Happy Mother's Day 2013!!

Roller derby skater and mom Katie Bell for Shore Magazine.

Moms are great and they do so many things,
Happy Mother's Day!!!!!!!
Psssst--call your Mom!

Rugby player Adam Dudycha for Shore Magazine.

Rugby player Adam Dudycha for Shore Magazine.

Well I did not win at the Headline Club of Chicago's 2013 Lisagor awards on Friday night. But we did get to eat and drink in the fabulous Union League Club while listening to the gravelly-voiced Rick Kogan MC the event.
But rather than react like this wet, muddy rugby player on the ground, or maybe just like him, I say congratulations to all the winners and look out for me next year!!
-Tony

Rob Thorgren for BusINess Magazine.

 

Rob Thorgren for BusINess Magazine.

David G. Janney for BusINess Magazine.

David G. Janney for BusINess Magazine.

Tina St. Aubin for BusINess Magazine.

Tina St. Aubin for BusINess Magazine.

Painter Neil Kientz for Shore Magazine.

Painter Neil Kientz for Shore Magazine.

Polaroid artist Julie Schwartz for Shore Magazine.

Polaroid artist Julie Schwartz for Shore Magazine.

Advertising shoot for Gaucho's Brazilian Steakhouse.

Advertising shoot for Gaucho's Brazilian Steakhouse.

Is depressed the new normal...No!

I just put up some of my "Moody Office" images in the
"New Stuff" section on the website. Dark with muted colors and
a sense of despair. Check them out quick cause I'm shooting
better and brighter things to replace them soon. (but if you need
a little darkness, they are available as stock images-give me a shout.)

"Guess the Celeb" identity revealed!

And the Mystery Celeb is.....Stephen Colbert.

Stephen was working with Second City in the 1980's and needed a quick headshot for an audition. I got this frantic call on a Saturday wanting to know if I could shoot a photo session and get a finished shot ready for a Monday audition. He came over to my "studio" which at that time was the living room of my Uptown apartment. We shot a quick session and he left. I then processed the negs in my kitchen sink (old school, remember) and then cranked out some prints in my darkroom (er, spare bedroom actually.) Stephen stopped by Sunday evening, picked out a print and took off to become, well you know, Stephen Colbert. I like to think that maybe I was a small step as he climbed the ladder (hey careful due, that's my head.) Just another instance of my quality professional service providing great results on time and on budget. Maybe you could step on me too on your way to the top.


Several people sent in correct entries for the contest. These included:

David Lewton
Mary Kay Kammer
Jerry Bloom
Tim Burke
Michelle Thomlison
Malcolm Rothman
Kelsey Wilkinson

The amazing part is that many guessed immediately from the hair only (jeeze, he doesn't even have that hair anymore) while others needed the raised eyebrow.
The prize winner will be chosen by random selection from the correct entries and contacted to schedule his or her headshot/portrait session.
Thanks to all that played, it made it fun!

So put on your coat and keep warm like Stephen.

Guess the Celeb!-Clue #5

Clue #5: The eyes are the window of the soul.

OK, here is the final clue!

The game is to guess the identity of this current nationally known celebrity I photographed as they formed their vision of the world in Chicago during the 1980's.

This photo snippet clue showing the signature arched brow denotes the subject's keen eye for observation and glee in tormenting his victims.

That's it for clues send your final guesses!

The winner of this contest will receive a location portrait/headshot shoot in the Chicago metro area. To enter just email me at tony@tonyvmartin.com or facebook message me with your guess. If more than one person guesses correctly, I will make a random drawing from the correct entries. The winner will be announced after all the clues are given. (Any of my friends or family that know the answer are disqualified.) Good Luck!

Guess the Celeb!-Clue #4

Clue #4: The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter.
-Mark Twain



Another bite to chew on in determining the identity of this current nationally known celebrity I photographed as they cut their teeth in Chicago during the 1980's.

This photo snippet clue showing a broad perfect smile yet with a hint of "sneer" just daring you to engage his wit.

