BW instructors in a class of their own

By Adriana Serafino | Manor ink

Bethel, NY – Sullivan County is not only a beautiful place, but it is also the home of two amazing local photographers and artists, Bette Blau and Steven Randazzo. This spring, they were also guest teachers for Bethel Woods Center for the Arts’ Project Identity classes.

One look at their websites and you can see the extraordinary composition skills and mastery of lighting that have come from their years of experience.

Steven Randazzo began taking photos at about age 13, when his father gave him an old camera. When he was in high school, Randazzo thought he would become an accountant. But a teacher inspired him to pursue photography.

“She picked up a magazine and she showed me all the photographs that were in it,” Randazzo recalled. “She said professional photographers take those pictures and you can make a living out of it.”

Bette Blau began her career by studying painting at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. While in college, she had a job with a tabletop stylist doing setups for photographs, and working on images for Food & Wine magazine set her on her creative journey.

Bette Blau worked as a prop stylist for different photographers for decades. Then, around 2018, she started shooting still life nature shots for herself and friends, as well as clients. “Photography can take you to a lot of places,” Blau said. “You know, one day you’re doing cosmetics, and the next day you’re shooting whiskey in a basement.”

Two different professions – photography and styling – merged perfectly when Randazzo and Blau became a team. Blau art directs the layouts and visuals with an insight she learned from many years of styling, while Randazzo is a master of light and knows a lot about the technical side of photography. Their shared skills allow them to work really well together.

To learn more about Bette Blau and Steven Randazzo, go to betteblau.com and randazzoblau.com.