Kids
Everytime I visit this place I come away amazed … amazed at the irrepressible spirit of children … amazed at how seemingly intractable social problems can be mitigated with such simple solutions. I am sure it’s not perfect, but this place is all about respect, compassion. and understanding in the service of hope and possibilities. I always come away renewed.
Russian Celebrities
The Russians were back shooting more TV in February. It is hard to beat a 376 foot three masted Barque (See Tall Ships) for a location, but Gehry’s Disney Center is a pretty good problem to have. I was asked, once again, to do the print for the VTb24 Bank ADs (the second largest bank in Russia). The subjects were a popular Russian journalist, Leonid Parfyonov, and a film director, Valery Todorovsky. It is always fun hanging with the folks at Mechaniks (LA production company) and I go to school on Michael Norman the director. It is a lot of hurry up and wait, and then hurry up. I make a lot of friends on a film set by working fast.
Tall Ships … a dream … at last
I got a call from a producer in Los Angeles to shoot print ads concurrent with the TV spots for a bank in Russia (VTb24). The subject, in this case, was the captain of the Kreuzenstern, a 3 masted barque, used for maritime training, and the second largest tall ship in the world. A week later I was on deck off Cape Cod, under a full moon and full sail. A long time ago I blew a chance to get up close and personal with tall ships. Different time, different John. I called my son and his comment was “Dad, you finally got your tall ship”. Yep.
Every few years I photograph the outgoing President of the Academy of Arts & Sciences. The picture ends up on a wall documenting presidents of the last 230 years, starting with an engraving of John Adams (1779). As most of what I do is published and chucked, it feels significant to me to have created something for the historical record. Some recent contributions to that wall have been Leo Beranek (Sorry Al, he knows who founded the internet) and Dr. Emilio Bizzi ( a distinguished neuroscientist).
I got a call a couple of years ago from a portrait painter and acquaintance of mine to collaborate on some work he had been commissioned to do. We eventually worked together on portraits for Alan Greenspan for the Fed (see bio), Gov. Tom Ridge, and Hon. Michael Chertoff, both for the Dept. of Homeland Security. I am always amazed and humbled by good painters. The plasticity of their process, the extraordinary melding of craft and opinion, and the granularity of decisions, makes taking a photograph seem like a walk in the park. My goal was to take some pictures that not only worked for the painting, but that worked for me as well. These photos, in a roundabout way, acquired a similiar historical significance for me as those above. Somewhere in the paintings, hung forever in the corridors of government, will be my photographic DNA.
A Job Well Done (more Restasis)
I want to get beyond the shots here to the set and the casting. Let’s play a game. Find the styling missteps (this is an architect’s office) OK, I give up. It is such a pleasure to work in an environment where everyone does their job well. I was working in sets designed and implemented by Andy Rhodes; a freelance art director in LA. I was shooting very loose and making things up as I went along … my art director had moved on to his weekend. These sets were built in a vacant museum; essentially cool, empty space. When Andy and his minions got done with a location, every detail, every dark corner worked to convey the necessary idea. The models, all appropriately architectonic, disappeared into the concept. It was instant universe. I moved nothing. God love Los Angeles.
Andy and his set … check out the details!
America’s Favorite Ophthalmologist
I have always thought that my accountant should drive a mercedes, my dentist should have perfect teeth, and my mechanic should drive a 15 year old buick (if you can keep that running you can fix anything). All was right with the world then photographing Dr. Alison Tendler, ophthalmologist and spokesperson for Restasis Eye Drops. As Jack Kerouac said (OK different context) “You got eyes”. She could drift into simple beauty very quickly. I had to keep pulling her back to “doctor” … highly disciplined professional that I am.
I have done a lot of work for a very large law firm in Boston. A few years ago I had a chance to photograph many of their first year associates for a recruiting brochure. In the course of the interactions, I asked a lot of them if they loved the law. Not one answered affirmatively.
I have shot 4 of the last 6 covers for The Law School … an annual publication for NYU, usually featuring their most distinguished graduates or professors. These guys love the law. This year was no exception.
Neil Barofsky is a born troublemaker. A relentless investigator, a creative and fearless prosecutor, he has made trouble for Columbian druglords and powerful financiers. Most recently, he has been assigned the task (by the Obama Administration) of finding out what happened to that 400 billion dollar TARP give away in late 2008 and early 2009. It seems noone had bothered to ask. As nothing is simple for anyone with strong moral compass in Washington DC, he is ruffling feathers in many different government neighborhoods. He is a very low key, nice guy. He is, also, very busy.
Neil graciously gave us a two hour window. The art director and myself scouted early in the morning and pulled off 5 situations. I like working fast … things don’t get too fussy. My assistants tell me their worst nightmare is me with time on my hands. No problems here.
I love photographing authors. I have never met one that wasn’t incredibly intense. A number of my subjects have had a serious preoccupation with firearms. (Clancy, Parker) but they don’t usually wear them. When Terry Goodkind answered his front door, he sported a 45mm Glock on his belt. Now I am not a gun guy, and that lack of familiarity breeds a certain diffidence when they are around, so I asked if I was in peril. His look implied that the jury was out until we got to know each other. Sometimes getting along is not a choice. We talked about it later, and I couldn’t really argue with the idea that, like a cell phone, if you decide to own a gun, it doesn’t do you a lot of good sitting at home under your pillow. Terry is very smart, very focussed, and, yes, strongly opinionated … and man, he’s got some wheels.
Terry, Jeri his wife, Ivan Held (publisher) and Susan Allison(editor)
Alnylam Pharmaceutical is a biotech firm in Cambridge, MA. I have photographed their annual report for the last five years. There are usually two components to the assignment; the first centered around an idea or theme and tied into a fairly demanding graphic; the second a very free form visual record of the company at that time. This year the theme was focus. The graphic solution entailed having eyes and action in the center of a vertical, with room at the top a bottom for type and text.
There were chosen players and it all had to be setup. The cover was supposed to adhere to the same criteria, but incorporate warmth and accessibility as well. That is all about casting (in this case finding). I try to avoid faking nice. Tatiana is a natural. I brought a lab mate in for entertainment and occasionally interjected some bon mots to keep things lively.
… and we ended up here:
Designer: Michael Persons … Gill Fishman Design.
(See More Photos From this Shoot)
I first met Robert Parker in 1992. I remember driving up to his house in Cambridge, assigned by his long time publisher Putnam to produce an author portrait and publicity photos. I found him sitting on the front steps. I pulled up, rolled down the window and introduced myself. His response was to inform me that he had two expressions and then showed me a maniacal grin and a terrifying grimace. It was the beginning of long and productive relationship.
About every other year I would come back for a new set of photos (the last time was June 09), and I would like to think he cultivated a grudging respect for the work, implicit in the return engagements (that, or Joan liked me). I have photographed a lot of authors over the years and he was my favorite. He seemed to soften a touch with time, or maybe he was just waiting for me to grow up. Whatever the case, that gruff exterior belied a warm and generous heart. I will miss the grin and the grimace.
