Cut!

John Gress Chicago Photographer

I think it took about 20 painful takes to nail this challenging image. By the time I had the shot, the models torsos were red and there hair was covered in dust.

One Day A Month

John Gress Chicago Photographer

I had a very busy day today… I met with an HIV / AIDS charity to discuss how I can volunteer my services to help them with their marketing initiatives. I did this last year for The Edge Alliance and helped them with a campaign for their Dining Out For Life event. After plastering my pictures all over buses and magazines, the charity raised more than three times what they usually raise from this event. It is my goal for 2011 to volunteer at least 12 days of my time to help others make the world a better place. I would like to challenge all of you to do the same… after all, it is only one day a month.

Chicago black and white headshot series: Robin Cook

Chicago black and white headshot series by John Gress Chicago Photographer

For this Chicago black and white headshot series featuring models Robin Cook, Eric Luchen and Matthew Cuff, I decided to use natural light, augmented with reflectors, and fast prime lenses shot wide open to blur the background.

Male Model Raphael

John Gress Chicago Photographer

Model and dancer Raphael noted, “I am not as strong as I look in those pics, in my daily life. Unless I’m teaching dance in the ghetto.”