So, the dude, who was a Heisler assistant, comes to Hallmark to encourage, educate and show off. Right before setting off on his own, he gained some degree of acceptance by having a President Bush remember his name, if not his dress and demeanor. He is energy, fun and the craft of photography. But best, for us aimers and constructors, focuses on his single minded direction to build a business. “I may not be the best photographer, but I am the best marketer.” And noone thinks he just showed up at the White House, accidentally leaving his attitude and knowledge of the dress code behind.
I started this project, allowing someone whose image I wanted to capture to shoot me. A while ago, I asked a fellow photographer to exchange cameras, leaving me with but another of collections I have not been back to.
Fascinating way you see how you look in your own camera, with your own lens facing you and theirs facing them. Another variation enabled me to gain the confidence of sitters, especially kids, with the assistance of a tethered monitor when I gave them a shutter release and asked them to take their own image or mine displayed their face or the image they shot. If I could give to them, as if they were photographers, they could give to me.
So Bryant Gumble needed some extra kick which led Monte to let him shoot Monte’s image; I would have asked Bryant to shoot a self portrait, but I am me, more interested in how I look when the shutter snaps that how I look when I snap the shutter. Hard to imagine, with Bryant’s experience before the camera, why he wasn’t into the shoot or how it resolved itself. I’d like to talk with both about the shoot, and test Mr. Gumble about his memory of talking about me on “Today.” Then I’d shoot his image.
Cannot summarize the presentation, except that it didn’t have a piss break. He talked about deductions, additions, and the friendship of the shot. Not sure he described the roles that all the people on the periphery serve, although he respects all, he doesn’t pay them all. Cannot criticize him for this because all it seems to be the norm for the business; take advantage of the plethora of young and eager creators during a time of economic downturn, hoping you can teach them enough to enlarge the greater community of photographers while you pursue your own dream.
Nothing stops him. He learns of that he isn’t in on the bid for a shot; he puts his own production together to get back into the game. Hired by Molsons to shoot hockey, he challenges the goallie. Not my kind of shooter, yet, he objectifies and personifies, looking for the electricity of the moment without involvement. Lots of people helped define his style and promote his career, though it be hard to understand whom they are and what they offered. He seems so much a product of himself.
And he spends a ton of money promoting himself, the creativeness of which had to be added to the all of our notes (flash drives containing his videofied portfolio, along with contact info), trips to visit prospective clients (whose needs he has researched) and a string of parties. His personal files show friends and food that he eats. Like to see the idiots acting stupid and the sushi.
Me and him just met. I look forward to the next contact. He brings excitement to his shoots and his craft. He takes chances, going into areas where he doesn’t have a lot of experience with the culture, shooting sports he doesn’t follow and partying with employees/interns/friends/clients, encouraging them to see his kid side. He doesn’t fall prey to star envy or think he is one, which allows him to play with his subjects, letting them do their thing on their time and earn his living doing his, on his.
