2 Questions re Location Portraiture

[Exploring Large Format]

Seeking insights on two questions. First: on making location portraits of many folks in one session. Second: on portrait tips for older models.

I've somehow convinced a local nursing home to let me volunteer as a LF photographer of their residents. They have, understandably, very rigid Covid guidelines, but they nonetheless jumped at my request. They opened up the home to visitors about a month ago after a year of lockdown, and the residents are really needing human contact/interaction with the outside world. I brought my camera/tripod to the interview, and the whole spectacle of large format photography was appealing as it is an event in itself as you well know! Their chief objective is interaction with as many folks as possible. They really are seeking genuine connections. Without interaction, we all recede is how I understood their situation. They will take any interaction offered up, and they viewed this as a performance as much as photography.

My plan is to make LF portraits, but to also use 35mm film (with motor drive) and Polaroids with a souped-up SX-70. My objectives are to serve their needs for fun interaction and connection while taking advantage of my opportunity for getting lower-stress portraiture practice. As a bonus, they might even help me out with some supply costs. The 35mm and Polaroids are for speed and instant photos they can keep.

Any insights on making fairly rapid portraits on location, one after the other? The chief consideration is safety. I want to be sure to observe a Photography Hippocratic Oath, if you will. Ambient light outdoors, at least at first. Thinking of a V-Flat for fill light when the outdoor light is harsh.

I'm new to most of this. Been practicing LF on family and friends, but Covid pinched the practice. And, all that was a rather methodical plodding around in my garage/studio. I am semi-retired, so flexible in my time. I can make multiple visits. But never having worked with groups, I think I'm most seeking any help on work flow, managing unexposed/exposed film, the practicalities of keeping all the pieces simple. I was considering using a string and ball as a focusing aid, but due to Covid, I probably won't. Need to keep us all distanced and not touching the same objects.

Also, there is film development and printing. IF they can pay, I'd send to a lab. If not, I'll be doing darkroom for LF. I'm new at this too, so can use the experience. I can scan 35mm, so easy there.

Also, any thoughts on minimizing my liability? They are open to a contract to protect all parties. I have researched this, so know the basics. But any special insights welcomed.

Second, specific tips for making portraits of older folks?


I am planning to use Sinar Norma with Sinar shutter and 180mm and 300mm Tessar lenses in-barrel with f/4.5 for easier focusing. I have a few lenses in shutters if needed. Using Zone VI tripod for weight stability and for the ambiance of a somewhat old-timey getup.

I'll not be able to publicly display the photos without express permission due to strict HIPPA constraints. That said, they also want photos for use around the facility.

Having witnessed how music can penetrate "the wall" for a family member with dementia, I'm also hoping that photos might function in a similar way. We'll see.

Thanks to all for any insights or suggestions!

[Tin Can]

You are volunteering to be entertainment

Admirable

I did shoot portraits of my parents in their chosen 3 steps of degradation, they waved me off

I am not ever going near another 'home' especially if I am on stage

All my 'relatives' are gone, meaning 6 ft under

I suggest, really simple gear, meaning Digi and a battery printer

and go slow, do one person a day

they are still people

good luck

[adrianlambert]

No suggestions except just go for it. Clearly you’ve done some thinking about it. I duff my cap to you. Great source of engagement for the residents and a great source of practice for you. Sounds like a great plan and photography functions best when it’s a two way street. Best of luck with it.


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[Greg]

Once did a vaguely similar project. First I'd stick to one camera and one lens. Standardize the lighting to cut down the setup time. Before photographing the subjects, sit down and talk with them for maybe 15 minutes. If possible take along a picture of your parents. Sometimes you will have a story to tell them and showing them a picture of your parents will get their respect. I agree with doing one person per day. In a closed community like the one you are shooting in, stories about you will quickly be passed on.
Good Luck

[Ulophot]

Regarding ligthting outdoors, adn guessing that some will not wish to stand, or may be on wheels, I would consider places where I might use an overhead black gobo, maybe 4x4. If the light is direct sun overhead, more or less, this will cut this and leave diffuse reflected light coming front and from the sides, which will give you a god start. You can limit it on one side with a drop-down black cloth.

