Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/01/05
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Great tale, Ted. I think Italian or Spanish would be more appropriated than English for its title, as the italian or spanish terms for "still life" are "natura morta" / "naturaleza muerta"... There was a time (1870-1920/30?) when making photo portraits of the dead was usual ed a. El 06/01/2008, a las 03:13, Ted Grant escribi?: > Last tale for now. :-) > > > > 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, lifted her up and stuffed it behind her > head to > lift it above the edge of the coffin and the lights made her look > alive. > Sort of! > > > > 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 but? "There isn't anything like shooting > still life, > "he replied and smiled. > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >