Last year, it was my monumental privilege to photograph the Deep Ellum People campaign.
Led by the Deep Ellum Foundation, the project features unique portraits and stories of people who’ve contributed to the neighborhood’s development, character, and community.
The portraits are currently hanging from the street pole banners, primarily lining Main & Elm Streets from Good Latimer to Exposition. (I’m not sure how much longer they’ll be up.)
In total, 127 people participated in the project. I had the joy and responsibility of photographing all of them. All except one… (which we will get to very soon!)
This project was an amazing whirlwind of awe-inspiring human beings.
It also kinda kicked my ass.
This was, hands down, the most challenging portrait project I’ve ever photographed.
There were endless obstacles to overcome—notably creative and cramped locations contributing mixed light pollution which taxed my brain and my light kit to their limits.
But the most frustrating puzzle by far was the rather absurd aspect ratio required for these street pole banners. The banners are essentially 1×2, which is a weird, long, skinny box to cram a human being into. Even knowing in advance and planning for it as best I could, the struggle was real. The result was that I often chose an image which wasn’t necessarily the best, but was the best fit for the weird, long, skinny box.
Of course, hands down, this was also the most rewarding portrait project I’ve ever photographed.
Obviously, the best part was working with all these remarkable people who are woven into the fabric of Deep Ellum’s soul.
The greatest honor of all was the tremendous responsibility of photographing folks who were tilling their lifeblood into the soil of these streets 40 and 50 years ago. These people are vital, their stories critical to preserve.
This has been a deeply humbling experience.
The images aren’t perfect. I photographed very many people in very short time. While I will probably critique the color and composition for eternity, I am wonderfully happy with what we achieved together.
I am definitely most proud of capturing more than simply everyone’s physical likeness, but a glimmer of their spirit.
There are THOUSANDS of beautiful images I’ve barely peeked at. (I clocked over 50,000 shutter clicks for this project.) In time, I will sort through and pull out a few more.
For now, please enjoy these ones which have been released online so far.
Bios of each individual are trickling out on the deepellumtexas.com blog over the next year or so. 15 have been released so far.
These compelling narratives were written by the lovely, talented Taylor Adams Cogan, whom it is my immense pleasure to call a friend.
Please enjoy Taylor’s stories and these portraits, presented in their native 2×3 aspect ratio for the first time.
