Sunday Edition: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders
PHOTOSNACK #504
Every Sunday, I contact photographers previously featured on PHOTOSNACK and ask them to send me their spontaneous thoughts, observations, reflections, or advice.
Today, I am sharing the message I received from Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.
Timothy Greenfield-Sanders
When I was 27 years old, I somehow managed to talk Life magazine into commissioning a portrait of Orson Welles and John Huston together. Both were in Toronto at the time, and they hadn’t seen each other in quite a while. And I was a huge Welles fan. But our first encounter taught me a major lesson in shooting portraits. Excited to meet Welles, I started asking him questions about his career and even this stupid question, “What’s your favorite film that you directed?” Welles answered, “I don’t play games like that.”
I instantly realized how inappropriate it was to start out this way. I wasn’t a tourist bumping into a celebrity. I was a photographer there to take his portrait. What I should have said was, “Mr. Welles, can I get you something to drink, a coffee or tea… is the chair ok for you?
My job was to make him comfortable, to make him feel that he could trust me. Over the years I’ve gotten very good at reading a person, thinking about where they are coming from as they step into the studio…and most importantly, how to put them at ease.
The shooting part is easy.
Timothy Greenfield-Sanders was featured in PHOTOSNACK #461.
Sunday Editions connect you with photographers whose work you previously explored through PHOTOSNACK.
I want to reveal some authentic parts of the people behind the cameras. I don't ask them any specific questions. I ask them to share whatever comes to mind when they think about YOU, the newsletter readers. It makes their responses genuine and personal.
I hope you enjoyed today's Sunday Edition.
Until next time,
Tomasz