[Leica] still life: was Horse Play Photos (off topic)

[Ted Grant <tedgrant@islandnet.com>]

Jem wrote:

>>but later witnessed the new lady whinneying like a horse with
>>two hooves (er, hands) in the air whilst the flash went off!
>>
>>Do you have a stranger story to tell of a reluctant portrait session?!>>>

Jem,

I don't know about a reluctant subject. More like a reluctant photographer.
Absolutely true story happened 1964 in Ottawa. One of the stories out of
the book we have before the publisher.

 Still life
=======

"Could you take a picture of my mother?" inquired the female telephone caller.

Bill Lingard, my partner and fellow photographer replied, "Yes, when would
you like to come to the studio, I'm sure we can fit you in during the next
few days?"

"I'm sorry it will have to be tomorrow before noon, as the  service is at
two," was her reply. The service she referred to was her mother's funeral
service.

She did not have any pictures of her mother and this was the last
opportunity for a photograph before the coffin was closed.

So there we were the next morning, Bill, studio lights, ladder, the lady in
the coffin and me. The scene was right out of a weird horror movie.

Bill who is a master portrait photographer, tried to light the old lady
with Rembrandt lighting, but the sides of the coffin created a shadow over
her face. So he found a pillow and stuffed it behind her head to lift it
above the edge of the coffin and the lights made her look alive, but
sleeping.

Bill was up the ladder making his first exposure when the daughter arrived,
looking at her mother she commented on how lifelike she looked, but
wondered if Bill could open her eyes.

For a moment I thought he was going to fall off the ladder, but maintaining
his Lancashire composure, he explained he would just as soon do the eye
opening by retouching the negatives.

I had to leave on assignment before he completed the retouching and when I
returned I asked how she looked.

"Not bad, a bit starry-eyed, but the daughter thought she looked alive."
What more could he say"? "There isn't anything like shooting still life,"
he replied with a smile.


Ted Grant
This is Our Work. The Legacy of Sir William Osler.
http://www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant