THE BEST PHOTOGRAPH I’VE EVER TAKEN

A few weeks ago, I was assisting my boss, Jason Lanier on a workshop event at Jazzland.

Courtney Campbell. Image taken with the Sigma Art 85mm lens.

The students were very new photographers, still trying to figure out what lenses to shoot with and how. I’m very consistent. I’m usually shooting with the 85mm lens or the 24mm. On Saturday, I offered to demonstrate the differences between the two.

Around lunch we were shooting by the Zydeco Zinger, or as Jason calls it, the carousel. (It’s actually a rising swing ride, but he hates it when I point that out.) I saw this as the perfect spot to do the demonstration.

“Courtney, would you mind helping me for a minute?”

She rolled her eyes a bit in feigned annoyance. “Thank you, Courtney.”

I put the 85mm lens on first. Typically, 85’s are known as the perfect portrait lens. It’s a medium range telephoto lens and it lives up to it’s reputation. Some of my best work has been shot with an 85.

The resultant images of her were great. (Pictured to the left.) Courtney looks beautiful and sassy… and a little annoyed. Maybe she wasn’t kidding.

I’m happy with this shot. But the thing is… beyond looking beautiful, the image isn’t anything special. Anyone with a gorgeous model and a basic understanding of photography could get a similar shot.

After showing them the first image, I switched over to my 24mm Sigma Art lens.

Courtney Campbell, shot with the 24mm.

Then this happened.

Here’s the thing. I am fully responsible for this shot. It’s the image I had in my head when I was setting it up. But damn. What was meant to be a simple demonstration turned out to be maybe the best photograph I’ve ever taken.

My first thought was “This looks like a painting. It doesn’t even look real.”

With the 24, I was able to capture the essence of Courtney without losing the fullness of the carousel in the background. Bathed in bright sunlight, the jazz-themed masterpiece looks like a halo behind her. The catch light in her eyes brings her to life in a very human way. I can only describe it as breath-taking.

This image is exactly why I shoot with the 24mm more and more. The intimacy of the images when used properly can’t be beat.

Thank you to Courtney. Couldn’t have done it without her.