|
How I Got Involved
Through an unlikely set of lucky circumstances, I became acquainted and was given the opportunity to work with a very special talent--Phone Phoummithone. I had become friends with Phone's Number One Fan, who many of you know as Yong, and she showed me pictures of Phone that had come from concerts, CD covers, etc. Fancying myself as a creative type, I would critique the photographer and comment that I would have done such-and-such differently. Finally Yong had the chance to call my bluff, and she recruited me to take pictures at Phone's show in Arkansas in 2002. Thanks to the collaborative effort of several photographers there that night, the performance was well documented and Yong had hundreds of pictures to use on her fansite. Although I had previously spoken to Phone on the telephone on occasion, that night was the first time I had met her in person. She is an imposing presence--all eyes fix on her when she enters a room. What She's Like Phone personality is well-suited to being a stage performer. She is outgoing and lively, always quick to make a joke or laugh at others' jokes. She's confident and strong, and knows what she wants in any situation. However, Phone is down-to-earth and friendly and respectful to all. I was impressed at how accessible she is to her many fans. She is always ready to meet with her fans after her shows to talk, sign autographs, or pose for pictures with fans. What It's Like To Work With Her
Although I have hundreds of great pictures of Phone and it was difficult to choose, some pictures stand out in my mind as being the best I have ever taken of any subject. A few examples: I was lucky enough to capture this expression of hers in a photograph. She has a different look somehow in this picture.
This is a lovely pose of her in traditional Lao dress. I don't know what this instrument is called, but she looks fantastic holding it and this made a great picture.
This is everybody's favorite. Phone actually used this on on her Live Concert in Paris 2003 DVD cover. Yong was standing to my right (taking pictures also) when this was taken, and Phone happened to be looking at her at the time.
 |
Phone was gracious enough to allow Yong and I to try our hands at studio photography with her as our model--once in a professional studio and again in Yong's home studio that she and I collaborated on. I found it very easy to work with Phone in the studio. She is the epitome of grace, confidence, and beauty. She is a natural in front of the camera, and as they say, "comfortable in her own skin". It is almost as if though Phone can see through the photographer's lens to strike the perfect pose. All the photographer has to do is trip the shutter to make beautiful art. Although she takes direction well, I found that whenever I would make a posing suggestion, she would take my suggestion and make something even better from it. I once gave her some examples of photos where the models made use of expressive hands in their poses, but it turned out that Phone's poses were much better than the examples I had used. After one of our studio sessions, someone made the comment that if Phone hadn't gone into a singing career, she could have had a great modeling career. All those present agreed.
