Parkas and portraits—an impromptu shot became the hero image for WIRED and landed on the Communication Arts shortlist.
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For this WIRED assignment, the photo editor reached out after seeing some personal work I’d done experimenting with textures to obscure identity. One of those images used a shower curtain to distort the subject’s face, and we both loved the moody, surreal feeling it created. I tested a few different materials to refine the effect and settled on a direction that felt right. I wanted to bring in cooler, icy tones—pulling inspiration from a scene in True Detective where characters are surrounded by frozen walls in an ice cave.
The day before the shoot, I connected with Jane Willenbring to discuss wardrobe. I suggested she bring something that felt fitting for the cold, like a parka, if she had one. On the day of the shoot, we leaned into the art direction we’d planned, creating a series of portraits that felt atmospheric and otherworldly.
During a quick break, I asked Jane to try on the parka, just to see what it might add. As soon as I looked through the lens, I knew we had something special. That image became the hero for the story and ended up being shortlisted for Communication Arts—a moment that reminded me how experimentation and small creative risks often lead to the most exciting outcomes.
For this WIRED assignment, the photo editor reached out referencing some images on my website that I had created using a shower curtain to distort the subject’s face. We both loved the surreal and moody feeling it brought, so I did some testing with different curtains to refine the look. Once we agreed on a direction, I knew I wanted to bring in cooler, icy tones—drawing inspiration from a scene in True Detective where the characters are surrounded by frozen walls in an ice cave.
The day before the shoot, I connected with Jane Willenbring to discuss wardrobe, and I suggested she bring clothes that felt fitting for the cold, including a parka if she had one. On the day of the shoot, we followed the plan—leaning into the art direction we’d established—creating a series of portraits that felt moody and atmospheric.
During a quick break, I shifted gears, asked Jane to put on the parka, and grabbed a few frames. I knew instantly there was something special about those images. When I delivered the files, the editor chose one of the parka shots as the hero image for the story. It ended up being shortlisted for Communication Arts, which was such an exciting moment for me and a testament to following those creative instincts in the moment.
