Goodall Homes is one of the fastest growing home construction companies in Tennessee. The Gallatin based company's achievement is being recognized and rewarded with a national award that only 6 builders in the US are receiving this year.
On Friday I created this executive portrait of their management team on the banks of the Cumberland River overlooking downtown Nashville. This photograph will accompany their award in an article about them for a national construction magazine.
The original plans was to create the portrait on the historic truss Shelby Bridge, the pedestrian bridge, but it was closed for construction. So necessity being the mother of invention, we quickly moved down by the river and got this wonderful portrait.
As many of you know I prefer to photograph people and buildings during early morning light or late afternoon into dusk as the light is less severe; the color caste is warmer, the shadows are not as dark and the highlights are not blown out. And clients blink or squint less when the sun is not so high in the sky. But the perfect world photographers live in just doesn't seem to blend in with all the desires and schedules of their clients. 11:00 was the time given and I had only thirty minutes to photograph the six businessmen before they had to go back to their work, meetings, and travels.
The issue with the portrait was the full sun in the middle of the day, again the very worse time to photograph a person outdoors. And it was a major issue. My subjects were having a most difficult time of trying not to squint. It was a beautiful day, the temperature was wonderful, but the full sun was causing issues. I had already set up a large light (maximized at full power) to brighten or "fill" in the shadows but we needed the sun blocked by a cloud.
I went ahead and shot what I needed of the group, and then we waited for that ever hopeful cloud to come along before they left so I could get that magical portrait they were expecting. The time kept racing by and I know they had to leave at 11:30. We watched as 2 large clouds that would have done the trick for us passed overhead but not in the path of the sun. Murphy was at his tricks again and it seems to be a reoccurring fact when it comes to photography.
Then at 11:27 the right cloud along the right path covered the sun for 30 seconds and that was all I needed to get the shot. We got it! and below you can see the difference with the full sun verses the cloud overhead in the final version. I am told that my patience is a virtue, I believe it. For I have much patience and high expectations for my work, my clients, and my life. Its how I come back with the winning image.
Enjoy!
David Wright
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