Clearly, you need to secure this well, speaking of liability. Otherwise, I would suggest sticking to open shade. Perhaps a friend of the resident would be willing to hold a reflector for you, when useful.

[cowanw]

This puts me in mind of a Toronto Physician who took portraits of his patients with his 4x5 film camera. Ultimately he was shown in the Royal Ontario Museum, not too shabby! His printmaker was in Toronto, a world renown chap who sometimes is found here. I got in trouble touching a print with my bare fingers.

https://www.rom.on.ca/en/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/house-calls-with-my-camera-social-documentary-portraits-by-dr-mark
https://www.pressreader.com/canada/toronto-star/20081114/282286726108180
I would be very sure to get individual consents, involve next of kin. Beware of issues around dementia consent. You may think the prints will reside in your sock drawer, but things happen, temptations occur. Maybe contact Dr. Mark Nowaczynski for advice.

[Peter De Smidt]

So, I've done a lot of this, although admittedly not with LF. (I did the marketing photography for a big skilled nursing facility for a few years.) So, have everything worked out in advance. Don't be metering, setting shutter speeds, with a subject in place. That should all be worked out first. You have a very short time. Interact in a fun manner. There will be staff around. They need releases signed if they're to use the photos. Have the staff get them signed. If you want to use the photos, you should get copies of the releases.

If you do this commercially, then you need liability insurance. So, I wouldn't do it commercially.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/b6em8y20x55o3a6/Ros_Sil_1000_b.jpg?raw=1

[earlnash]

Making photographs with a 35mm with a motor drive, and Polaroid, and LF says that you haven't decided what is the creative intent of your work. Each of those modalities and processes produces an entirely different product, especially in portraiture. It's the same as many other creative decisions we make - should the prints be matte, glossy, full-bleed or with big margins, large or small, color or B&W? Those decisions should be guided by your intent - what you want the viewer to feel and experience when they see the image. So, decide that first, then choose your equipment. If you just want to practise, do so on your family and your neighbors, without taking advantage of a vulnerable population

[Jim Jones]

The subjects in this project would be better served by digital photography if the photographer is quite adept with that technology.

[Peter De Smidt]

"taking advantage of a vulnerable population"

I'm going to disagree with that characterization. As I said before, I spent a bunch of years doing a lot of this professionally, and my wife has spent her career as a therapist in a skilled nursing facility. Many residents will be thrilled that you are interested in them, and they will love the whole experience, assuming you don't take too long, and if you're friendly and upbeat. Sure, some won't want to be involved, but that's easy to tell, and then you simply respect their wishes.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vywm6blxa5cxt8s/IMG_20210512_102852.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3ifebtjjcw6kxb3/IMG_20210512_102930.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zdour06pp14b2gz/IMG_20210512_102957.jpg?raw=1

[Bernice Loui]

That would be a NO and Bigger NO.

Done a project on the elderly back in the 90's using a view camera. None of these images were "taking advantage" in any way as these images became cherished memories for their family members. None of these images can be shared for a very-very long list of reasons. To imply and accuse an artist-creative image maker of taking advantage of those most vulnerable is a very misplaced assertion and lack of understand of this subject and all involved with it.

~Enough of that.

Suggest this book by Imogen Cunningham, After Ninety:
https://www.nytimes.com/1973/05/06/archives/imogen-cunningham-at-ninety-a-remarkable-empathy.html

Medium wide works good for environmental portraits (4x5, 120mm to 135mm, 5x7, 150mm to 180mm, 8x10, 200mm to 240mm). For head-shoulder use the typical longer than normal focal length.

Get to know the environment and how the lighting changes over the course of the day. Get to know the individuals personality, limitations and what they want to say in the images you're making for them. Ideally, the image will capture some aspect of who they are in their current moment of living. Lighting is a big deal as becomes part of the image made with the specific individual. NO flash, no added lighting if at all possible. Reflective or negative fill is ok.

Know those older have physical limitations, be patient with them, work with them helping them with their needs, be sensitive to their needs and their families wishes. This is where an assistant can be greatly helpful.

Try to have the camera placement and all related set up before arrival of the individual to be photographed. This can reduce the stress placed on your portrait sitter. Limit the number of image per portrait sitter to no more than six (ideally one or two) as each exposure of film made stress the portrait sitter. Keep in mind time in front of the camera can be a very stressful event. Do all possible to reduce this often un-appreciated stress on the portrait sitter.


Bernice







"without taking advantage of a vulnerable population"

[Tin Can]

My last memories of my parents are in the Reminiscence Room which was nothing like the ads

https://www.aplaceformom.com/resources/reminiscence-therapy-2

Sealed room by staff with keys and always locked, seldom clean, literally 'shitty' fabric chairs, all of them, I checked

Father escaped twice, he was found blocks away at a bus stop. Oops

They fell, down, broke, bones often

Both HAD DNR papers, which were ignored over and over again. Heart attacks, quadruple bypass all which they did not want, when they were still sane

Father in a screaming Rage 8 hours after his Quad, he called me 10 times midnight to 4 am demanding I get him OUT. I talked to the hospital staff, they didn't want to release him. Of course, he was too frail and needed several days at least.

He was such an asshole he WAS released to a nearby facility at 10 am. I was shocked.

Saw him there every day, he was abusing all staff loudly, they hid

Then back to the Reminencse cage. This wonderful company Sunrise (https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Sunrise-Senior-Living-Reminencse-Coordinator-Salaries-E6023_D_KO22,44.htm)

As Black Sheep middle son, nobody listened to me ever.

My 2 brothers always scheming and taking the money.

Which was all gone way too soon, with a 3rd hand, the Pretty Woman Financial Advisor...

Snakes

If you know Illinois, all this happened in Barrington, where they bought a condo house to die in as they put it

They would not listen to me telling them to stay in the one floor house and have help come to them

They moved into a very fancy retirement home. It cost too much after 10 years. They also had a sealed off side, for the lost souls.

Yes, I am bitter.

I sure hope I can sail my ship down the river Styx alone

[Exploring Large Format]

Thanks much to each of you who responded! I learned from every post.

Especially value the links to other sources. I know that aging, in and of itself, can be a challenging topic.

The home itself has a great reputation in the community. NOT owned by one of the mega-corps. I had a friend--now gone--who spent several episodes there recovering from a few of his dozens of operations. He was more experienced than anyone deserves in the realm of "care receiving", and he gave them high marks.

I will do my best to keep everything simple and safe and respectful. That comes through loud and clear. Seems the two most important things are rapport with a portrait model and lighting/lighting/lighting. Neither is about gear.

And, your posts were good reminder that Mission 1 is serving their needs for human interaction and entertainment. Mission 2, practice for me, will come with time.

[Exploring Large Format]

Update.

I had my first session with 5 residents of the Nursing Home. Can't post photos yet due to privacy regulations. Hope to get some release forms, but will likely require the person with Power of Attorney to authorize.

Two further questions:

First, how to organize the negatives? I've read much here about this topic, except the basic question of whether to keep ALL the negatives, or just those I print? Due to my newness, I took insurance photos. Typically three for each subject. There was one guy who did autopsy and other medical lab photography with LF back in the day; I took more of him! Unfortunately, his memory just couldn't grasp the details of his career (WWII vet!). But I have unsuitable negatives with eyes closed, etc. I'm ready to purge heavily, but wondering what others do? Steadfastly keep everything, or vicious culling?

Second, I've been asked now to photograph the staff. I've decided--there are many many more residents to photograph--that I'd need to charge for that. Again, much online about this topic, but not so much for LF. Any thoughts? Again, I'm new, not a pro, so please take that into account. Again, I think the attraction for them is the performative/interactive element. They could easily contract with a digi photographer for basic staff photos.

Also, I can't convey how much I have put into practice what I've gotten from this Forum. From lenses (Tessar) and shutters (Sinar) and cameras (Norma) to development and printing. And orientation to LF generally and imager-making in particular. Thank you, all.

And if you are a beginner LF Portraiteer, I can't recommend highly enough reaching out to a local nursing home. Especially post-Covid. It is akin to doing a pro assignment with folks you've never met, but because you're volunteering, the pressure isn't the same. HUGE opportunity for practice that is different from family and friends.

Thanks again!