Portrait / Not a Portrait

Ski Season 2014. 

Again, seasons passes to the slopes, and time to push the boundary of what's mundane and challenge myself to make some new photos while on the road.

The added knowledge of learning that my portrait subject is beginning to dread this ritual, I am trying to learn to make quick decisions on what will be photogenic and what will be worth the set-up and standing-around time. Deciding to poke around more in the tilt-up warehouse region of suburban Sparks, we drove until I found this play of light and shadow.

 

There is something interesting to me in taking a portrait of someone, but making them a minor element. As this project progresses I find that I'm more drawn to the photos with less of Tony and more of a setting Tony happens to be in.

The wall without artificial lighting and without human.

poor little snow-barren Sugar Bowl

some miscellaneous notes for next time:

ate brekke here

learn to ski moguls better

gas was $3.35 at Arco in Auburn

Hanging out in Sparks

Tony and I went skiing last week, then decided to prowl around Sparks, NV to scout and explore potential photo locations.

I set up lights at one spot, next to an auto shop working after hours to build a hot-rod tractor, but wasn't sure it was a great picture.

We then hit the opposite end of the building, where some dude was popping an entire carload of popcorn. Seriously, a Jeep Cherokee filled with massive bags of fresh popcorn.. I almost couldn't pull Tony away, but then the existing sunlight went behind the Sierras right as I set up my lights.

Then I drove around a bit and saw a very curious storey-high silhouette of a tall miner, did a block-around and thought the building across the street was pretty rad. Some editing later and this photo is now on my website:

  

the minor Miner building in G major

Retouching the photo of Tony hanging, I referred to older photos of him, and realized he's almost always wearing his leather boots. He wants me to point out that they are not always the same boot, as he has exactly eight pairs, leading up his entry steps: