Canon 5DMii, 85mm lens, f/1.2
STRENGTH OF CHARACTER does not come easily and must be earned. It is gained through life experience and once built it’s always there.
My dad put himself through college working construction. One day, he was high up on a roof and a crane operator accidentally knocked him off. He fell into the unconstructed house below. A sheet of plywood covering an unfinished stairwell “softened” his free-fall descent.
The foreman came running expecting the worse. He saw that my dad was stunned but OK. Relieved he said, “You’re OK.” Dusting himself off my dad responded, “Yes, seems like it. No broken bones.” The foreman helped him to his feet and after a pause said, “Well, get back up there.”
A free fall is scary, but it doesn’t have to be scarring. My dad explained, “I had a choice. I could stay spooked and stay on the ground, or get over it and get back to work.” Without skipping a beat, he climbed back up the ladder.
Strong character is forged through suffering of all sorts. Whether mental, physical, or emotional, the journey is often the same. It involves an immense amount of courage to confront pain, fear, or humiliation and to keep pressing on.
Look closely and you will discover that this kind of strength resides below the surface in many people that we know, whether they are cancer survivors, mountain climbers, or someone who got back up after a fall. I’ve always been attracted to people like this. I want to know their secrets. I want to have their same resolve.
Discovering strong character requires patience because it is buried so deep. Drawing it out and capturing it on film is an even more difficult task. If you can unveil this, the rewards will change who you are. For the closer we get, and the more we see of such strength, the more it will fortify our own.
Left: Canon 5DMii, 50mm lens, f/1.2
Right: Canon 5DMii, 50mm lens, f/3
Strong character is an elusive inner quality. Capturing it requires you to strengthen your own resolve and follow an intentional path of collaboration between you and your subject. Use the steps below to help you create pictures with substance and strength.
Find a subject who inspires you because of who he or she is or because of the obstacles that the person has overcome. Start off by creating a list of family members, then coworkers, and finally people who live in your town. Next, make a few phone calls or e-mail a couple friends and ask others who they might recommend. Pick the person who embodies a strength that you would like to have.
Reach out to the subject in a personal tone—write a note or make an impromptu call rather than sending an e-mail. With sincerity and in your own words, explain that you are working on a photography project creating portraits of people you respect. The goal is to make honest and strong pictures. Let him know it would be an honor if he would consider participating in the project.
Tips
Capturing inner strength requires letting go of shooting a high volume of frames. Slow down and patiently wait until the moment is right.
One photograph that reveals interior strength is all that you need.
Photographing someone significant to you will bring even more power to the picture.
Scout a location for the subject that will put that person at ease. Think about who he is and about what drives him most. Suggest a location to the subject and solicit location ideas from the subject as well. Then pick the location.
Choose a camera and one lens that enables you to work quickly and close. Don’t bring a camera bag or anything extra. Keep your approach simple and clean. Arrive at the location early and eager. Meet up with the subject and get through the usual chitchat for the first 5 minutes. Then begin shooting and patiently make your way. Ask the subject about his life and about what matters most. Don’t shy away from difficult questions but also don’t press too hard—strike a balance between inquiry and respect. Really listen to his story and make pictures in between his words.
Exercise Details
Goal: 1 or 2 portraits that convey inner strength. Tools: Camera and one lens. Light: Natural or available light. Location: Indoors or outdoors. Theme: Strength of character. Duration: 30 minutes.
At the precise moment when you feel connected with the subject during the shoot, transition to a different type of shot. Explain that you want to create a strong portrait, a deep portrait, a portrait that conveys just a bit more. Position the subject and then explain that you will point the camera and then simply wait, taking a few images when the moment is right. Ask him to take a deep breath and look your way. Don’t take a picture right away. Let him settle into his shoes. Gingerly press the shutter release and capture a few frames. Lower the camera, make eye contact, and thank him for that gift.
Canon 5DMii, 85mm lens, f/6
Canon 5DMii, 50mm lens, f/2.8
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”
—Helen Keller
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