[Leica] WAS: NPR story NOW A touch of humour.

[ricc at mindspring.com (Ric Carter)]

Ted--

I guess it's too much to hope that you got a shot of the setup with  
Bill up the ladder...

Ric


On Apr 21, 2007, at 1:35 PM, Ted Grant wrote:

> 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.