Continuing my chronological series of work completed during the pandemic: After my morning shoot on August 10th at Pimlico I hurried down to College Park, Maryland, for a formal portrait of Dr. Adriene Lim, the new Dean of Libraries at the University of Maryland. I set up on the portico of McKeldin Library, the hulking edifice of brick and columns that looms over the lush and sprawling mall in the heart of the my alma mater. For COVID safety my client wanted everything shot outdoors, and I requested the portico location for a number of reasons: in the midday sun I wanted a spot where I knew I'd have shade but wouldn't have to tie down a large overhead butterfly and fight any potential wind; I'd have access to power for my laptop and for multiple lights capable of overpowering the ambient light; and finally, I'd be able to maintain a closed set that would keep the client at ease. I pre-lit a setup that would allow us three radically different shots within a ten foot radius: the main portrait overlooking the mall (a large @chimeralighting softbox on a boom); pivoting to the right for an ambient key light portrait along the columns (with fill from a head shot through a @matthewsgrip silk flag); and finally pivoting right once more for a "studio" shot, in front of the white flag lit from behind, with my trusty Softlighter for the key. Having worked so quickly, we had time to head out to the front of the library for some masked photos with Testudo (safety first of course!). I lit this with a medium softbox on a boom, an overhead flag blocking the sunlight. We had the dean in and out in record time, and happily on to her meetings - all proof that a little preparation and planning goes a long way. (at McKeldin Library, University of Maryland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGXGZJOh2Dh/?igshid=1edeljiwpnff