Frequently Asked Questions

Did you find your father's collection after he passed away?

Actually, I always knew where the negatives were, but since he only printed about 15 or so images, I had no idea what was contained in the rest of the collection. Researching the collection began in December of 2003 as an archival project.

Is there a studio or gallery where I can see the photos in person?

Fine Art prints in a variety of formats can be seen by scheduling an appointment.

Please contact us at the number on the Contact page.

Has anyone ever found themselves in one of the photos?

The answer is....YES! Elaine Zito is in the "Zito's Bakery" photo. Several people have been identified by residents still living in the Village today.

How many images are there in the collection?

This is a two-part answer. For the creative work - at the moment, there are almost 300 images of New York City. The vast majority were shot in Greenwich Village (west side), between 1961 and 1967. All of my father's commercial work still survives, but has not yet been thoroughly researched.

Can images be licensed for use in books, on the web, and television?

Absolutely. As a matter of fact there are two books due out in 2008 that have licensed images from the collection. One is about Jane Jacobs, and the other is about the folk music scene in the Village from 1957 to 1971. More details will be provided as they become available. Please contact me directly for details on licensing images.

Is there a book of Robert Otter photos?

Not yet, but I'm working on it.

What else is interesting about the "Robert Otter" story?

My father found out he was adopted when he was forty-eight years old...! He always thought he was born in the Bronx, since that was where he was raised. But in fact he was born in Manhattan.

How are the photographs reproduced?

Very high resolution scans of the original negatives and meticulous cleaning, are the main components of preparation for digital printing with pigment inks on a variety of archival fine art media.