Vanguard Chief CASE STUDY #26
CAMERA:
Hasselblad 503cw
LENS:
120mm macro FILM:
EXPOSURE: LIGHTING:
f/8 at
Kodak EPP 1/ 30
second
large softbox for the main light; white reflector for fill
Assignment
my assistant and adjusted my shutter speed until the
Business Week magazine hired me to photograph CEO
light looked balanced. Mr. Brennan soon arrived and
John Brennan of the Vanguard Group.
asked what he should do. He smiled when I told him I was going for the “James Dean look.” I took about
Visual Objective
four rolls of film in fifteen minutes, then thanked him
I wanted to place Mr. Brennan in an unbusinesslike
for his time.
environment with a strong graphic background. Tips Posing
Hallways, lobbies, entryways, and stairwells are often
I call this the “GQ” pose. I don’t often use it, but it
more interesting than offices, so don’t overlook them
seemed to fit Mr. Brennan’s personality. What I had
in your location scouting. Reception areas also tend
read about him was that he was a real hands-on exec-
to be well decorated in high-end corporations—but to
utive who would periodically even answer calls from
shoot there, you’ll have to convince the client to close
customers—pretty impressive for a guy whose com-
down the area temporarily to avoid distractions.
pany manages hundreds of billions of dollars. The glass ledge allowed him to lean back, relaxing his pose. The Story
When I arrived at the Vanguard headquarters (two hours before the session to ensure I’d have time to scout the location) a public relations person showed me around. It was raining, meaning working outside was not an option, so I decided to go to the cafeteria
silver reflector
for some tea—a lucky break. When I entered the top level of the high-tech cafeteria, I saw my frame: an
large softbox
overview of the entire space with exposed beams, hanging light fixtures and long glass windows. My assistant and I set up one light (a large softbox) on a portable boom stand. I took some Polaroids of LIGHTING CASE STUDIES
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