It's Good to See Your Face Again
It's Good to See Your Face Again
July 15, 2021
We were going to photograph Don wearing a mask; they said it was mandatory. Don is the CTO of Portland Public Schools, and it was necessary to show him inside one of their new tech-enabled classrooms. Our contact at Portland Public said he would have to wear a mask inside at all times. But the CDC guidelines changed just a couple days before the shoot. This was May 2021, and vaccinations were on the rise in Oregon. Word came down that we could show Don unmasked in an empty classroom.
Don was beside himself with enthusiasm after removing his mask.
I am not an anti-masker. Wearing a mask is an important measure to protect ourselves, collectively, from a very real threat. But the cost is not zero. We are a social species, even the introverts among us. Facial expression communicates volumes – how can we understand each other when two-thirds of the information is missing? We can’t, not really.
I decided to photograph Don with and without the mask in case someone changed their mind later. I felt I could live with the masked shot, especially if it communicated the reality of the situation. But the moment he removed his mask on set, it was like a literal veil lifted. Suddenly you remember the pleasure of speaking face to face. And in the photograph, there is an emotional blankness that lifts. You can see his full personality. A portrait of someone wearing a mask – is about the mask. That’s what we’ll see first, every time. It is a visual reminder of the pandemic, this trauma that we're all living through. We focus on that, instead of the emotional content of the photo. I know we’re not totally out of the woods yet – the Delta variant is making a comeback tour among the unvaccinated as I write. But we are seeing each other in person again, mostly unmasked, I can finally buy you that beer, and I’m so happy just to see your face.
My favorite shot of the series. When you look off camera, not at me, it suggests more of a narrative, allows more room for interpretation.
Plug it in like this.
But please, never like this.
Beyond the main shot, I try to do at least one unexpected option, so I asked Don if he would be willing to stand on top of a desk, and he said yes. The simplest approach often wins out, as I think it did here, but I’m always hoping for something remarkable in a photograph. I still like the effect of seeing him high up, reaching for the ceiling. The art director liked it too and chose that image for the spread, only to be vetoed later by publishers concerned that we might be saying it was a good idea to stand on top of desks and play with electrical cords. Safety first, y'all.
And an alternative outdoor scenario to top it off. Thanks, Don! You were a great sport.