Portrait Photo Gallery

Dr. Bob Arnot, Vermont. 2007

This photo was made for a book being published by American Health Media. Dr Bob is a medical correspondent, author, and filmmaker who owns a home in Stowe. Nikon D200 with a Nikkor 35-70 f/2.8 zoom lens. f/9, 1/250 sec.

Miss Maria Von Trapp, Vermont. 2010

Twentieth Century Fox issued the movie Sound of Music on Blu-ray DVD this year and needed current photos of the Von Trapp Family to illustrate its bonus features. I wanted to photograph friends Maria and her son as a fine art project for some time, so took the opportunity to visit their chalet for a portrait session. Lighting was a mix of ambient and strobes: one Norman strobe in an umbrella, a SB800 Speedlight in mini softbox. Nikon D200 with a Nikkor 80-200 f/2.8 zoom lens. f/4, 1/50 sec.

Reverend Daniel Salameh, Vermont. 2010

Daniel was recently credentialed and needed promotional studio portraits. We shot a variety of poses, from tight headshots, as shown here, to three-quarter length holding a Bible. He was lit with three Norman strobes: one in a Chimera softbox as key light just to left, another in an umbrella as fill to the right, and a honeycombed spot as hairlight from behind. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200 f/2.8 zoom lens. f/10, 1/250 sec.

Kikuli M., Vermont. 2010

You’ll find this portrait of Kikuli in the Sound of Music Blu-ray DVD along with that of his adoptive mother, Miss Maria Von Trapp. Kikuli was born in Tanzania and now resides in Stowe. He is a mathematician and a good friend. I’ve recently been using an old 35mm f/1.4 manual focus Nikkor lens for portraits such as this one. I usually stop it down to f/2 and need to focus carefully. Nikon D200 digital capture.

Elizabeth Hinckley Foregger, Vermont. 2008

Liz is owner of Hinckley Cellars and inventor of “The Note” wine label saver. I photographed her in this beautiful farmhouse setting in her home. Lighting was from a single Norman strobe in a Chimera softbox, located high and slightly to the right. A low, white ceiling provided some bounce fill. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200 f/2.8 zoom lens. f/4, 1/250 sec.

Man at Window, Bangladesh. 2002

While photographing for three weeks for an NGO in southern Bangladesh, I was invited into a potter's work shed along with some Western school kids who lived nearby. At one point I noticed that curious locals were taking turns peeking at us through an opening in the wall. A Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 lens quickly went on my Nikon N80 into which Fuji Provia 400 slide film was already loaded (for low light situations). The photo was used as a magazine cover by the NGO for which I was working.

Yi Boy With Rice Stalks, Sichuan, China. 1997

The Nosu Yi are an ethnic minority in parts of southern China. I visited the town of Butuo to photograph their culture and found photogenic and cooperative children playing in the street. The region is known for its hazy skies, a true joy for tight portraits - as long as the sky is kept out of the frame. Nikon F3, 105mm Micro-Nikkor lens, Fuji Provia 100F slide film.

Mr. B. at Home, Bangladesh. 2002

My NGO guide and I had taken an afternoon break at his home after visiting local villages on motorbike. His father had just returned from work and agreed to pose while in his t-shirt. A nearby open door provided illumination for the photograph. Nikon F100 with Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 lens, Fuji Provia 100F slide film.

Swimmer on the Bay of Bengal, India. 2005

The NGO for which I was working did a lot of work (through local agencies) here in Tamil Nadu after the tsunami. This photo was taken while I awaited the return of two small fishing boats, recently repaired and out for the first time since the devastation. Nikon D70, Nikkor 12-24 zoom lens, and SB800 Speedlight as fill-flash (on a TTL cord, held high).

Musician Peter Wilder, Vermont. 2004

This photo was made during an audio recording and photo session for Rusty DeWees and the Fellers while making Golddiggers Beware. Peter is a regional Emmy Award-winning composer and musician. He works with Rusty both in the studio and on stage. This photo appeared in the album’s liner notes. The blue cast was produced with a Selenium split toning preset in Adobe Lightroom. Nikon D100, Nikkor 20-35 f/2.8 zoom lens, SB28 Speedlight in small softbox. Kodak TMax 400 film.

Musician Frank Kearns, Dublin, Ireland. 2007

Frank walked into our 2007 Soulfest photo office as a friend of the event’s producer. The founder of World Cactus News touring band, he had a keen interest in photography so we spent a couple of hours photographing and talking shop. During a personal trip that brought me to Dublin, Frank took a Sunday out of his producing schedule and spent the day with me on a photo outing. We experimented with off-camera daylight flash (as here) and made pinhole-lens photos. Nikon D200, Nikkor 12-24 zoom lens, SB800 Speedlight as fill-flash (on a TTL cord, held high and to the right).

Actor Nick Schibani, Vermont. 2005

Nick is a friend of Rusty DeWees and was familiar with the photo work Rusty and I did together. So Nick hired me to produce a collection of publicity photos, and we used his home to set up a studio. In this photo, he’s shaking wet hair while my strobes freeze the action. The main light was a Norman strobe in a Chimera softbox. Nikon D70 with 80-200 f/2.8 zoom lens. f/18, 1/500 sec.