Martin Trailer Productions

This Authentic Portrait of a research scientist, Dr. Martin Friedlander whose research into retinitis pigmenosa which causes blindness, effecting the rods and cones in the back of our eyes.  His research involves the use of stem cells, the patients own, that slows and improves the condition over time.

His portrait is based on a culmination of interviewing and lengthly discussion on how to illustrate the research of the eye disease and the therapeutic research.  Our conclusion is fairly straight forward, the rods and cones in the back of the eye, in a clean representation using the sculptural piece of treatment target as a background.  The sculpture was created by combining very simple items, snow cone cups (rods) and styrofoam cups, (cones) on foam core with a glue gun in a matter of a few hours.  Simple and effective.

“If someone told me 15 years ago that you could take human bone marrow stem cells and use them to treat blindness, I wouldn’t have believed it.”
–Martin Friedlander, M.D., Ph.D.

Believable, comfortable and authentic.

To read the entire story, Click Here.

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This Authentic Portrait is a group of programmers that for the first time ever, were able to track and see live on the internet a computer virus spread across the world.  Until then, no one had been able to track a computer worm/virus over the internet, only within a local area network (LAN). (see below)

The guys are academics that had not been in the limelight before, so it was important to make them comfortable with the all the notoriety. When shooting people that are not seeking or comfortable with the limelight, it is important to ease that discomfort.  The response to the comfort you provide will result in a much more relaxed, authentic photograph.

I met up with them at UCSD in their offices after looking around the campus prior to our scheduled time, and found a few locations that might work on campus, but three people with some relevant setting or background of value to the image, was not jumping out.  Never giving up, we proceeded to do what we could constantly searching for some relevant visual. Nearing the end of our time together on campus, I asked if they were game to come to the studio later to do a shot in studio that would in my mind be much better. They were agreeable and we decide to meet a couple hours later at the studio.  This gave me sometime to get some props and set-up the idea I had imagined.

The globe was the prop I had in mind and once we were in the studio working out the lighting and grouping, I began to think about how these guys were really detectives in their own realm.  The sunglasses were quickly sourced and they were game, they were enthusiastic with the idea.

By then we had done several variations and once the glasses, globe and lighting all came together, the shot came alive.

The guys were totally into the worldwide detective idea, relaxed and authentic.

This is a animation of how the Code Red virus spread worldwide. Click Here.

Comments welcome.

Martin
MartinTrailer.com

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Dr. Irwin Mark Jacobs is founding chairman and CEO Emeritus for Qualcomm Incorporated.

Creating a comfortable, safe space when shooting a CEO can be a challenge especially when in their space and/or when there is a gallery of employees watching.  It is not any different if you were the subject out in the public square. The secret to get them comfortable and authentic is to get them to focus on something other than “they are on camera”.  Here is a well liked CEO, Dr. Irwin Jacobs co-founder of Qualcomm using and focused on the new, at the time, “Q phone” and myself.

After several other spec’ed shots by the public relations people, I explained to him my idea and he was intrigued. I described to him I would be shooting a very slow shutter, so the people would be a blur and he would be sharp in focus and would be independently lit. He would have to stand very still and comfortably. I suggested a stance with one bent knee (subjects can pass out with locked knees) and looking up two floors above in the HQ lobby, disregarding all the people around.  This was the last shot of the day and based on the number of times it has been published, the most successful.  Takes time to get the subject to relax, get comfortable and reveal their personality, authenticity.

When the you need to photograph a business executive, getting some background about the person can help immeasurably making the photograph exceptional.

Comfortable, assured and authentic.

Comments welcome.

Martin Trailer, is a commercial/advertising photographer based in Southern California, working for clients worldwide.  A working photographer for over 30 years, Martin has regularly provided thoughtfully produced photographs adding value for clients worldwide.  Starting out in the newspaper business, covering general news, events, sports, professional and college often on tight deadlines honing the skill of finding “the” authentic shot.  Over the years as a commercial/self-employed photographer, projects include advertising, collateral, corporate annual reports, multimedia and editorial types of media and consisting of autos, food, tabletop, fashion, architecture and destinations, all culminating on a focus of people and the authenticity of the person(s). Personal projects include most anything vintage themed and especially vintage trailers and there owners.  Authenticity creates value for the client, person, product or service.  All images are registered with the US Copyright office.  See more of Martin’s work at http://MartinTrailer.com

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Ed Lum at the Monterey Trailer Park, former Auto Camp in front of a Gold Tone Airfloat. ©Martin Trailer

This Authentic Portrait of Ed Lum is part of my personal work seeking vintage trailers.  Personal work like continuing education keeps sharpening your skill set and adds to the “10,000 hours” I mentioned in the first of this Authentic Portraits series.

Ed lives in a trailer park in Monterey Park, right next to Pasadena, California. I just showed up because of an article I read the day before in the Los Angeles Times about the trailer park.  Ed does not live in this gold tone Airfloat trailer, but it was the rarest in the park and a vintage travel trailer.  Most all the trailers in the park were vintage park types, versus the typical travel or pull types I seek. It was highlighted in the paper since the place has a history going back as an Auto Camp on Route 66 and further to the days as a Pony Express stop.

My experience and with Ed, when I explain what I am looking for and why, most folks are very cooperative and are very helpful with suggestions and willing subjects.

Ed is in his element, relaxed and authentic.

Comments encouraged.

