Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/08/18
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Matt Millen, a third generation slate and tile roof specialist, along with other members of the National Slate Association, is rewriting, for the first time since 1926, "Slate Roofs, Design and Installation Manual 2010." After Matt and I had arranged to photograph a roof for the cover of the Manual this past Monday afternoon; he asked if I was available in the morning to photograph his 99 year old father, William, during a rare visit to Millen Roofing Company headquarters. When I arrived William asked Matt who I was (he didn't remember that we'd met on a few previous occasions - and I'd even photographed their rather large family 35 years earlier). Matt introduced me and added that I was a photographer who'd be taking some photos of a roof later today. William then asked me, "Are you any good?" And before I could even answer turned to Matt and asked, "Is he any good?" He went on to emphatically state that he did NOT want any photographs made of himself. Matt turned to me and said, "Just take out your camera and do the best you can." So I was in the rather uncomfortable position of trying not to offend the subject while also trying to accomplish something of value for Matt. I'd brought my favorite portrait light - but it would never come out of the car. I had the M8 with 50 lux asph on the camera (about as discreet a kit as possible). Matt, his brother John and William were in constant motion walking around the warehouse for all of about 8 minutes (near the end the sister who drove dad in joined us). As William left the shop we shook hands and he said to me, "May all your photographs be beautiful." It felt like a spiritual blessing of some sort ? the hair stood up on my arms. Here is the first rough cut from the brief session: in b&w < http://imagist.com/william_millen_bw/> in color < http://imagist.com/william_millen> Regards, George Lottermoser george at imagist.com http://www.imagist.com http://www.imagist.com/blog http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist