paranoia
james, the mad professor.... not really a stretch as a character study! i've been wanting to shoot james like this for a few weeks now... one of those ideas that i've had rattling around. i love that the very-professional chairperson of the master's program at my school was so willing - even happy - to be shot like this! when i leave school (in 13 days!) i'll definitely miss our discussions of all things esoteric, philosophical and odd.
bennetron 2000. long live the ontological samurai beaver.
(shot in his office, canon mark II, 24-70L, one strobe bounced / spiked off the ceiling, and one reflector to camera right)
Comments and faves
Bes Z, Rejean Pellerin, ifido, gwynplaine, and 36 other people added this photo to their favorites.
Cretaceous (67 months ago | reply)
nice!
(twtme)
MBeck412 (67 months ago | reply)
Very cool composition
From The Continuum Pool
aldella (67 months ago | reply)
Ha! Great setting and composition in this well thought out shot!
Bes Z (67 months ago | reply)
Haha! Excellent background; drops the viewer right into the madness. Good one. :)
From The Continuum Pool
and
" COMMENTSCOMMENTSCOMMENTS "
aixcracker (67 months ago | reply)
This is a funny shot and it works well as such. Well done indeed.
(from the 1on1 group)
♫ marc_l'esperance (67 months ago | reply)
funny shot! great b&w tones as well.
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Seen in 1-2-3 (?)
Diego SL (67 months ago | reply)
I like the lighting on his face, fit the expression he has very well
" COMMENTSCOMMENTSCOMMENTS "
Michael Ash Smith (67 months ago | reply)
nice set up katie ... good shot
|seen in my contacts|
xDare2Dreamx (67 months ago | reply)
hehehe (=] )
I loooooove the expression.
Great shot
COMMENTSCOMMENTSCOMMENTS
ThePhoenix101 (67 months ago | reply)
Philosophers and those that teach it are a special breed that's for sure.
A wonderful and fun portrait that grabs attention. The dark face against the white of the volumes is a great contrast.
Paul Linton (67 months ago | reply)
Very amusing portrait!
" COMMENTSCOMMENTSCOMMENTS "
Xenotar28 (67 months ago | reply)
That is a cool shot.
katiew (67 months ago | reply)
thanks for all of your comments!!! i'm glad the emotion i was going for translates :) it got REALLY interesting when my precarious pile of books began falling on him!
myfear (67 months ago | reply)
Great capture! Nice idea, well done! Big compliments :)
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Seen in my contacts' photos.
Rejean Pellerin (67 months ago | reply)
Could you post this photo in my group of books please?
www.flickr.com/groups/72759907@N00/
Mr Vibe (66 months ago | reply)
lol, that a very good one, waht a look? and the books background is awesome. great idea
torchesforghosts (66 months ago | reply)
I love this; it's so neurotic. I imagine that he hasn't left his room in ages, has food delivered so he doesn't have to deal with the outside world, and maybe even has math equations and philosophy quotes written all over the walls. Right at the moment this was taken I imagine that he's heard footsteps outside his door or a knock he wasn't expecting, and he's peeking his head out from his fort of literature trying to be as quiet as possible so they'll go away. Brilliant.
RedMonkeyVirus [deleted] (66 months ago | reply)
It's different.
*From the Comments! group.*
Robert Scott Photography.ca (66 months ago | reply)
Great expression in the eyes, I especially love the backdrop in this image. Leads me to think of a previous science professor I had.
*From the Comments! group.*
Rejean Pellerin (66 months ago | reply)
Thank you for your posting!
katiew (66 months ago | reply)
yay! ya'll comments make me so happy :)
brain map :: i figured you'd like this one!!! while i suppose this is an "environmental portrait" technically, i like to think of it as a "psychological portrait"! the backstory you created is frighteningly close to the story in my head at the time of shooting! fort of literature... that's a great expression! and he was definitely INSIDE this pile of books. i also printed this out & taped it to his office door... so when his students stop by for help, and he's not in, they'll see this paranoid, crazy picture of him! but he likes that, guerilla signage tactics. at james' encouraging, tomorrow i'm going to subvert a current on-campus event by making "swap meat" posters to hang up around the school... complete with clip art of t-bone steaks and people shopping. :) teehee... i'm 11 days away from being done with school, i have senior-itis, i no longer care for propriety! (.. not that i really did in the FIRST place!)
torchesforghosts (66 months ago | reply)
I forgot to mention how much I love this man for posing for such a wonderfully crazy portrait. It is extremely cool of him. And, god, I LOVE the idea of other students seeing this on his door. That's so genius, SO genius. And this "swap meat" idea is also kickass. I hope you'll be able to scan the posters you make for us to enjoy. I look forward to your next idea. :)
Josie Lee (66 months ago | reply)
haha, interesting!
From the 1-2-3 Portraits-group
p2wy (66 months ago | reply)
terrific portrait... the look in his eyes is fantastic
the Tucson Gardners (33 months ago | reply)
Katie - I really enjoy this photo. I used it (and credited you) to illustrate a post on our blog as per the CC non-commercial license. If you'd prefer I didn't use the photo, please just let me know and I'd be happy to take it down. FYI.
-Jeff
jeffandkerri.blogspot.com/2009/09/pageviews-d o-not-equal-...
LearningLark (15 months ago | reply)
I love this photo! I'll have to come up with a blog post to go with it....
www.clepmeoutofhere.blogspot.com