With degrees in Art, Architecture and City Planning, Chris integrates his talents to design structures that far exceed function. Chris’s studio is in the same classic mid-century Phoenix complex where Amy and I now have our work/live space. His naturally playful intensity contributed to some delightfully expressive images.
Late 2013 – Chillin in Santa Fe with Ted and his poet brother Joe Nuttall (pen name, J D Roland). Sadly, in July, Joe moved on to the next great adventure. Though I’m pleased to have had the chance, over the past few years, to hang out and get to better know Joe.
Two-year-old Max dropped by the studio last week and entertained me with renditions of his favorite Jim Croce tunes, while I took a few photos of Max and his parents – Ali Arnold and Jesse von Glück.
Fletcher Nuttall was baptized into the LDS (Mormon) church this past week. Kathy and Treven, Fletch’s parents, hired me to do a portrait for their announcement. We got some good stuff for that purpose – after which Trev joined Fletch and I captured my favorite portrait of the day.
I was thrilled when Graphic Design Studio principal, Writer Kathy Morgan called on me to make her portrait for a speaking engagement promo. Kathy is playful in front of the camera and so a joy to photograph. Now, I just hope I’m persuasive enough to add “Model” to the long list of nouns (Neighbor, Client, Employer, Friend, Trusted Advisor) that describe our nearly three-decade association.
A wonderful Labor Day weekend was spent with my friend, artist Ted Nuttall, at his Santa Fe home/studio – enjoying great food, wine, books and music. But most pleasurable was our conversations. We touched on our customary topics, with a little more emphasis than usual on portraiture, or more specifically, on the joys and challenges of capturing moments of human expression.
Of course, we also took time to make a few portraits.
Writer, teacher, philosopher, luminary, friend – Mike Reynolds has been to the studio a couple of times now. Tough customer! I don’t think Mike would take offense by my saying he doesn’t respond well to direction! ;) Though in both instances, I found that posing a question regarding metaphysics was followed by a stream of splendid expression and gesture.
My friend, 2011 Arizona Film Maker of the Year – Brian Skiba, needed photos for the opening credits of his latest film – .357. The main characters, including Brian’s actress wife, Laurie Love, came to the studio to create a few dark and edgy wedding stills to lead into the movie’s first, and ill-fated, honeymoon suite scene. And I have my first (and likely last ;) feature length film credit.
Randy and I were both born and raised in Northern Utah. As young men, we frequented the same haunts, and for a few years both lived in the same bucolic mountain ranching community of Morgan Valley. But it wasn’t until decades later, in Phoenix, that we actually met.
Randy came by the studio with his Taylor this week, and we shared a splendid evening listening to music, sipping pinot and making pictures.
R&B singer, songwriter, dancer, choreographer – James Doré, was in the studio last week. Perhaps it’s the fact that he’s an entertainer that made James the ideal collaborator. He made my work easy. James brought a couple of looks and ideas with him, and his responses to the music playing in the studio were exquisite. All I had to do was push the button.
What’s more, James is a genuinely great guy. I hope for the chance to work together again soon. And, I encourage you to check out his work at reverbnation.com or on YouTube.
jeffreypierson 