Topic: editorial portraits

[db]

Years ago I worked on a ''coffee table'' book of photography documenting the landscape and community of an Australian wine region.

There were 4 photographers involved and we worked over a 12 month period. We all shot images as they appealed to us, but we also specialized in certain areas. One concentrated on the coastal areas, one photographed the festivals and community events etc, and I made a point of shooting b/w portraits of some of the personalities in the area.  This was nice- One pic to a page, and in B/W, with some personal comments from the person about their life or their feelings about the region.  I kept all the portraits to a formula so they would have the same feel. Hasselblad + 80mm lens, available light, full-frame TMY 400.

The project foundered when it struck a few hurdles, and looked like never making it to print. A few months ago, to my surprise a new publisher picked it up and finished the book. It releases this week.

This is Cud Kay. A pioneering winemaker of the region and a true gentleman. He was over 90 yo when I took this. He fronted up to work every day, seated himself in the cellar door and cheerfully greeted the visitors.
''The wine's on the bar there'' he'd say, with a wave of his walking stick.
''Have a taste- it's pretty good stuff.''

a few more portraits on my blog (link below).


[Sorry, image deleted during forum software upgrade. Please re-upload if so inclined.]

[traskblueribbon]

Congratulations it sounds interesting. beautiful shot.

He has the look of a true gentleman.

[Skorj]

Tom! Jim! Great! How many make a complete set?

You've given me succor, as I always get depressed when I visit Aus, as everyone I ask to pose says `no`. Maybe that's because they're big city types? I need to get out more! Echuca! Shep! Nhil! Dimboola! Miningie! Pinnaroo!

(That last one of course named after the guy that was caught down the back-paddock with a rock wallaby...)

[db]

Tom! Jim! Great! How many make a complete set?

You've given me succor, as I always get depressed when I visit Aus, as everyone I ask to pose says `no`. Maybe that's because they're big city types? I need to get out more! Echuca! Shep! Nhil! Dimboola! Miningie! Pinnaroo!

(That last one of course named after the guy that was caught down the back-paddock with a rock wallaby...)

Pinn-a-roo- ugh..  And Nhill; I love the wimmera.. done some good Diana landscapes there.
I'm pretty goofy when I'm begging people to work with me.. Saying yes gives people a warm fuzzy that they have been nice to an idiot 

There must be 25-30 of these scattered through the book. I love meeting people and doing these sort of pics.

[chricela]

Lovely image. Does him true justice
Great news about the book!

[pdewolff]

Great image, good to see his hands, i love that in portraits. His big hands show hard work!

[Ailsa]

Great image, good to see his hands, i love that in portraits. His big hands show hard work!

I was thinking exactly the same thing. Hands can be as expressive as the face in a portrait.

[Phil Bebbington]

Congrats on the book going live eventually, if this is an example of the work then it will be a winner for sure. I echo Ailsa and pdewolff's comments in that people wear their life on their hands and face...beautiful shot.

[LT]

that is wicked news Don - will it be available internationally?  fantastic portrait here too (but then again, what did I expect from the db??? )

[Ed Wenn]

Thanks to the wonders of RSS I've been following the story unfold on yr blog. What's not to like? Wonderful stuff as always from The Goofy Photographer and many, many congrats re the book.

[Susan B.]

well done DB!
Congrats!
Lovely portrait, as always.

[This-is-damion]

great stuff don,   the main thing i take from this is that if i drink a lot of wine, ill live past 90.    thanks for that don, yo the man!

[eddie]

Images are wonderful, you really bring out the character in your subjects.  I am sure the book will be well received,  good luck with it.  The images have a lovely tone, are they scans from negatives or from original prints.

[db]

Images are wonderful, you really bring out the character in your subjects.  I am sure the book will be well received,  good luck with it.  The images have a lovely tone, are they scans from negatives or from original prints.

Thanks Eddie
These are flatbed scans from 10x10 sepia prints. The book has already been popular with the local community, as well as tourists. It had a modest print run, so I'd say the publisher will be happy with the sales.

It launched this morning, and it was a great event. Lots of the people I'd photographed turned out, and it was good to meet them again after the intervening 6-7 years. Many of the older ones looked much more frail, and others had since died, (our wine man here, for example) so there was a poignant edge to the event. Another lady, who had posed with her husband, explained to me that he had since succumbed to Parkinson's disease and that she cherished the image for capturing him the way she liked to remember.

Isn't it interesting how photography of people and places often comes to mean more and more, as time goes by.

Oii- Now Ed! Careful now. It's the photographer acting Goofy, OK? ACTING I say. It's all an act, honest it is.. 

[Ed Wenn]

Acting goofy? Well, you fooled me 

Seriously though, great story re the launch and all the renewed acquaintances. Lovely stuff.

[outofcontxt]

Fabulous image, Don. Glad to see that the project came to fruition. Congrats!

[eddie]

Thanks for the information Don, the prints look really rich in tone.  While there was some sadness on the night I am sure there was great satisfaction knowing you have captured some really important timeless images.