Nevada City, MT, 2007

I was assisting at a workshop many years ago and National Geographic photographer Jim Brandenburg (https://www.photoby.fr/en/8-jim-brandenburg) was speaking, suggesting a different spelling for the braggadocio bumper sticker soundbite, “No Fear!” His version, “Know Fear.” Use it.

A few years later I was one of the photography Mentors for a workshop; the trip leader had just divided the students into groups for each of us, and she said, “Bill, here is your group and here is your costumed model. Go do something interesting and teach something at the same time.” (Or something to that effect.)

One of many ways of distinguishing different kinds of photographers is between reactive and conceptual. I’m mainly reactive; I respond to what’s happening. But nothing is happening.

The model is standing there waiting for directions. The students are staring at me waiting for pearls of wisdom. Thank you Jim. Fear can be a useful motivator. Just do something, and ideas will flow from that. I need a story, a narrative. Backgrounds tell stories with the information they contribute, and I have this western gold-mining ghost town.

So she’s the school marm, leaving her home, walking the dirt street to the school house, stepping carefully, and watching for reckless riders. First composition has such contrasty light, a reflector puts light under the hat, but it feels flat, footlight-y, and her fingers look odd. Move in close, a smaller area where I can use a large diffuser to control and soften the light, much more natural feeling. Keep moving in, with a nod to Vermeer.

Walk down the dusty street to the saloon, beautiful window light bouncing off the smoothness of the worn floor. Same model, same outfit, but now she’s a dance hall girl. Move in tighter, again, for those eyes.

And then…then, there were these old railroad tracks and cars, and another actor/model in just the right outfit. So we did a quick “Snidely Whiplash and Nell.” Dudley Do-Right must have been just around the corner.

For more of Bill’s photographs, go to https://www.billdurrence.com/index