Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/04/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Sonny said: >>>> Once they needed a shot of a prominent man who had died. No picture could be found, not even at his home. The photog went to the morgue, paid the coroner's aid to put the stiff at a desk. They took a picture, brought it back and the photo editor painted the eyes open.<<<< Hi Sonny, Along those lines: Another bit of humour to your story. :-) "A Still life." An absolute true story as I was there. :-) ========================================= A 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 only chance for a photograph before the coffin was closed. So there we were the next morning, Bill, studio lights, ladder, lady in 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, reached in, lifted her head and stuffed it behind to lift it above the edge of the coffin. Re-set the lights and made her look alive. The make-up was great! :-) 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, when I returned I asked how she looked. "Not bad, a bit starry-eyed, but the daughter thought she looked alive." "There isn't anything like shooting still life," then he smiled.