Artist Q & A: Jeffrey Milstein & Paul Barbera
Jeffrey Milstein welcomes photographer and director Paul Barbera into his Hudson Valley studio for a visit and Q & A. Read the full article below featured in Where They Create.
Tucked away in the Hudson Valley, Jeffrey Milstein’s upstate studio feels more like a cockpit than a workspace. It’s fitting—before turning to photography, Milstein was a pilot. That bird’s-eye view never left him. Today, his meticulously organized studio in Kingston reflects the precision of his aerial images—portraits of cities, ports, and planes shot from above with geometric clarity.
Maps are pinned to the wall beside contact sheets; the room is flooded with natural light. There’s a quiet rhythm to his process, an almost meditative control. Each frame he shoots is planned, patient, and exacting. Whether he’s hovering above LAX or zooming in on the patterns of New York’s city grid, Milstein’s work reveals structure where others see chaos.
In this space, past and future meet. Shelves are lined with prints, aviation books, and models—artifacts from a life both above and within the world. It’s a studio built for looking down, but grounded in reflection.
Read the Q & A:
What’s something that might surprise me about your space?
Its street location.
Describe your ideal workspace in three words.
Comfortable, equipped, organized.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
You can learn from the masters by copying when you are starting out—but then you must find your own voice.
What’s the most practical productivity tip you’d share with a fellow creative?
Try to immerse yourself.
What would you say to your 18-year-old self?
Have fun—it goes fast.
Do you experience any learning challenges growing up—like ADD or dyslexia? If so, how did you cope and push through?
I have some dyslexia. I didn’t know what it was, but I knew I tended to mix up numbers and had to be careful when plotting my paths and entering navigation information.
What’s one life lesson you wish you’d learned earlier?
Buy the S&P and hold it.
Does your workspace have an interesting story behind it?
It was part of historic Kingston—Cohen’s Clothing from the late 1800s.
What can you see out your window right now?
People walking, the large print on the wall—an up-and-coming part of Kingston with a lot of history. A lot of friendly people.
What’s your dream project?
To be hired to shoot from a helicopter.
How has a stranger impacted your life?
Many people: my high school art teacher, my first architect job boss, photographer Jay Maisel.
Written by: Paul Barbera