I was very lucky to get to make some portraits for Clayton, who is in his senior year. He is a musically gifted young man who brought along a violin, a ukelele, and a cajón. (A Google search later, and I am now informed that it is an Afro-Peruvian drum. You’re welcome.)
Technically, his mother brought the instruments, as Clayton was arriving to the photo session after a 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. work shift. I was a little skeptical that he would be able to give the session his best attitude after getting up at 4 a.m., but his mom assured me he could handle it, and she was right. He could not have been more cooperative or accommodating.
This was the first shot of the session.
I loved the morning glow of the sky and the calm, almost meditative look to this portrait. We used a reflector to bring some light back onto his face, but I also did a few shots without it, exposing for the sky and letting him go almost to a silhouette.
Just the difference in exposure and a slight change in my angle, and he had the look of a brooding artist.
He had left his violin locked up at school, so he was playing a borrowed violin. He played well, but it felt odd for him to be holding a different instrument from the one he knew well.
He put down the violin for a few shots as well.
His girlfriend made him the tie. I was impressed. I’ve sewn a lot of things, from Mario and Luigi overalls to Jedi robes, but I’ve never made a tie. I like how she aligned the pattern on the bias. Nice touch.
His mom wasn’t so sure about the leaf on his shirt. Normally, I’m not a bold graphics person when it comes to attire in portraits either, but I think it goes well with the setting.
The ukelele, at least, was his own familiar instrument. Suddenly he was channeling Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. (You’ll have to Google that one yourself. No more freebies.)
Then there was the cajón.
It’s there. He’s sitting on it.
You can see it better here.
Yes, it looks like a box. It is a box, but there is a hole cut out of the back, kind of like a guitar has. And a ukelele, and even the violin, if you look closely. But the hole in the cajón is in back. I had him turn it around for a few pictures for the nice graphic element of the round hole, but he thought it looked weird, so we turned it back around. We wouldn’t want a weird cajón.
Truly, he had been so patient with everything else, it was the least I could do to respect his preference for his instrument direction. We had so many great pictures of him, it was hard to narrow them down and pick a few favorites to feature here. Clayton, you were a pleasure to work with, and I appreciate the musical entertainment and education during this morning session!
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