About the Image
I created this black-and-white portrait wanting to capture more than just a face, I wanted to reveal the spirit behind the uniform. This close-up of a firefighter shows him at a moment of calm intensity. His expression is both confident and contemplative, and his eyes speak volumes about him.
I used strong contrast and sharp detail to bring out the textures in his skin and equipment, emphasizing the raw reality of his role. For me, portrait photography is about connection and truth… capturing a person’s essence with both clarity and subtlety. This image is one of those moments where everything aligned, and it tells a story that goes far beyond the frame.
For about 9 years I was hired to speak at the annual Zingst, Germany photofestival in late May into early June. On my last visit I was asked to shoot portraits of the volunteer fire department. Zingst is a very cool village on the Baltic Sea and is almost the most northern point in Germany. If you visit in the summer, bring a coat as it may get cold. I throughly enjoyed all of my stays there.
How I Shot It
This was shot late in the afternoon and I determined that I wanted to shoot with the firetruck in the background. I had a crew of 3. Two of them held the Sunbounce reflector and one to hold the Sunbounce Swatter. See BTS photos below.
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The Gear:
Canon camera set to 1/400 shutter speed, 160 ISO and a Canon 200mm lens set to f3.2
The Light: We created open shade using a Pro sized Sunbounce Swatter (A silk on a lightweight open end frame) and using a Sunbounce Pro sized reflector, using the white side, to fill in the shadows, the arrow is pointing the silver side. See the BTS photo below.
