Man with goose feather in his baseball cap

Man with goose feather in his baseball cap

I don’t visit Hoover Dam often during the winter. It’s too stark and void of people.

As the weather begins to change in early spring there is a hint of color along the eastern shoreline as flower buds and leaves appear in the treeline. The grey monotone of winter begins its slow evolution to the bright colored tones of spring. And, people arrive.

One of the earliest arrivals stood for me at the center of the dam for several minutes. I’d told him that I wanted a photo of him with his hat, the red shirt, his beard, and cigarette.

The only posing I did was to ask him to raise his head slightly to keep the brim of his hat from covering part of his face. His hand in his pocket, weight on one foot, and not looking at the camera are the natural positions his body fell into. It appears natural because it is. It’s not something I arranged, suggested, or manipulated.

Man with feather in his cap portrait - iPhone Hipstamatic Tintype

Man with feather in his cap portrait – iPhone Hipstamatic Tintype

This photo took very little time because all the elements are natural. The posing, The light. The moment.

It’s great when so many necessary elements for a good photo happen organically. When the natural order of the elements presents themselves in a way that is pleasing and interesting.

Of course I had to shoot him the the iPhone Hipstamatic Tintype FilmPak.