Moody BW Portraiture of an Artist
Congratulations Nick Kreider, Opera Colorado’s 2019 Norblom Award winner. Receiving this award prompted Nick and I to collaborate on a portrait session. We created a few more traditional, conservative head-shots and some beautiful color portraits from this setting, of course. But what I enjoy most are these black and white portraits we created both in the studio and outside.
Portrait of an Author
Portraits of authors and artists are among my favorite to create. In these situations I often find myself asking and listening, thinking and adjusting my visual efforts to better capture the artist before me. Photographing Denver based author, Bart Schaneman, to coincide with the release of his short novel, The Silence is the Noise, was one of these wonderful collaborations. I had known and worked with Bart before, but not until our portrait session did we ever chat about art, inspiration or life on a farm. His book is wonderful, and here are a few portraits of the author from that evening.
July Guideposts Magazine cover is out!
Happy to share my July Guideposts cover story with Kirstie Ennis. She is a wonderful person with an amazing story/attitude. Check it out in print if you can! (their online version is here)
New Portraits of an Opera Singer
Congratulations to Bass baritone Andrew Hiers, recently awarded the annual Norblom Award by Opera Colorado. Because of his selection for the award we did a portrait session. Andrew is a great human, and a pleasure to photograph. I hope you get the opportunity to hear him sing some day.
Magazine Cover from a Photography shoot in Denver
I had the pleasure of collaborating with Marijuana Business Magazine for their current cover. As a photographer living here in Denver, I always enjoy this type of on-location executive portrait commission. The light, weather and backdrop are always changing but the thing that remains a constant is my goal to create a photograph that my client, subject and myself are all happy with.
New Portraits from a ranch in Colorado
The magazine finally came out, the embargo passed, and I’m eager to share these portraits I shot in rural Colorado. Glenda is a pleasure to spend time with, and I believe she raises some of the best cared-for cattle in the country.
Empowering Portrait in Colorado
I was hired to photograph Julinda for a health care publication at her home in the Front Range here in Colorado. I always enjoy meeting and photographing real people (a much more authentic and engaging experience and portrait than a model portraying some character) and Julinda was a pleasure to meet and work with.
Portrait Photography in Colorado
I always love meeting new people and it was a joy to spend time with Angela and her family. We made these portraits at her home on assignment for a healthcare publication.
Angela at her home in Aurora, Colorado.
Portraits of an Olympic Silver Medalist
I had a fantastic assignment recently to spend the day with Ethiopian marathoner and Olympic silver medalist, Feyisa Lilesa. He now lives in Arizona, not returning to his homeland after finishing second in Rio and displaying a protest gesture as he crossed the finish line, for fear of what might happen to him upon his return.
Environmental Portrait session with Liz
I had the wonderful opportunity to meet in person and spend the afternoon with Liz in her studio in Boulder the other day. It was a true pleasure watching her work, chatting with her and (of course) photographing her as she created.
New Portraits of a Denver area Designer / Maker
Below are a few portraits of Laura, working in her studio in Denver. She graciously allowed me in to photograph her at work and create a few environmental portraits of her in her element.
A Portrait of Entrepreneurship
I am drawn to entrepreneurship. Being present at the start or early stages of a new venture is exhilarating. The air is so thick with excitement, possibility and mission that the atmosphere changes, thickens almost, and can permeate anyone who pushes into its sphere.
Ryan DiFranco conjured this sort of atmosphere as he created his new restaurant, DiFranco’s. He was gracious and generous and allowed me to be a part of his process, inside the sphere of entrepreneurship. While inside, I made a documentary style picture story that begins to capture and convey this spirit and process of entrepreneurship through the undertaking of opening a small restaurant.
As an introduction to Ryan and this unpublished picture story, here are two portraits of the entrepreneur himself.
matthew staver 