Quick Take: Shodekeh
(Nikon D2X, Nikon 85mm f/1.8, 1/8th sec. @ f/2.8, ISO 640, Nikon SB-800 Speedlight off camera)
The club was small, cramped and dark. It had been a long Saturday, and I had to spend some time photographing Shodekeh, a professional beatboxer. He performed with guitarist, saxaphonist and two deejays; the entire time with a microphone attached to his mouth (not unusual for a beat boxer) and standing near the staircase.
To light the room I used a Nikon SB-800 Speedlight clamped to a light rail and fired it with a PocketWizard remote unit. It was pointed toward the wall, bouncing the light throughout the room to look more natural.
Most of the time I photographed from the front, but as I neared the end of the shoot I moved behind the deejay, maneuvering Shodekeh in front of the light. Who knew what effect may happen, or if it would even work, but I tried it anyway. Doing this, I knew the Nikon Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 has some problems with direct light. My theory is it reflects off the sensor back onto the lens' back element and returns to the sensor. This makes a reflected image of the light. It can create some real problems, but also neat effects.
This image, in my mind, captures and represents more of Shodekeh than any of the more "straight" photographs. It also expresses more of my vision. The dual microphones, the reflected one embedded in his silhouetted profile, personifies how attached he is to the music for which he has given up everything to follow. His quiet demeanor disappears as he melds with his music.
Opening the paper Sunday, to the Arts & Living Today section, I soon learned this photograph did not get published.
