I don't do shadow self portraits much anymore--its a favorite thing of young photographers and occasionally veterans. Lee Friedlander, one of my favorite photographers took many over his career(his are way cooler than mine by the way--you should look him up). Today as I was walking to Allegheny to meet with a prospective student I just happend to see this shadow. I passed it up on the first flight of stairs and considered going back, but a few steps further and I saw it again. It was neat because this super long shadow made me think of my dad....no he's not tall and no he doesn't take pictures of his own shadow(I'd guess he'd even say that I was wasting my time taking it myself). My dad says the same thing over and over again when he sees a tall skinny guy. 'He must be a poet.' Then if you bite and ask why he'd guess that he'd say... 'because he's a Longfellow.' Yes I did chuckle thinking about this today and it has been great thinking of him off and on today and again now as I write this out. Hope he and mom are over their colds. Photograph by Richard Sayer
Wish you could have been a "fly on the wall" while Dad read the caption on this picture!!! Took him forever, as you know he is a very slow reader. Didn't understand how you could get a picture like it. Thanks - we are doing better, finally. Talk soon.