It's weird that you should ask, as I was just listening to Elliott Smith.

Elliott was living in Brooklyn at the time and known to be camera-shy the record company recommended that we do the shoot low-key and keep it local for him. But having an editorial background I thought of the images first and my sitter’s comfort second. I had a couple of friends who had just moved to rural New Jersey and together they provided perfect backdrops – one had an old unrenovated farm house and the other an empty in-ground swimming pool. If our subject wasn’t going to give much it wouldn’t matter – the locations were interesting looking.
Elliott was pleasant and cooperative but seemed eager to move on and get home (and he made early dinner plans – perhaps revenge for being made to travel to a location) so things were cut short.

Thanks for asking! It's a packed day as I'm flying tomorrow for an out of town shoot. But I can't tell you what it is. ;^)

As a portrait photographer I don't really think about a subject being photogenic. I'm less interested in the ideal and more in the quirkiness and vulnerabilities of the subject.

Beauty and grace do make a picture better, but that can be found in "unphotogenic" sitters pretty easily if you have an eye for it.

Big fan of your work. I've been thinking about how photographers practice. A pianist practices scales, for instance.

What can a photographer to do keep their skills sharp in between paid gigs?

I currently shoot with a medium format digital camera. It's Hasselblad H4X body with a Phase P-65 back. I like medium format as it gives me the ability to make large prints without much quality loss, plus it's bulky format forces me to slow down and be thoughtful with my choices while shooting.

Thanks for doing this. Do you still shoot on film? Was there any stylistic or practical advantage in doing so?

How do you decide the setting in which someone is portrayed?

Did you get to pet grumpy cat? And was he as fluffy as he looks?🥺

I very much appreciate a candid answer like this to the bullshitting that a lot of people would do.

Of the 4 presidents, jayz and grumpy cat, which do you feel is more influential?

I remember your byline from an Elliott smith photo (somehow nautical, and a low slung roof). Might you have any memories of that shoot?

What camera do you use ? Favorite lens ?

Where on earth does a beginner begin? From there, how would one know they're ready for The Surprising Portrait Workshop?

How did you develop the ability to connect with your subjects? Did you always have the type of personality that could easily/comfortably talk to people?

You have no idea. My life sucked. I’m still stressed because at this point I am always waiting for the next shoe to drop I’m so traumatized by it all.

Hello, what is your opinion on AI in art, photography, etc.?

Of all the people (and animals) who you've photographed, who was the most naturally photogenic?

Hello Chris , How's your day going?

When Sodexo hires nutritionists to tout their bottom line, the misinformation becomes expected.

It's crazy!!! I don't know how deli meats could ever be mistaken as "healthy," and the need for nutrition education in this country grows every day. Thanks for asking this, PeriodicTrend.

Hi FindingEmoe, thanks for asking this! I am a huge fan and advocate for intermittent fasting, mostly because in today's society and the traditional western diet, we eat far too often. What I like about IF is that it provides structure for people and can be really helpful for overcoming evening eating/snacking, not to mention the health benefits like a more stabilized blood sugar, reduced appetite, and autophagy (this kicks in ~16 hrs of fasting). Not everyone needs to do the 16:8 IF schedule to notice benefits, and it's really important that everyone figure out which amount of fasting works best for them.

I am not as big a fan of the OMAD (one meal a day), only because I believe we need energy throughout the day to sustain us. Two meals a day, fine, but to consistently have just one seems unsustainable and always not supportive of optimal energy levels.

Glad to hear it! Stress really is a killer! The longer cortisol levels are elevated for, the more havoc this can wreak on the body. Imagine being in a constant state of stress - this takes a toll on the body and manifests itself in various forms.

My pleasure, TurboTBag!

I agree, the 20s is a tough decade and everyone is just figuring it out.

My happiest childhood memory is the constant love I felt toward and received from my parents and older brother. Although, my brother definitely did not love me ALL the time. As an adult, I recognize the safety and security I felt my entire childhood that not everybody feels. When you're a child experiencing this you don't know any different so I did not realize how helpful it was in shaping who I am.

>point to original sources.

do you not think ChatGPT will learn how to do that?

If not, why not?

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