About the Image

I created this black-and-white portrait of Steffen Schönfeldt 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 piercing eyes speak volumes about strength, resilience, and quiet determination.

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 thoroughly 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.

Feel free to share, this is the shortcut link: stpvd.com/25/19

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.

I see things differently, which is an advantage to my clients. Being inspired by the beauty of light, motion, and atmosphere... my work reflects the same creativity and attention to detail I bring to every client project, commercial or editorial. Whether you're looking to elevate your brand visuals, tell a compelling story, or capture unforgettable moments with impact, let's create something visually extraordinary together, stills, motion or both. Get in touch to discuss your vision today. E-mail is by far the best way to contact us as we are traveling on average 175 days a year and sometimes well out of cell phone range.

We are based in Los Angeles, California, Atlanta, Georgia, both in the USA & Milan, Italy, and serve the nation and travel worldwide for projects, both video and stills. On average we travel 175 days a year from all over the USA, to Singapore to Japan, Europe and the Middle East. We are normally in Europe 2 or 3 times a year, mostly Italy and Germany, shooting for clients there.

If you would like to use this image, or any of my images for mock or comp use, please just ask. There is never a charge for this service. Educational use is permitted without charge, unless published, but please ask first. All commercial use is available only with a limited copyright release prior to use from the copyright holder, Steve Thornton. Thanks for looking!