Bill Konway’s Photography Blog

I have shot a lot of portraits in the last 25 years or so.  From movie stars to pro athletes, and politicians to everyday folk.  Some of them were obvious, some were simple to do, others were difficult, either the concept or the person.  Sometimes both.  This time I had to shoot what I think was probably my most trying portrait.  Me.  Start with a guy that has a face made for radio, doesn’t normally have his photo taken, and greatly prefers to be on the other side of the camera and you have me.  Add to that the fact that coming up with the idea was tough, at least for me, since I have always been more comfortable imposing my photography ideas on other people.  Whether that’s right or wrong, I have no idea.  Nor did I have any really good ideas for my self portrait.  The shot below is what will be the final version.  The direction I was given for the photo was a shot of me with my truck.  That was based on all the travel I do for my photography, (about 40,000 miles per year in my truck.)  It seemed to me that holding a camera in my hands would have been too cliche’.  A recent website of another editorial photographer pushed me in the direction of including all the flashes in the photo.  The dark skies in the background have become something of a trademark for my work, hence the shot you see below.  Do I like it?  No, not really.  I wish I weren’t in it.  Does it fill the need?  Yeah, I guess.  Do I want to do it again?  Not a chance.  Did I learn anything from doing this?  Lots of things.  Being on the other side of the camera and looking at a photographers impression of ourselves is not always the same way we see ourselves.  It’s tedious turning your head one way or another an inch or so.  It’s flat out uncomfortable being on the “other side” of the camera, as well as a bit intimidating.  Will I take all these difficulties in being a subject into account next time I shoot a subject?  Nah, they’re on their own…..