Local photographer’s image adorns Dana Farber Christmas card

LYNN – The Dana Farber Institute made way for ducklings after it accepted local photographer Stephen Zubricki Jr.’s image of the iconic statues in Boston’s public garden for its holiday card collection.”I’ve been doing this with them for a few years,” Zubricki said.The 71-year-old semi-retired graphic designer and professional photographer said he got started with Dana Farber six or eight years ago through a friend of a friend and he’s provided a photo for them each holiday since.”A woman I knew, knew the woman that handled the program,” he said. “She designed all the bows on the ducklings, which really helped make it a good picture. I have to give her a lot of credit.”The program involves local artists producing images for cards the cancer institute then sells through the Jimmy Fund to raise money for cancer research.The statues Zubricki shot are based on the popular local children’s book “Make Way for Ducklings,” by Robert McCloskey. Zubricki’s photo shows the mother duck with her babies trailing behind her all decked out in red and gold ribbons, however, a sharp eye will notice the background has been changed.”I put them on the ice on the pond,” Zubricki admitted. “Once you photograph the ducks and I have from all angles, you can put them anywhere with Photoshop.”Zubricki said it’s the first time he put the ducks in a different location but he likes the ideas. He is toying with setting them down in Faneuil Hall next year, in a winter scene just as the sun comes up.He doesn’t apologize for manipulating the photograph because he took both photos, he said.”I took the picture of the duck pond three years ago and I took the ducks six years ago, when I was still using film,” he said. “I had to scan the photos in.”Initially he hadn’t planned to submit a photo this year because although he spent an entire day out looking for the perfect holiday shot, he failed to nail one.”But then they called me,” he said.Other photographs Zubricki has submitted over the years include photos of a Charlestown monument, a picture of a Christmas tree through a window in Beacon Hill and red berries caught in ice.”They like Boston and Beacon Hill and that area,” he said. “I kind of know what they like after all these years.”If you want a print of Zubricki’s card act fast. He said he believes they have almost sold out.”I only got 40,” he quipped.You can see Zubricki’s card and other Dana Farber holiday offerings on its website www.jimmyfund.org/gif/holiday.Chris Stevens can be reached at [email protected].