Like there are many moods, there are many faces. A typical head shot session involves a predetermined and often practised pose of what we want to put out into the world but in reality a single or collection of these typical shots can never represent us or our stories.
Some of the more intriguing photographs from these typical sessions end up on the cutting room floor but they are still often just a prepared collection of poses.
When taking head shots I look to create a conversation that teases out the subjects' story; nullifying the awareness of the camera's presence and capturing the natural faces that ensue. Again, the chosen photograph is often the "nice" one but with this approach the cutting room floor collective is not only a rejection of the most natural and expressive shots, it is the rejection of the human story that can be moulded by them.
By organising the cutting room floor of photographic expressions a story without words can be forged because we not only read facial and body expressions, we read the shift between them. And of course, in real time, expressions are not static; they are in a constant state of flux.
Therefore this collection of photographs capture the various expressions and moods that emanated from a conversation with Rob who talked about his career as a pianist, accompanist and educator.
Al Gurr
Al: "Rob, what advice would you give to your younger self in regards to being a musician or about life in general?"
Rob: "Be kind to yourself. Be kind to others too, of course, but don't forget yourself.
Let your dancing shoes show you the right way to go.
Always try to see and feel the beauty and majesty of what's around you however fragile you may feel from time to time.
Always water your garden.
Don't cry all your tears in one go, but save a few for later.
Remember the magic you felt when you were a small child, and keep that close to you however much things change. Walk in a small bubble of that magic. Centre yourself there and don't worry about what may be going on elsewhere, because all that will fade but the magic will always be with you.
Enjoy the achievements of others as much as your own.
Whatever else it may be, life is certainly not a race or a piano competition.
And finally, if you're driving home, make sure you've got a car!"
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