James Cromwell Portrait Sitting New York

James Cromwell Portrait Sitting New York (Rory Lewis Photographer)

Lighting is often perceived as a complicated skill, as a travelling portrait photographer working on both sides of the pond, I prefer to keep my equipment to a minimum. Mastering one light is essential if you wish to understand the art of portrait photography. Testifying I can safely admit 75% of all my portrait sittings have been shot with one light setups. With a single light source, and reflector or fill, you can produce enough creative lighting options, to photograph a lifetime of portrait sittings.

With nearly 200 acting credits to his name, James Cromwell has starred in iconic movies such as Babe, Star Trek: First Contact, L.A. Confidential and The Green Mile. Cromwell accepted my invitation to sit in New York back in late 2019. The portrait to feature in my Selah exhibition, creating dramatic mediative scenes of the sitters pausing to breathe & reflect. In directing James I asked him to imagine he had taken a long pilgrimage. Now reaching the end of the journey, my impetus was to capture a man of faith who is almost introspective.

James Cromwell Portrait Sitting New York (Rory Lewis Photographer)

Using one soft box, (main light) Lastolite Ezybox Pro Octa & (fill) large black Skylite Rapid to deepen the shadows; the setup made for an intimate sitting. Keeping it simple my calling card, I positioned the light at 45 degree angle from the bridge of Cromwell’s nose and began to shoot.

In directing my subjects, I ask them to imagine the world is 1 Inch in size around their faces, and to move slowly, not making large drifts or swings left or right. Governing the sitting, James quickly adapted to my direction making these micro changes in expression, to create a series of vivid and thought provoking portraits. Lasting only a short 60 minutes it was an honour to work with an actor who is considered by his peers to be a grandmaster of the art.

If you are thinking of attempting this style of portrait yourself, I encourage you to seek out an older or wiser face, capture all those lines, scars and marks of detail, with this very easy and go to lighting setup. Sit your subject in the centre of the frame, position lightning 45 degree angle, using a softbox or shoot through umbrella. Utilise a black flag/reflector opposite the lighting to bring out those shadows.