Michael Malandra Fine Art Photography & Positive Vibes Artwork

09/04/2026

Beautiful day in Sedona

08/14/2026

What Will Matter

Someday, very little of what we own will matter.

And neither will most of what we said.

The things we collected will eventually belong to someone else, and most of the opinions we thought were so important will be forgotten.

What will remain is how we lived.

How we treated people.

Whether our words helped, encouraged, taught or brought people together... or whether we were simply speaking because our ego needed to be heard.

Not every thought needs to be spoken.

Not every opinion needs to be defended.

Not every disagreement needs to be won.

Sometimes awareness is simply knowing when our voice can add something meaningful... and when it’s better to listen.

In the end, I don’t think we’ll be remembered for how much we owned or how loudly we were heard.

We’ll be remembered for who we were and what we gave to the people whose lives crossed ours.

The Way of Awareness

08/01/2026

Something New Has Arrived in Tuxedo...

Yesterday I finished hanging 14 pieces of my photography and artwork at The Station: An Espresso Cafe in Tuxedo.

As I hung the final piece yesterday, I found myself thinking less about the artwork and more about the journey. Every photograph and every painting on those walls represents a place I’ve explored, a moment I was fortunate enough to witness, or an idea that simply wouldn’t leave me alone until I brought it to life. Looking around the room, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for every step that’s led me here and excited that these pieces now get to become part of a place that’s bringing people together.

This isn’t just another coffee shop.

It’s quickly becoming a gathering place for the community.

Great coffee.

A beautiful, welcoming space.

Friendly people.

And soon...

Live music.

Art nights.

Creative classes.

And hopefully, a 710 Experiment gig as well. 😊

I’m honored to have my work become a small part of that vision.

You’ll find a collection of local Harriman and Hudson Valley landscapes, quiet moments from nature, and a few pieces that take a different creative path—including my Jerry Head artwork, which seemed especially fitting to have hanging today.

Happy Birthday to one of my lifelong inspirations, Jerry Garcia. 🎸

Every piece is printed on metal and is available for purchase. The title and pricing cards will be going up shortly, but if something speaks to you before then, just let me know or ask one of the wonderful people at the café.

If you’re anywhere near Tuxedo, stop in.

Grab a coffee.

Take your time.

Look around.

Maybe one of these images reminds you of a place you’ve been...

Or a feeling you’ve almost forgotten.

That’s always been my hope with my work.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone at The Station for believing in local artists and creating a space where art, music, conversation, and community can all come together.

I have a feeling this is only the beginning.

08/01/2026

07/29/2026

California Dreaming... Beneath the Hollywood Sign

For some people, the Hollywood Sign is just another tourist stop.

For others, it’s a symbol of possibility.

Sue and I spent part of our California weekend hiking the Brush Canyon Trail to the Hollywood Sign. About seven miles round trip with incredible views and well worth every step.

Standing beneath the sign, I couldn’t help but think about something Taylor Sheridan once said:

“Everyone in Hollywood has an unfinished script. I’m successful because I finished mine and never quit or made excuses.”

That idea has very little to do with Hollywood.

It has everything to do with life.

We all have our own unfinished script.

Maybe it’s starting a business
Creating art
Writing a book
Learning a new skill
Changing careers

Becoming the person we’ve always wanted to be.

Dreams don’t become reality because we talk about them.

They become reality because we keep showing up... especially on the days when it would be easier to quit.

The Hollywood Sign may represent the entertainment industry...

But to me, it represents something much bigger.

A reminder that our future isn’t written by our circumstances.

It’s written by the choices we make...

The work we’re willing to put in...

And the courage to keep writing our own story.

One page at a time.

The Way of Awareness

07/28/2026

I wanted to put this back out there because I know there’s someone looking for a professional space to teach, train, or grow their business.

Maybe that’s you… or maybe it’s someone you know.

We all know people who are working to build something…

A new class.
A growing business.
A dream they’ve been working toward.

If someone comes to mind while reading this, I’d truly appreciate you sharing this post with them.

Sometimes the right opportunity is simply waiting for the right person to see it.

The right space can help the right business grow. Maybe you know someone who’s been looking for exactly that. Call or text 9142621760

Thank you for helping spread the word. 🙏

07/28/2026

A place that leaves an impression on you is worth visiting more than once.

Sue and I spent another long weekend back in California. We enjoyed Topanga so much on our last trip that we decided to head back, spend some time hiking, exploring new beaches, finding a few great restaurants... and, of course, making photographs.

One of the things I love most about photography is that no two visits are ever the same.

Different weather.
Different light.
Different people.
Different moments.

This was one of those moments.

I was walking the beach when I spotted this lifeguard quietly keeping watch over the shoreline. The dramatic sky, the wind, the flag, and the simple stillness of the scene all came together for just a few seconds. It felt like something from another era, so I leaned into that feeling while editing and gave the image a bit of a retro California look.

I still have quite a few images to work through from the trip including some of the iconic Hollywood Sign, but I thought I’d share this one first.

Sometimes the best part of traveling isn’t checking another place off a list...

It’s returning somewhere that already feels a little like home.

07/23/2026

What If...?

Sometimes the best ideas begin with one simple question...

“I wonder what would happen if...”

A couple of marbles.

A sheet of glass.

Some baby powder.

A few lights.

And a little imagination.

What started as an afternoon of experimenting slowly became something that reminded me of the incredible images we’ve all seen from deep space.

It wasn’t about recreating the universe.

It was about remembering something we often lose as adults...

The willingness to play.

Somewhere along the way, many of us stop experimenting because we’re afraid to waste time, make mistakes, or create something that doesn’t work.

But creativity doesn’t grow from certainty.

It grows from curiosity.

Looking at this image again reminded me how much I enjoy experimenting. I think it’s time to dust off the macro lens and see where curiosity leads next.

Maybe we all need to ask ourselves that simple question a little more often...

“I wonder what would happen if...”

The Way of Awareness

07/15/2026

The Way of Awareness

There are places that simply feel...familiar.

Not because we’ve lived there.

Not because we were raised there.

And not because someone taught us they were important.

Yet somehow...

the moment we arrive, something inside us becomes quiet.

Yesterday I spent a few hours photographing the Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, New York.

I’ve visited many times over the years, and every time I leave asking myself the same question...

Why does this place feel like home?

I’ve felt the same thing while standing at the Amitabha Stupa in Sedona.

Walking through temples in Bhutan.

Even in quiet moments I’ve found unexpectedly while traveling.

I can’t explain it.

Maybe some things aren’t meant to be explained.

Maybe they’re simply meant to be experienced.

I think we all have places like that.

Places where the noise of the world fades.

Places where we remember what’s important.

Places that remind us who we are beneath all the distractions of everyday life.

For me...

this is one of those places.

Maybe the greatest gift we can give ourselves isn’t finding somewhere new...

It’s finding the places that bring us back to ourselves.

See More. Create More. Live More. Give More.

07/13/2026

I don’t think we ever really finish a piece of art.

We simply reach the point where it says what we wanted it to say.

Then it’s time to let it go.

This is the latest piece in my new watercolor and ink landscape series...

The Watchman
Zion National Park, Utah
12×18 • Watercolor & Ink

The second image is a glimpse into my studio while I was finishing the painting. The reference photograph is still on my computer, but somewhere along the way I stopped looking at it.

For a long time, photography was my way of telling these stories.

Now painting is teaching me to tell them differently.

There’s something exciting about stepping outside what’s familiar. About becoming a beginner again. About letting go of the need to get everything right and simply enjoying the process of creating.

As this series continues to grow, it’s reminding me that the joy isn’t just in having a collection ready for my Fall Sedona shows...

It’s in every brushstroke, every challenge, every lesson and every moment spent creating.

We spend so much of our lives looking toward what’s next that we sometimes forget to appreciate what’s happening right now.

This series has become my reminder to do exactly that.

To be fully present with the brushstroke I’m making... not the one I’ll make next.

Because that’s where life happens.

Not in the next accomplishment.

Not in the next painting.

Not in the next destination.

Right here.

I’m still learning.
Still exploring.
Still finding new ways to tell the same stories.

And I hope I never lose that sense of curiosity.