The winner of this contest will receive a location portrait/headshot shoot in the Chicago metro area. To enter just email me at tony@tonyvmartin.com or facebook message me with your guess. If more than one person guesses correctly, I will make a random drawing from the correct entries. The winner will be announced after all the clues are given. (Any of my friends or family that know the answer are disqualified.) Good Luck!

Guess the Celeb!-Clue #3

Clue #3: Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.
-Mark Twain


The game heats up as we bare the identity of this is current nationally known celebrity I photographed in Chicago during the 1980's.

This photo snippet clue showing a coarse woven sweater with wrinkles, holes and ravels and yet neatly cuffed sleeves denotes "a man of the people, yet with elements of refinement." (Or possibly the lack of a steamer in my early studio.)

The winner of this contest will receive a location portrait/headshot shoot in the Chicago metro area. To enter just email me at tony@tonyvmartin.com or facebook message me with your guess. If more than one person guesses correctly, I will make a random drawing from the correct entries. The winner will be announced after all the clues are given. (Any of my friends or family that know the answer are disqualified.) Good Luck!

Guess the Celeb!-Clue #2

Clue #2: Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.

Another clue to the mystery Celeb.
The game is afoot to guess the identity of this current nationally known celebrity I photographed as they hit the pavement in Chicago during the 1980's.

This photo snippet clue showing conservative dress shoes with jeans denotes a "disregard for social norms and conventions."

The winner of this contest will receive a location portrait/headshot shoot in the Chicago metro area. To enter just email me at tony@tonyvmartin.com or facebook message me with your guess. If more than one person guesses correctly, I will make a random drawing from the correct entries. The winner will be announced after all the clues are given. (Any of my friends or family that know the answer are disqualified.) Good Luck!

A Groovy Contest for a cold February-Guess the Celeb!

Ok folks, it's cold and nasty out and time for us to make our own fun. I was digging in the archives and came up with an image from a photo shoot I did in the 1980's. As it happens from time-to-time, photographers do a shoot with someone who is "just some guy" who then goes on to be "THAT GUY." Well, that is what happened with this photo subject.

The contest is to guess who this person is using the photo snippets and clues to be supplied over the next few days. The basic premise is that this person is now a nationally known celebrity I photographed in Chicago during the 1980's.

Clue #1: There's many a man has more hair than wit.-William Shakespeare

I would say that this photo snippet clue shows "Hair with Ambition."

The winner of this contest will receive a location portrait/headshot shoot in the Chicago metro area. To enter just email me at tony@tonyvmartin.com or facebook message me with your guess. If more than one person guesses correctly, I will make a random drawing from the correct entries. The winner will be announced after all the clues are given. (Any of my friends or family that know the answer are disqualified.) Good Luck!

Hoop Girls in the studio-or not...

Oddly enough, while I don't have a strong interest in sports per se, I get assigned to shoot sports figures fairly often. (Full disclosure-the sports I do like are bull riding and sumo wrestling, similar actually.) Shooting sports folks can be fun because of the dynamics: flashy colored outfits, graphic action, etc. Like any location portrait the limits of time and setting dictate a lot of the image. This assignment of a hot girls prep basketball team was in a kinda dull gym during practice before a big game, so little time and no juicy background
I scouted a corner with white cinder block walls a decided to create a white out background effect. Using two small radio triggered strobes I washed the background and set up two more as edge lights slightly behind the subjects. I set up one strobe in front in a white umbrella. I got the coach to release the top players for 9 minutes and got shooting. ( I like to tell them and odd short sounding time like "9 minutes" or " 4 minutes" so it sounds like they won't be gone long. Often when the shoot gets going I can get a little more time.) I arranged the ladies and got them to give me a serious "game face" series of shots. (not easy cause some of them where outgoing while some were shy.) The "game face" look gets them unified to make the group portrait look the team is of one mind. (And kinda moody-tough-cool too.) I then grabbed individual shots that showcased the individual personalities of the players. All done shooting in less than 15 minutes and they were back on the court. Happy coach.
Post production in PS was minimal as the background whited out pretty clean. I jazzed the contrast a little to bring out the glowy edge light, but no tricky "find edges" or "high pass" was needed. The final images look like a cool studio shoot without the massive background, big lights or catering table. I actually miss the catering table a little.