Black and white annual "Personality" shots of the Seniors I took annually for display in the hallways and for the yearbook.

This was one of my favorite projects.  It started when I was taking photos of the students with a small digital point and shoot camera to be used as reference for completion of our photorealistic grid drawings- in the style of Chuck Close.

One of the teachers posted some of the photos on his bulletin board and outside the main office on the monitor as a slide show.  The principal saw the slide show and asked who took them.  Pleased with the quality and the unique personality of the students, she suggested I take them  annually so that we could put them in the yearbook.

What I loved most about doing this project was the interaction between myself and the students in front of the camera.  It was fascinating to observe the changes that were displayed in their personality once the lens was pointed on them.  Students who were often boisterous became shy and students who seemed insecure in class displayed a sense of calm and confidence.  

The beauty of portrait photography is this very close interaction that lasts only minutes.  To create an image that takes collaboration, team work, between the photographer and the person in front of the lens.  

After the initial display, students approached me continually throughout the year asking me to take pictures of them.  It gave me great pleasure to know something so simple brought them so much joy.