The Book of Self-Portraits
Milton Oleaga, August 3, 1929 to July 31, 2013
Milton at the beginning of his photographic career, c. 19 years old
Milton’s Stoic Truth
At Luigi’s Jazz Centre
The mirror seeks the soul
A Photographer’s Eyes . . . Milton at Luigi’s
Captivating intensity
Milton started photography in the U.S. Army. He grew up near Sheepshead Bay, Long Island
Spiritual Passion
Milton tangled in wire
Searching for Self
Pure Spanish Basque
Lone nature-lover
Hangin’ out between combinations at Luigi’s Jazz
Found NY street art
A haunting look after a NYC mugging
Whooped from dancing and photographing in Luigi’s Jazz class
Coffee break working at Philip Leonian’s studio, c. 67 years old
The Photographs of Milton Oleaga 
Mickey,
What a wonderful compilation of “Milton” pictures you have put together here. Black and whites have always seemed so much more artistically impressive and emotionally revealing to me. We have had a 9″x12″ black and white photo of Milton, face on, with you looking over his shoulder, tacked to our refrigerator. Unbeknownst to both of you, we have all been daily kitchen companions for 15 years. Your efforts are a loving gift that celebrates a very talented, manly man and friend.
Love, Lindsay
Dear Lindsay,
Thank you for looking and giving me feedback. It took me awhile to be able to look and work with his pictures. Your comment sends my solar chakra into flutters. I wanted to say goodbye.
love,
mickey
Thanks for doing that , Mickey. I have a book of those portraits which I love. Milton’s memory and photos live on..many of them through his beloved Luigi and Francis and their many students who are fortunate to own many of his early photographs.
We love you MIlton.
Hello Mickey,
I was MIlton’s neighbor in Chelsea for a year from 2010-2011. We formed a very special bond, as much as one can with their neighbor. He used to receive my packages for me and leave notes on my door to retrieve them from him. Every Thursday I would come home to a strand bookstore bag hanging from my doorknob with books and letters about them. After I moved away we became pen pals. I have pages and pages of letters from him, audio recordings, and of course the beautiful spiral bound photo books. He also mentioned to me at one point wanting to have his work shared. I am just now finding out about Milton’s death. I haven’t heard from him in a while and didn’t want to consider the possibility. I don’t quite know how to feel.
I’d really love to be in contact with you. If you feel comfortable please email me at c.ann.gallagher@gmail.com.
Katie Gallagher
Thank you for giving me the chance to “see” Milton again through your posting of the photos. I knew Milton from taking class at Luigi’s. (1972) He did a sort of portfolio of me of head shots etc. When he found out that I was an amateur photographer, he allowed me to burn my own photos and he developed them. I still have them. Then I got a job on a cruise ship sailing for months and never did reconnect. I was so sad to find that he had passed away. I posted a photo he took of me on my facebook page and gave him credit.
A friend of Milton’s is a friend of mine: Greetings, Donna! I will retrieve your photo on facebook in order to be able to identify you amongst the near-thousands of photos coming to me, many unidentified. I’m recovering from some medical issues right now, but soon intend to begin to post the 100lbs of photos I already have. When you see yourself, please let me know (or let me know if you know any of the Broadway Gypsies at Luigis) and the photo[s] of yourself are yours. I will send you the originals. This is what Milton wanted: for the photos to be seen by appreciative eyes, immediately put into the public domain. If you live in NYC, stop in one day to the Library of Performing Arts where Milton long ago donated “a truckload” of photos of all the major dance companies and schools (Juilliard, Jose Limon, NYCB, Harkness Ballet, Martha Graham, ABT. You may find your own image there. Jai Jeffries (on Facebook) is Milton’s executor, and would facilitate your getting copies from the Library’s holdings . . . I think. Donna, he was my photographic mentor too . .. gave me my first camera. This was over 30 years ago. Jan La Salle Jeffries has always been Milton’s ultimate mentee . . . she still takes jazz at Luigi’s. Well, coming up on July 30, 2014, the one-year anniversary of Milton’s passing, the ache is still there . . . as you probably feel. Keep checking out his blog here in the coming weeks, as I begin the glorious task of jpging all his photos, and learning how to put his many recorded, page-by-page commentaries on hundreds of spiral bound “books” . . . like essays in pictures . . . in several other subjects like day-fishing boats, NYC street (subversively done) photos of the 60s and 70s, and Luigi Luigi Luigi . . . send me a jpg of the one he took of you, and the time and place?
photos looking for a good home
peace,
mickey morgan
Wonderful. I had never seen these pictures before. Thank you for your wonderful work.
We must have been in some of the same classes at Luigis in the 70’s. Please post a picture of yourself from those studio days.
Betsy Ramlow