Robin's senior photos had two parts. Because he is an accomplished swimmer, part one was to photograph him at the MEL preliminary swim meet. Part two was in the studio two days later.No problem - right? Yes, except one thing. We Californians don't expect RAIN in early May. And I went to the wrong high school pool. Fortunately, I brought a huge umbrella with a big handle.
Here is my correspondence to Robin's mother, Michele:
All’s well that ends well! Robin was a great subject – really open and nice to photograph. I got shots I like a lot.
One small bit of humor – I had stuck my umbrella in the front of my pants because at one point it was pouring and I couldn’t hold the umbrella along with my camera and my camera bag.
After I photographed Robin’s dive, I walked quickly over to the starting blocks. Unfortunately, the umbrella got stuck, and I couldn’t get it out. Argh! The parents by the starting block must have thought I was crazy pushing through there with my big umbrella.
I finally got the umbrella out from my pants, but I wasn’t able to close it. I tossed it in the back toward the fence and was able to capture one or two strokes. I did get some nice shots of him at the finish. Needless to say, I’ve never had that happen before (I’ve never stuck an umbrella in my pants), but it worked out. It was pretty functional when I was photographing his dive in the pouring rain. Cameras stayed dry. It’s a good story anyway!
From Michele:
Nice, I wish I had seen that. Makes standing in the rain worth it when something like that happens to someone other than me. Robin seemed really pleased with what you two were working out together. He's looking forward to tomorrow's session.
Prom is tonight of course, he is on a big bus with a group of dancing fools I think. So, when you are looking at the 'negatives' photoshop out just a wee bit of the black saddlebags under his eyes would ya' please?
Put this on your Christmas list, one of those little umbrellas that comes with a head harness and optional miner's lamp in the front. Fashion forward and keeps soggy umbrellas out of your pants. Works for shade in the summer and rain in the winter!!
