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Image of the Week: Joe, Middlebury, Vermont

Take your time. Be flexible. Keep it simple.

That really sums up this week's image. It's a portrait of Joe, a student in the Russian Language School at Middlebury College, Vermont. Looming deadlines required that I shoot Joe, along with six other outstanding students, all on one Friday at various locations around campus.

Because of their busy class schedules, I only had about 10-15 minutes with each student, including location scouting time. By the time I had walked to the next location and met the student, I had less than 5 minutes to figure out the shot, set up any additional lighting, and start rolling.

I wasn't satisfied with the first few images I shot of Joe at the predetermined location. It was outside in the noonday sun, and the image looked staged, not at all natural. Joe had a more flexible schedule than the others, so we walked over to a college dining hall nearby where we found beautiful window light and best of all, a grand piano.

After I had shot dozens of unremarkable frames, Joe sat down and began to play. I immediately visualized the shot I wanted. Leaving behind my tripod and strobed umbrella, I stood on the rear of a nearby sofa and shot several frames of Joe illuminated by the soft, north-facing windows at the end of the piano. This image really speaks, and has a gentle connection that the other staged and artificially-lit shots don't.

It's easy to get caught in a rush when the schedule is tight. Sometimes you have no choice. The key in these situations is to mentally slow down, explore your surroundings, communicate with your subject, keep the gear to a minimum, and be open to possibilities.

Take your time. Be flexible. Keep it simple.

Have questions, comments? Let me know what you think.

Technical Data

Joe, Middlebury, Vermont was photographed using a Tachihara 4x5 field camera and a Schneider 210mm Symmar-S ƒ/5.6 lens on Kodak T-MAX 100, rated at ISO 50. The sheet of film was developed in Agfa Rodinal 1:100 for 17 minutes.

Other Images of the Week

Moonrise and Abandoned Trailers, Anza-Borrego Desert, California UVM Mallory, Morgan Horse Farm, Weybridge, Vermont, Palladium Print Abandoned Cabin, Anza-Borrego Desert, California Melissa and Parker, Columbia, South Carolina Old Stone Row in Winter, Middlebury, Vermont Worth Mountain Ski Lift in a Snowstorm, Middlebury College Snow Bowl, Green Mountains, Vermont Farmer and Pilot Ed Peet, Cornwall, Vermont Birches, Middlebury, Vermont Mountain Palm Springs, Anza-Borrego Desert, California Bullseye, Citronelle, Alabama Lunging UVM Orlando, Morgan Horse Farm, Weybridge, Vermont
Barns IV, Middlebury, Vermont Fallen Tree in the Creek, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming Blacksmith Lee Beckwith, Weybridge, Vermont Snow Angel, Middlebury, Vermont Slack Line, Middlebury, Vermont Coffee Splash Barns III, Middlebury, Vermont Beulah in the Carrizo Badlands, Anza-Borrego Desert, California Chapel of the Transfiguration, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming Cross-Country Runner Alexandra Krieg, Middlebury, Vermont Horse Bath, Morgan Horse Farm, Weybridge, Vermont
Whitney, Citronelle, Alabama The North Window from Turret Arch, Arches National Park, Utah Jeff, Middlebury College, Vermont Hostas II, Middlebury, Vermont Hikers in Coyote Gulch I, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah Ocotillo Shadow, Abandoned Cabin, Anza-Borrego State Park, California Moonlit Palms, Anza-Borrego State Park, California Park Avenue, Arches National Park, Utah Ashton and Whitney, Citronelle, Alabama Steven Halladay Road III
Fall colors and ivy-covered wall, Middlebury College, Vermont Maple Tree, Middlebury, Vermont Jesse Hamner at Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone NP Aon Center from Millenium Park, Chicago Mountain Biking I Boulders II, Canyonlands National Park, Utah Hosta Leaves Joe The Pour Skylar

Joe, Middlebury, Vermont. Click on image to view larger.
All images and graphics © 2005-2010 Brett Simison, All Rights Reserved.
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