Rangefinder Magazine
July 2006
Insight/On the Cover by Bill Hurter
It was only a matter of time before the revolution known as wedding photojournalism,
which transformed the world of traditional wedding photography, had its effect
on the portrait market. Just as in wedding photography, the contemporary portrait
is being influenced by journalism, fashion, fine art and editorial photography. The
lines of formal traditional posing and lighting are becoming blurred. Taking over is
a more informal and spontaneous approach that clients seem to like better and that
better suits the times. Inherent in this new approach to portraiture is a very strong
design sense, as you will see when you view some of the articles in this issue. Jim
Herrington (page 96) and Nancy Crampton (page 102) are well known for their
portraits of contemporary artists—Herrington photographs great musicians and
Crampton photographers legendary writers. Their work is decidedly different but
characteristic of this changed portrait art. Mauricio Donelli (page 84) does portraits,
weddings and nudes in three distinct styles. His portraits are editorial and edgy and
reveal the character of his subjects. Anton Brkic (page 26) posesses all the classical
portrait skills but bends the rules freely to better elucidate his subjects. Mark Berndt(
page 32) photographs people in their working environments, melding the two so
sensitively that the person and the profession seem as one. Rachael Hale (page 18) is
an internationally known pet photographer who has develped not only a well earned
reputation, but also an elaborate system of licensing and branding that has made her
portraits recognizable throughout the world. The Sherwood-Triart Studio (page 8)
is one of the most beautiful and well equipped wedding and portrait studios we’ve
ever seen. The studio and its seven full-time shooters are profiled in this issue. Jayne
Wexler (page 52) is the co-creater of the book Grandmothers, a celebration of women,
their daughters and friends. Her portraits are full of joy but are anything but traditional.
Chris Buck (page 64) brings a new and memorable, albeit unconventional,
side to his celebrity subjects (see more below).
Bill Hurter, Editor
ON THE COVER:
PHOTOGRAPHER: Chris Buck
SUBJECT: Dennis Hopper, Toronto, Canada
CREDIT: Photo Copyright © Chris Buck
COMMENTS: The clean composition, use of available
light and subtle sense of humor are elements of Chris
Buck’s style. Chris says, “I positioned myself with a
window behind me and had Dennis sit at a desk facing
me. He mugged for a few seconds, perhaps a little
uncomfortable, definitely bored. He did a little gesture
that involved him lifting his shoulders and bulging his
eyes, but he did it halfheartedly and laughed his way
through it. I asked him to do it again, but this time
without a smile. Amazingly, he did it, and before he
could ham it up again, I got a good frame.”
Chris Buck says of celebrity portraits, “[They] tend to be
nice pictures of the celebrity looking presentable; they
tend to be more glamorous than curious, but I lean
more toward the curious. People often look a bit uneasy or uncomfortable in my pictures.
In a way, I find vulnerability more interesting than confidence.” He continues, “I don’t find it
interesting to look at a picture of someone celebrating himself as a great person in a literal
way. Richard Avedon and Irving Penn were great pioneers of making images that were respectful
of their subjects but also showed the subjects’ humanity.”
See Chris Buck’s award-winning images in Lorraine DarConte’s article on page 64. Visit Chris
online at www.chrisbuck.com.
