As a corporate location photographer, I never know where I'll end up, and some of the places are surprising. Here's a portrait I shot recently of an executive with an alternative fuel company...but wait, before you read further, take a couple guesses where we're shooting; I'll continue below the image.
Shot with a Canon 5D Mark III, 20mm lens at f16, 1/320, ISO 320.
Did you guess? Looks like Kansas, right? Actually, we're standing on top of the what was once the largest landfill in the world, Fresh Kills, on Staten Island in New York City. If you've read my blog before you know I'm a believer in planning but staying open to those magical, serendipitous moments that seem to happen on every photo shoot. This shoot was to cover a new truck that runs on DME, an alternative fuel that is much better for the environment than diesel fuel. The Department of Sanitation in New York City is testing this truck for potential roll-out in its fleet. We were wrapping up the morning shoot when our contact at DSNY said, "want to see something cool?" What self-respecting photographer can resist that line? We weren't scheduled to go to the top of the landfill, long reclaimed, covered with dirt and planted with grass. There's a view of Manhattan from the top but it was raining over the harbor and we couldn't see the city so I selected a location to photograph the truck against the horizon. The portrait wasn't scheduled but I didn't want to waste a good opportunity; as I was positioning the truck for a beauty shot I had John stand on the road where the truck was to be placed; I took two shots, then the truck rolled in.
Here's the beauty shot of the truck; the portrait of John was an added bonus!