Stairwells are neat to shoot pictures because of the different levels you can get. I prefer old beat up stairwells or industrial ones when working with models. In our new studio space there is a stairwell and I've tried to shoot in it twice now. Its painted white and the steps a brown and the railings are finished light wood. I haven't really been able to 'find my picture' there--accept when I purposely over expose. I shot some very high key pictures the first time I shot in the stairwell and the second time when I was trying to do some darker moodier shots--they just were not working--too light in there(I'll find it eventually) so I ended up going back to that idea. Moriah's glasses were great and I thought she might make an interesting foreground as I was shooting pictures of Sam for her portfolio(Moriah was there as support for her friend--not to be photographed--but was kind enough to just be in a few frames!) What I like about having done this so long and having worked for a newspaper is that I think on my feet and don't get discouraged when a plan doesn't work out--I adjust and move on in order to 'find my picture'. This also proves to help me move forward as well--if I only try to accomplish what I pre-thought out--I feel I am missing that wonderful serendipity that brings great things if you're just aware that its there. So try to take a bad picture--sometimes it works out pretty good. And even if it doesn't sometimes you can find something to learn from in the process---and thats the best of all! SayerMotter Photograph by Richard Sayer.