8.27.2020
Here we are (8.7.2020)
It's uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....hhhhhhh.h been a year. It started off really well, considering last year was one of the slowest years of my career. January was awesome. I was down in LA with Nike and then back up here in Portland, helping my dear friend, Boone, out on a shoot for Dockers. February was cool too. I did some work for Squarespace that I can't quite share yet (it's all hush hush).
I wanted to share an editorial from January that's grown on me. There are times when a project comes along that you're excited about but falls flat and leaves you feeling empty after it's done. Sometimes it comes back around a few months later and doesn't make you feel quite empty like it did.
Back in January I photographed Director Kelly Reichardt for American Way Magazine. I was stoked. I like working with directors and figuring out there process. I had emails from the photo editor with hints of, "this may be difficult." I'm not one who usually worries about that, though. I find that if you set an intention and provide a welcoming space, most everyone will come into a set and work. Give a little, take a little.
At the time, I didn't feel like I got enough from Kelly. I felt kinda defeated cause I couldn't get past her walls. I couldn't get the conversation going. There was a disconnect. I don't think anyone is to blame, it just happens sometimes. I definitely don't expect everyone or anyone to let me into their lives in 15 mins. It's unrealistic. Something younger me fought with a lot.
Looking back at the portraits, I think I may of accomplished what I set out to do. There's a depth to them that I didn't see before. You can see it in Kelly's eyes, her stare. A few slight smiles and what appears to be a deep reflection upon who she is and her life. It reflects her work
Kelly's latest movie, First Cow, is out now. I haven't watched it yet but it has a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and some outstanding reviews from movie critics. I hope she's doing well and I hope I get to photographer more artist like her. Knowing that shoots may be few and far between this year, these may be my favorite portraits of 2020.