Martin
MartinTrailer.com

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Red Baron, the man with the most "helmet tickets" in the country with his new bike, wearing pink SDPD and yellow CHP no helmet tickets. ©Martin Trailer

This authentic portrait is of “The Red Baron”.  I was to make a portrait of a “biker” and private investigator working for a national law firm that defended motorcyclists who refuse to wear a helmet, for Blvd Magazine as a feature story.  Red has the record for the most “no helmet” tickets in the country and rode a custom Harley Davidson chopper, with his red hair in the wind.  Unfortunately, it had been recently stolen and replaced with a new stock bike.  The only customization was the skull face on the headlight, so far.

Prep included creating a suit of tickets he collected, pink on the top issued by San Diego Police Department and the yellow on the bottom issued by the California Highway Patrol.

When preparing for any portrait, the interview of the subject or review of the story line is important, so all the elements come together and to insure their “buy-in” to the visual solution.  This will begin the process of creating a safe space for them which is one of the keys to getting an authentic portrait.

Your pre-visualization needs to happen well in advance of the shoot time, not when your subject is there in front of the camera. Shoot time is when the photographer makes them comfortable to insure an authentic look and feel.

Authentic, cool and confident.

Comments welcome.

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Linda Stirling, SVP RBC Wealth Management

This authentic portrait of Linda Stirling was featured in a group of financial advisors recognized for service to the community.  Linda was hosting a grief support group for mothers who are dealing with the death of a child.

Working around her scheduled meeting of mothers, a tight deadline and exploring a few shot variations, the last one with the group waiting for her was the best.

She is in her element allowing others in and at ease.  Authentic.

To read the article, Click here.

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Dr. Hugh Rosen, from The Scripps Research Institute in waders. ©Martin Trailer

This authentic illustrative portrait of Hugh Rosen, MD. PhD. relates both his field of study and him personally.

Images like this typically involve research, interviewing the subject, then integrating the research to a visual that is related, for the non-scientific viewer that works for the client. In this case, serendipity played a role and in this case, fishing waders were considered and when the size issue came up, Hugh responded with, “I have two kinds waders, which do you prefer.  Oh, and I have this great hat when I fly fish too.”   Fishing nor waders were ever discussed prior to asking about sizes.  What are the odds?

Hugh’s work is about barriers between gases and liquids.  Our lungs are the obvious first organ, but so much of our biology is based on barriers. Currently he is working on “shock lung” that can be caused by smoke inhalation, a severe blow to the chest, extreme pneumonia, sepitc shock, blood loss or drug overdose.

“What I’m trying to do is push the field forward – to open up the therapeutic possibilities in a broad sense.”
Hugh Rosen, MD. PhD.
The Scripps Research Institute

Hugh is an avid fly fisherman, staying dry in a impermeable membrane barrier, waders, for thinking and some well deserved R & R.  Authentic.

To read the entire article, Click Here

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Jay Ahrend, photographer and all around good guy. © Martin Trailer

This is the first of a series of blog posts about portraits depicting interesting people, be it faces, their work or general character of the individual.  Portraits can be shot informally on the fly or full blown productions outside or in a studio and everything in between.

Portraits are made from both a point of view and with a point of view.  If the client is the subject, then the client will likely want the best of their assets highlighted.  The case of a business portrait, the client being a business entity, would want the subject looking good, but also reflecting the professionalism and brand of the business.  Editorial portraits will illustrate the subject, but also tie photograph to the story.  Unconnected generic editorial portraits typically look out of place and have the potential of undermining the credibility of the story and publication.

Jay Ahrend with his favorite hat. © Martin Trailer

Anyone can photograph a person, but the style, essence, comfort and situation of the person illustrated in the final photograph takes time, time to develop a safe space for the subject being photographed. Without the safe space, it is unlikely they will allow their emotion or personality to come through so the viewer feels connected to the person. When photographing people, creating a safe space for the subject being photographed is a learned skill.  It is not something that is learned quickly, but developed over time and practiced countless times.  It is one of the skills that separates both photographs and photographers from good enough, to illustrative and knowing what needs to happen to consistently make a photograph that connects to the viewer.

As with any endeavor, knowledge, practice and perseverance will prevail.  With enough practice and focusing on the ends, as with any pursuit, you too can get the connectable images. For those familiar with the theory of “10,000 hours” understand it takes time to develop any skill set.

Getting to the connected look and feel is my style of work where part of the personality comes through and convinces the viewer of the sincerity of the person portrayed.  The complexity of each of us, serious, sad, mad, happy, on and on in the final photograph is what clients expect.

Stay tuned.

Comments welcome.

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If you have ever wanted to attend a vintage anything event, go! I had the pleasure of attending the “2nd Annual Vintage Trailer Bash” this past weekend, September 23-25, 2011.   This was my first time I stayed for the whole weekend, in a trailer, versus just attending the open house time typically on Saturday afternoon.

I have attended others vintage trailer shows, including early Saturday mornings (before the public is invited), never having a problem, but many folks were just rolling out of their trailers and not ready for the general public. (lot’s of funny retro pajamas)

Read more »

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This is somewhat self serving, but something harbored by most photographers.

I have always, selfishly thought images, mine of course, were looked at because they are interesting to look at, fulfilling my obligation to my clients getting their customers to look at the collateral materials and advertising.

I think, selfishly, that photography for my clients is a investment, not as some see photography as a expense.

Well, here is proof quality photography stops customers eyes, (full sales proposition is the copywriters job) per this study in the New York Times.

Study Shows People Ignore Generic Photos Online

The way the study is done can only be done on a computer screen, thus the “online” but I think it would apply to print materials too.

If you read the article, read the skeptical comments at the end of the article too.

Comment if you agree or disagree.

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