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| Martin Guderna - 20 September 2023 16:15 to 16:18 |
Today I went to the studio of my artist friend, Martin Guderna.
For a few days I had seen a painting that he did of his wife Yolanda who died in September 2022. I was able, through email, to see its progress until it was finished (is it?).
The painting is derived from a shadow of her profile that Guderna had. It is an amazing work because when you look at it you check if you have your glasses on. The portrait is blurred.
I decided I wanted to take a portrait of Guderna with his painting behind him. I took my light and softbox. From my vantage point at my chair, as I looked at the standing Guderna, I knew how I wanted to take the shot.
Knowing how to take the shot (from one place and only a few) is in me because of my experience of shooting actors, directors and authors when I am given little time. In some of those cases I was working with writers for the Globe and Mail or the Georgia Straight, Christopher Dafoe and John Lekich. As I would watch the interview I would eliminate what I could not do and then decided on the one thing that I could.
I took three shots of Guderna. The times (recorded by my Fuji X-E3) are 16:15,59 – 16:16,41- 16:18, 37.
Between the first and the last I decided I needed both hands in the picture. Because we were listening to one of my Astor Piazzolla CDs I placed it in the last photograph.
I am used to leaving after a session like this and not thinking, “I should have…”
I thank Martin Guderna for giving me the opportunity to practice my craft. I need a person to face may camera. The advantage of the painter that he is, is, that he can practice his craft in solitude.
