The Lady

When the amazingly talented illustrator (and friend) Michael Deas asked me to shoot reference photos for a painting years ago, I had no idea how iconic that artwork would become. The lady with the torch that you see at the beginning of every Columbia Pictures had a humble beginning in the living room of my apartment, which had been converted to a small photo studio. Michael had a vision for the piece and I was asked to create a soft light that would accentuate every fold in in material and flatter the model. My penchant for large soft box light modifiers was perfect for the assignment. Times-Picayune page designer Jenny Joseph (now a Houston muralist and mother of two) was the perfect model and the rest is history.
The painting is currently (until January 7, 2013) included in a retrospective of work by Michael Deas at The Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans.