Love what you've done here. The lighting and vignetting work beautifully together with the gentleman's ensemble and stance.
I have a feeling that if you set up in front of the White House without making arrangements ahead of time that you'd be hustled out of there in a helluva hurry.
my motto is "always call ahead" -- it's one of the things journalism teaches you. there's someone who can make your job easier, find that person.
(that's actually not my motto, but i do always call ahead).
god damn that's one hell of a moment, was that posed or candid?
candid. it was crowded as heck out there. which is why i had to do the vertical, people in the frame the other way. he just walked up there, saluted. turned, marched around in a circle, stood still, turned, held his umbrella out, stood still, turned, marched, saluted. it went on for quite a while. i wish he was wearing his coat rather than holding it though. and i wish he had the umbrella open... but that's what modelmayhem is for...
If you do let me know and I will stop by.
My favorite WH moment was walking home from a party last October and going past it, loudly arguing with a friend about something or other. We were the only people in sight, except for 2 cops in the exact center of Penn, who stared at us for the entire time it took to walk the block in front of the building.
the cops in front of the white house were very nice. this old guy came up and a conversation went like this:
"if i start protesting, will you lock me up?"
"no"
"do i need a permit?"
"you need a permit for a permanant structure, or a group of over 25 people."
"but i could start protesting."
"yes."
"right now."
"yes."
"and you wouldn't lock me up."
"the space between these two light poles is patrolled by the capitol hill police to keep the view open for tourists, but you can stand on either side of them and protest all you like."
"right now."
"yes."
"without a permit."
"as long as there aren't 25 more of you somewhere."
and on like that. but the two cops in front of the supreme court building were hassling people for taking video. like:
"hey! you! what are you videotaping?"
(duh, the giant white building there.)
when i'm the benevolent dictator, all police will be polite. they'll be like the cops in london who offer to take your photo for you.
they'll also be able to bench press a buick in case things get out of hand.
Some enterprising photographer took photos of people posing for photos in front of Chairman Mao's portrait in Tiananmen Square. I did a few quick Google searches, but I could not find it.
when i was in dc, there was a guy dressed just like this guy, with a cane and an overcoat with tails, same hat, hanging in front of grand central station. he was there for a while and then got on the bus.
hmmmm.
i wouldn't be surprised if he does this all the time.... perhaps some DC ljers will shed light...
I smell a book idea.
also, that shot is heartbreakingly awesome.
This is lovely. I like very much.
So when were you in DC? Had I known I would have stalked you invited you to Leesburg. :)
i was there yesterday, fighting journalists for pineapple chunks and biscotti then grabbing stock photos of buildings. it was a nice day and i love d.c., but it was nice to get home to roswell.
Sounds like it's time for another book. This is a tumultuous time in the USA and it would be interesting to get the different perspectives on that.
It's a mix between magic and solemnity. I like it.
I think I'd like to spend a week standing in front of the white house with a little portrait setup, photographing people and asking what brought them there. maybe it should be a month.
I'd probably buy the book. ^^
I dunno... the vertical orientation lends itself to the intimacy of the pic. It's just between him and 1600 Penn Ave.
You do have a gift for lighting, too.
can't take credit for that, it was just the sun. i burned in the edges though!
That's a beautiful picture. It's intriguing such that I want to know the story, such that I think that there must be a story, such that I must give it a story. Thanks for sharing.
in retrospect, i probably should have talked to him -- in retrospect, i should talk to everyone....
That's great, Kyle. Nice catch. | 
accomplished