Sometimes you just walk in at the right time. When I arrived at Temple Emanu El last Thursday to photograph Ross, the lights in the sanctuary were off. Donning my kipah, I went in, marveling at the light streaming through the windows high above and the sense of quietude and well, devotion that permeated the space. I wondered if this was what the architect had in mind when he had visualized the sanctuary, a place of streaming natural light from above illuminating the ark and congregants. And I thought I would try something different.
When Ross arrived, I said that we were going to work with the light off for awhile and showed him some of the test shots I had taken. He assured me that he was up for standing still for awhile so I could make the portrait.
And her are some of the results…
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As the Rabbi came in, the lights came back up, and I made some other photos of Ross- I think just as good, just different. But the next time I’m at shul, photographing a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, I’m going to turn the lights off.
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