Posts tagged Showcase

Client Work: Pine Tree Legal Assistance

It’s easy to get lost in the technical aspects of photography—the correct exposure, the right light modifier for the exact situation—and produce a technically perfect image that lacks heart. 

That’s why I enjoy working with clients like the Pine Tree Legal Association.  They are a statewide non-profit providing legal services to Mainers with  need but no ability to pay.   It’s a wonderful mission and they do great, important work.  

Recently, PTLA asked me to take portraits of their clients both at their Portland office and at various other locations of significance to the clients or their legal cases.  

Selfishly, I love the opportunity to photograph PTLA’s clients—many of them families, all of whom have stories to tell—in a candid, simple, editorial way.   Here, the moment is the most important thing, as is revealing the stories written on the faces of their clients.   

Pine Tree Legal Association

ecomaine Annual Report

ecomaine

Happy to be able to share some of the work I did late last year for ecomaine’s annual report. Ecomaine is a nonprofit waste management facility serving more than 70 Maine communities.   They operate a recycling facility, a landfill operation and operate a waste-to-energy power plant based in Portland.  Ecomaine works with the type of stuff that people generally don’t want–trash and used plastic, cardboard and packaging–but we all benefit from the work they do. 

The images show another side of ecomaine–the faces of those who make the operation run, day in and day out, 365 days a year. 

 

 

ecomaine

Changing Mood By Photographing Opposites

mood

Before I owned a studio full of lighting gear and travelled with assistants, I spent years as a photojournalist who owned little more than a Domke F-2 bag with two camera bodies.  When you boil things down, I’m a location photographer who happens to have a studio.

When on location, I often have to travel quickly, adjust on the fly and create visual gold out of thin air.   When it comes to using light, I’ve learned to work fast and to think in opposites.  More on that in a moment.  The advantages of also having a studio means that I can test and experiment with my lighting before going on scene, which is a huge plus.

A recent collaboration with Virginia, a local actress looking for theatrical images, demonstrates the idea of “opposites” well.  The challenge was to create a series of distinct looks in the studio in a relatively short period of time, relying only on lighting and a few key elements. As a mental exercise, I try to challenge myself to create looks that are visual “opposites”–i.e., if I photograph a scene heavily lit, then I’ll try one completely using natural light. If something is very dark toned, I’ll try one scenario that is all light or white tones. It’s a way of expressing something completely different even with the same subject and location.

My favorite image of the day was of Virginia wrapped in a flowing red scarf, blowing in the breeze. In the absence of the background, the red scarf gives life and movement to the image and I love how it turned out. Then there’s the quiet moment of Virginia, looking dark with warm, low-contrast tones. Contrast these with images where she is looks unflinchingly at the frame, a study in bright tones.

One space, a few elements, and deliberate lighting to help convey a different mood. Virginia knocked it out of the park.

 

mood

 

mood

 

 

Bernstein Shur: letting clients help tell the story

Bernstein Shur: letting clients help tell the story

 

One of the largest single projects I’ve had the pleasure of being involved with over the past year was a branding redesign for Maine-based law firm Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson, P.A.

I was contacted by Thinkso!, a New York creative agency, to produce all of the imagery for a comprehensive rebranding effort. Working with their creative team and with the amazing people at Bernstein Shur, we photographed all of the firm’s attorneys in Portland,  Augusta and New Hampshire. We also spent time with several of the firm’s clients, photographing their operations over the course of several months.  This project was unique not just because of its scope and size, but also because of the opportunity to work with Bernstein Shur’s clients in the course of showing the deep relationships involved.

The rebrand was rolled out at the end of 2015 and looks amazing. I’m grateful to have been a part of such a monumental effort and for the chance to visually tell the story of this proud Maine firm.  See below for examples of the work in action.

 

Bernstein Shur: letting clients help tell the story

 

Bernstein Shur: letting clients help tell the story

 

Bernstein Shur: letting clients help tell the story

Maine Photographer chosen for Photoshelter showcase

Kind of blowing my own horn here, but, well, this is pretty cool.  I’m a member of Photoshelter, which provides website and e-commerce tools and markets the work of photographers worldwide.  More than 60,000 photographers use the service, which is filled with all kinds of cool tools to help photographers help their clients.  Each month they choose 20 member photos to feature on their home page.   I’m a little surprised and humbled, but this month they chose to showcase one of my images of the Port Authorities Roller Derby team.   Really, it’s those ladies who are responsible for my selection–clearly.  So, roller dolls, thanks a million!  And thanks, Photoshelter, for the honor. Click to check out the August Photoshelter member showcase photos.

Interested photographers can click this Photoshelter link to learn more and join at a discount.