Informal portraits
Clark Thomas, Nashville TN
s i m p l e p h o t o g r a p h s | ||||||
As a new photo session begins, sometimes I pull out this photo and show it as my “minimum expectation” for what we are about to do. It always brings some laughs, but also helps inspire people to take part in something a little bit “beyond” the ordinary.Portrait making can be an exploration beyond physical appearance, beyond what people ‘look like’ in the usual sense of their facial features and body shape or proportion.
So, as ironic or unexpected as this may sound — the surface appearance of a person, how they actually look, is something I generally strive to ignore. As I believe it should be ignored. Because the unique personality of a person, their vitality, and their particular way of expressing and ‘being’ who they are — their spirit — definitely resides somewhere “other” than on the surface of their skin. Don’t you agree? It may express itself on the surface, but it is not part of the surface.
Especially in the presence of a camera, or in a photo studio. Spirit tends to hide. So my work can definitely be challenging, and has some obstacles. The actual sessions require considerable focus and discipline on my part, but they are always rich and very memorable, and almost always surpass even my own expectations. Because every family and every group, and each individual, brings something unique to the process, and the vitality that's generated has a way of charting it's own course.
So that’s my way of seeing people. My subject matter is their spirit, not their faces and bodies. And when spirit makes an appearance, it's obvious and easy to see. Inspiring, and universally recognizable.
And yet rare too. Such portraits are not so common, but people really deserve and ought to see themselves in this light. Especially families. Because when you are photographed together with your family or friends, and you see how you are together, when you are genuinely engaged and fully participating with each other, unaware of the camera despite possibly looking directly at it... it can make you see yourself in a fresh new way, in a context that is spontaneous and animated, and this can actually transform your own self concept, and your feelings about who you are. Yes it's a bold claim, but I hear it from people all the time. And I know it from my own experience of being photographed in this manner.
So that’s why I make the kind of images you see here. These are the kinds of photos I want to see of my own family, and of myself with my own friends. Photos like these, on your walls, function like ambassadors for love and spontaneity, and for feeling genuinely connected. Just a passing glance at one of these photos in the middle of a busy day, can remind you of who you are, who your friends are, and of how close you all are, despite the hectic pace on any given day.
The toughest part is getting organized enough to make it happen. Life moves fast... so just call and book a time. Weekends, weekdays, evenings... whatever works for you, I will try my best to accommodate you, because I’m just one person and much easier to pin down than a group. Sessions are just 30-45 minutes, and we may wear each other out, but it will be a fun challenge. And we will produce some vivid physical evidence, living proof that you are all connected and very much alive. -C.
Small groups in studio sessions are my photographic passion, but individuals and the great outdoors can
be just as satisfying. This is Tyler at Warner Park, October 2007. Printed on a five foot canvas.
Statement from an exhibit at Haagen-Dazs in 1984 If you’re with all of the people that you care about, all of the time,
Most of the people I photograph, are somehow insecure about
Originally, the new sessions were designed for individuals, shot solo and
Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð
you probably won’t think about wanting photographs of them.
Photographs, especially portraits, generally serve as reminders
of the people we care about, when we are apart.
They put us in touch with specific feelings and experiences,
and remind us what it’s like when we are together.
their appearance, or embarrassed about not measuring up
to some cultural standard of how people ought to look. Our
society isn't very appreciative of the 99% of us that don't look like
COSMO or ESQUIRE cover models. As a commercial photographer
I was often asked to make people look “better” than they really look,
more beautiful or sophisticated, or suave and hip. And for the right
purpose or as an exercise, I did not object, but as an accepted
practice it contributes to false values and the non-acceptance that
leave many incredible people feeling inadequate. So... after years
of doing commercial portraits for advertising and promotion, I began
to explore a simpler, less sophisticated approach to photosessions,
hoping to validate more genuine, and even more ordinary, everyday
human qualities. The goal is to give people
a glimpse of the natural
beauty they exude when their guard is down, and they are simply
participating genuinely. Simple photographs of people
simply being themselves.
barefooted in the studio, but as they evolved, more and more people
wanted to include their close friends. Some say they are less self-conscious
in groups, but clearly, most wanted to record and celebrate their special closeness,
like a lasting toast to
their caring and appreciation. And people certainly do reveal
themselves in their relationships, which makes my work a real pleasure.
If you have any questions about my work ‘please’ call and let’s talk in person. After a
few years of neglecting my site, I’m only just beginning the process of making changes, and
many images that remain are somewhat ‘out of phase’ with my recent work. It will be another
few weeks before the newer material is posted, so consider coming to visit in person so
you can see plenty of the new images, and we can talk about your ideas. -Clark (12/08)
Billy cruzin on his chopper bike, January 2007
In my mind, photographing anything—person, pet, house, or rock—is always ‘portrait’ making.
A true portrait captures enough of the essence and ‘being’ of a subject, that the image
will serve as a valid symbol of that subject, for future reference. It is not an exact science,
and the process usually depends upon fragile and subtle factors that must merge into a brief
balance. But when it works, the results can be extraordinary. Which justifies the entire
process, the challenge of it, and the time and effort required to make it happen
once again, starting from scratch each time, with each new subject. -C.
images: swimclass | Billy's bday | Brian's bday | kingsley | wickham | hands
The things we tend to take for granted are the richest veins
to be mined in making images. - Ruth Bernhard
Clark Thomas photography, Nashville, TN
Clark Thomas, 615-269-7700
clark@simplephotographs.com
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