I have recognized a need to really step up my portrait game. I meet lots of great people and often have the opportunity to steal a part of their soul. Sometimes I forget the camera and can’t, and other times it isn’t the time or place.
My studio technique isn’t what it could be, I prefer documentary and on location style shooting, but 2010 is the year I develop as a studio photographer. I have no ambition to shoot commercially or portraits-for-hire, but there is something timeless about a good portrait. I’m setting a goal to post a series of portraits every month.
The subject of this series is Jay Ferguson. You can read the full bio about who he is and what he does by clicking on his name, but I will briefly say that he is a member of one of the great Canadian rock bands, Sloan. I had the privilege of shooting him a couple of years ago at both his house, in a nearby park, and at Sloan’s rehearsal space. He couldn’t have been easier to work with, had no ego about anything, and did whatever I asked (including the goofy Kiss record over face shot). In one situation, I asked him to throw a snowball at the camera, figuring it wouldn’t come too close, but from about 50 ft away, he hit me square in the lens and face. Even though it was entirely my fault, he acted like he just hit my baby with a car. He has accomplished a huge amount in his career, yet was a hundred times more gracious and easier to work with than some musicians I know that haven’t done shit with their career, act like they are a combination of Naomi Campbell and Frank Sinatra, but wish they came across like Neil Young or whoever the current hipster idol is (I love Neil Young. Not saying he is a hipster hero).
Enjoy…
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