STEPHANIE 1 - From The Interiors Portfolio

STEPHANIE - from The Interiors Portfolio

ATUL 2 - From The Interiors Portfolio

ATUL 2 - From The Interiors Portfolio

This portrait of Atul was shot a few days ago on location in Kensington Market, Toronto. We had talked for awhile about his upcoming trip to Brazil; this gave me a glimpse into a creative life of remarkable depth. Calm, yet passionate about his vocation as a teacher, mentor and leader.

ATUL - From The Interiors Portfolio

ATUL -  From The Interiors Portfolio

HUAN - From The Interiors Portfolio

HUAN - From The Interiors Portfolio

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Interiors is an ongoing, long term, portrait series of mine. The collection evolved from an inspiring portrait session with one person.

The series explores the subtler, more introspective side of people, to look at the spaciousness and stillness that resides in each moment. Shot on location with existing light, both film and digital formats are used to help keep these black and white images simple and timeless. Along with building a strong rapport with the subject, this approach strips away much of the glossy, surface treatment that people are regularly subjected to in photography, and allows another aspect of the real person to come through.

Roberto Griot and Sons - Salvador da Bahia, Brazil

Roberto Griot and Sons - Salvador da Bahia, Brazil  - photo by Michael O'Brien

While working on an image series about people in the Pelourinho district of Salvador, I was fortunate to meet painter Roberto Griot. He has a studio on one of the main streets near Ignacio Assioli street; the heart of old Bahia. On the lower floor was his gallery and upstairs ( where this image was made ) he kept his studio. When his children ran through the room one more time I asked if we could make a picture together and he agreed. While we did this he looked at them lovingly saying that these two were his favourite creations.