On Hallowed Ground

The call came in at 1:30 on a Friday, while I was gathered with several photographer friends at our local Pho restaurant, and the assignment was for the upcoming Sunday.

This client was an award-winning production company that wanted to make a signature image of two mothers who, on the same day - Mother’s Day - lost their sons in the war effort, and both were buried side by side, which is how the women met. The client was turning to me to produce the image of the real mothers, and they were also producing a television production that would tell their story.

Because I was working with two people, and two additional “people” elements, I wanted my 5’ Chimera softbox. Having that much surface to light, and to be beating down a backlit sun, I chose my 2400 w/s bi-tube head, as the objective was f11 at 250th.

Yeah, but who is the goofy-lookin' assistant? (Hi, Bill...)

Hey, great site. I just discovered you via strobist and I'm already learning a lot. This is a beautiful, heart-breaking shot. If a photograph could end the war in Iraq, this would be the one to do it.

Good site, I like it. Can you please include in your final analysis paragraphs some "Strobist" info and what worked on location, and what didn't. Cheers

I have question. In the first set up shot, the ground looks very dry, brown and sparse. Yet in the subsequent images, the grass appears fuller, appears more green. Was that done in the post process or is it a function of the lighting and angle of composition?

I'd wondered what the set-up was for those images when I saw them. I was with Nick Kirven in Afghanistan that Mother's Day - we were both in 3/3. Excellent shots, John.

I appreciate you taking the time to not only write this post...but all the posts you write in the effort to point our profession in the correct direction. Thanks again. Dave

Thanks for the shooting side; however, can you add the biz side for this? I.e. permit process, how you worked the negotiations, etc. Obviously without giving away stuff that would be improper.

I noticed in the first photo (with the assistant) the condition of the grass. How did you over come this is the second and last photo.

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