina Esagoff<\/p>\nAs the fall foliage begins to blossom in oranges and gold, we turn our focus on a Great Neck resident who captures segments of our society in both color and black and white. Meet Michael Liman, who moved here some 35 years ago, from New York City.<\/p>\n
A Snapshot: \u00a0Michael Liman & Co.
Michael was attracted to Great Neck due to its proximity to Manhattan, the pastoral beauty of the North Shore, and, more locally, Lake Success\u2019s great golf course and community.<\/p>\n
When asked what the best thing is about Great Neck, Michael readily responded, \u201cthe people, and the friendships that I have built. \u201d<\/p>\n
Michael feels personally connected to the Great Neck community, and with his wife, Judy, at his side, they make quite a couple.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have raised our two daughters here, the town is fabulous, the short commute is perfect, \u201d he said.<\/p>\n
As for favorites, Michael cites his long-time picks\u2013 Kensington Deli, Bagel Hut, Lola, and Ginos.<\/p>\n
Lights, Camera, Action
Spanning almost four decades, Michael\u2019s company, Liman Video Rentals, has served many in the entertainment industry, renting professional cinema, television, and audio equipment to filmmakers and broadcasters worldwide.<\/p>\n
Michael supports the arts, a sponsor of the Gold Coast Film Festival for many years. Clearly, the evolution of his passion for photography has stemmed from his professional life.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like love\u2014serious and fun at the same time, \u201d he said.<\/p>\n
After hours, Michael\u2019s world shifts. Camera in hand, Michael becomes a storyteller \u2014 capturing the quiet poetry of people, places and things through the lens of light, shadow, and human connection.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy family has always been supportive of my work and now looks forward to seeing what images I capture with the different cameras and lenses I use,\u201d Michael said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI started taking photos as a way to slow down,\u201d he said. \u201cRunning a business is fast-paced. Photography forces me to stop and really see \u2014 to notice the way sunlight hits the water at the park or the expressions on people\u2019s faces when they are just doing normal stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael was drawn to photography because it freezes time.<\/p>\n
\u201cMoments that would otherwise pass in an instant -moments of joy, pain, surprise, quiet, or chaos. It allows us to return to a feeling, a place, or a story,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
But Still\u2026
Michael loves images in all forms, but still photography holds a special place for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy personal journey began with 35mm and medium-format film cameras, and today I primarily use digital cameras\u2014both monochrome and color Leicas, \u201d he said. \u201cWhen I\u2019m out photographing, I look for spontaneity\u2014human or animal subjects that feel alive. I ask myself: does this moment have a story? Does it speak to my emotions?\u201d<\/p>\n
Serious in his craft, Michael studies the great photographers of our times, particularly Henri Cartier-Bresson who coined the term \u201cthe decisive moment\u201d (catching the perfect instant), and Robert Frank for street photography, and Ansel Adams for landscapes, to continue to grow as a photojournalist, with every image he takes.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy goal is always to capture the essence of a moment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Michael\u2019s work blends precision and spontaneity, reflecting the same determination that drives his professional success.<\/p>\n
\u201cPhotography has taught me patience and perspective,\u201d he added. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about taking pictures \u2014 it\u2019s about finding meaning in the ordinary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beat on the Street
Michael specializes in the genre of street photography,\u00a0 capturing real people and real places as they are, unposed and unscripted, often in streets, parks, subways, or marketplaces.<\/p>\n
The goal is to tell a story or reveal something authentic, the art of finding meaning in everyday life. Street photography is less about documenting events (or striking a pose) and more about capturing the human condition \u2014 moments that might otherwise go unnoticed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI focus on the streets of New York City because, as any true New Yorker, I love this city. It\u2019s one of the most exciting and fascinating places in the world\u2014and its people are just as remarkable,\u201d\u00a0 he said.<\/p>\n
Examples of Michael\u2019s captures a passerby glancing into a shop window, a splash of sunlight on a familiar corner, often in black and white.<\/p>\n
Ready for His Closeup- @Library
On Dec.19, Michael\u2019s works will be on display at the Great Neck Library.\u00a0 Michael\u2019s distinctive take on the familiar streets, shorelines, and people that define Long Island and New York City will be showcased for public viewing\u00a0for five weeks.<\/p>\n
The photo exhibition will be celebrating Michael\u2019s creative vision with a special photo display entitled \u201cNYC Streets.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Michael, the opportunity to share his images with the community that helped shaped him feels like coming full circle. \u201cI\u2019ve lived and worked here for 35 years,\u201d he said. \u201cTo have my work hanging in the library where I can share my passions with friends and family \u2014 that\u2019s special.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Michael Liman Photography exhibition runs through Jan. 23, 2026, at the Main Branch of the Great Neck Library, 159 Bayview Ave.. Admission is free and open to all. Don\u2019t miss the reception on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, from 6 \u2013 8 p.m.. Please \u00a0RSVP: or on Instagram @michael_liman_photography.<\/p>\n
A second look (& maybe check out a book?) \u2013 at the Library!
The Great Neck Library remains a vital community resource and a platform for showcasing local talent. The expansive gallery area at the lower level offers resident artists a chance to see their community through fresh eyes, and vice versa. You may also agree that when art comes from within the neighborhood, it resonates even more deeply.<\/p>\n
Destination: Great Neck Ltd., a 501 (c) (3) community organization, was founded by Janet Nina Esagoff in 2021 and aims to fortify and celebrate our town. @greatneckbiz. \u00a0\u00a0Esagoff Law Group PC was launched in 2017 and recently relocated to Middle Neck Road. Prior to her law career, Janet designed special\u2013occasion wear for girls and teens at her Bond Street boutique, Party Girl.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Janet Nina EsagoffJanet Nina Esagoff<\/p>\n
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