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Mr. C turns 65
Jerry Cea (aka Mr. C) has been cutting my hair for the past 15 years. When I was sitting in the chair last month, Jerry mentioned that he was going to celebrate his 65th Birthday on Feb 11.
I thought it would be a good idea to make a portrait of Jerry, print it and frame it so he could put it up in the shop. I arrived in time to catch Mr. C working on his first client just after 7:30 am. There was the usual banter and joking around. Those in Jerry's profession are a social lot. There's always a conversation underway, sport, politics, weather ... Over the years I've talked to Jerry about his love of sailing, his trailer (now gone), fishing, his trips to Cuba and so much else.
My challenge as photographer was to create an environmental portrait that captured the personality all of his clients would recognize as Mr. C. I set up with a 580 EXII on lightstand with 20x20 softbox to the right of his chair, dialed in the power of the flash to overpower the mainly fluorescent ambient light and adjused the exposure. I worked around Jerry as he worked around his client and made a number of images not really getting what I had envisioned. I moved the light to the left of the station and continued shooting.
After not too long, Jerry had finished with his first 2 clients and had no appointment scheduled next. I took the opportunity to ask Jerry to pose in the chair holding the "tools of the trade". I repositioned the light, reset the exposure to 125 s @ f/6.7 with the 580 on manual at 1/2 power, asked Jerry to give me something and ... click!
I had my portrait.
Here's to many more successful years my friend !
... a few others from the shoot.
DJE
In Cold Darkness
I had an opportunity for a return visit to the abandoned Massey Ferguson complex in Brantford (again with authorized access) this past weekend. A monthly photo challenge to make a self portrait and a suggestion to use this location as the setting came together nicely and resulted in the image above ...
I had planned to find a dramatically lit corner or alcove to work with off-camera strobes, something that I have yet to become competent with. After going directly to a location I knew of from the previous visit and working there for some time, I did not have what I was looking for. Picking up my gear, I went back into a large room where sunlight was beaming through holes in the dilapidated structure. There was a particular spot I had noticed on my way in, I would set up to use a beam of light isolate my profile in the darkness.
The air was frigid and still. Stepping into the light, the steam of my breath hung in the air ... click ... the image was frozen.
DJE
farm in a snow squall
I had occasion to be driving through Durham Region on Saturday and although there were times when the sun was shining and patches of blue sky were visible, for the most part there were snow squalls and white outs as the a cold winter wind swept the landscape.
On my way to meet up with my mother, I decided to take a more scenic route than I normally would have. The squalls made for some tense driving conditions. I did not stop to photograph and still ended up taking more time than I had expected to reach my destination. On the way home, I retraced some of my earlier route hoping for similar conditions. Although not quite as dramatic, the snow was whipping around and I was able to stop (safely) and make a few images before ultimately heading home.
white out
DJE
sunrise & steam
by the time the sun rises these winter mornings ...
... I usually see it from my office window.
With the morning temperature at -20*C some days lately this has been the scene that unfolds over my shoulder as I get my work day started. I have taken to keeping the window blinds open to let as much sun in as possible. The shortened daylight hours and grey skies leave me wanting as much sun as I can get.
DJE
