In my last post I described how I’ve begun to do remote photo shoots, via FaceTime. By hooking a projector up to my laptop while I’m on a call with my subjects— who are often not just in a different state but sometimes in a different country— I can project their face onto a backdrop in my studio. Then I shoot through a range of different materials and substances, throwing the subject slightly out of focus, which takes the focus off the poor video connection and puts it on the texture, helping sell the illusion that the subject was actually in my space. I’ve dubbed these portrait sessions “remotraits”.
In my latest remotrait I collaborated with actress and singer Aleksa Palladino. Aside from revisiting techniques and materials from my previous sessions I also tried out several new ideas. I projected Aleksa onto a large sheet of plastic trash that was laying around from my “One Man’s Trash” shoots. Next, I bounced the projector into a broken mirror and photographed the reflection. After that I shot through vellum on a laptop screen to give the appearance of a tilt shift lens. I even poured honey onto a 1/4 CTO gel, laying it on the laptop screen. I’m super excited at all the possibilities of this medium and believe this is only the tip of the iceberg.
Here’s a peek at my setup below: