Salty Faces — PhotoCPL

When the PhotoCPL book was being together a theme emerged that wasn't preplanned at all. It became evident that the spreads really started to shine when a portrait inset was added. We ran with it, it worked.It worked better than ever anticipated because it added more depth. It highlighted just how well a portrait almost instantly becomes a recording of the past. haircuits, hell, hairlines change. Clothing and trends tie an image to an era.

Doing that book 11 years ago hammered home that fact that photography is such a rad way of recording time. If there was a thing I'd do differently it would be to take more images of people to have an archive of thoughtful moments.

Daniel and Xavier Davie spread in PhotoCPL

I'm not a portrait photographer, I'm not good at it. I look at the editorial work of Marti Friedlander or Robin Morrison in awe...like how, why whaaaatt? How'd they cajole the subject into that poise- how did they think of that?

There is a place I've found that I like what happens when I attempt a portrait. I suspect they work, work for me anyway, because at that time the subject is absolutley in the place they want to be the most. They are somewhat less guarded, the subject exudes a happiness. Generally with a smile that's hard to fake.