Guest Author: Greg Fulmes
G1, Greg Gerla and I, G2, Greg Fulmes, had known each other to a small degree for about 30 years. It wasn’t until 2023 when I reached out to him to chat about an idea I had. Since then we have become “brothers from different mothers”. I love that guy!
We’ve both been working photographers in Calgary for the past 30ish years. Our paths, although our photographic genres are quite different, have been quite similar. Post-secondary at ACAD and SAIT, living the dream of being successful photographers and a time as post-secondary instructors.
G1 was a commercial and fashion photographer, I a newspaper, magazine and corporate one.
We met for coffee at Beano in the Beltline.
The idea, a workshop company, which, over time became InSight Creative Group.
Having each spent over a decade and a half in post-secondary we knew what worked, but more importantly what didn’t. The photo programs in Canada had been dying, and having lived in that world for so long, we thought we knew why. They didn’t listen to the learner, they listened to instructors long removed from the industry.
So we decided we would do things differently. We would focus, pardon the pun, not so much on the equipment as on the creative process.
With today’s technology, almost anyone can make a technically strong image. But can they make a story telling, emotionally gripping image? No.
Technology, AI….they aren’t human. They are algorithm driven based on averages….everyone makes the same image. The one some algorithm, created in a sterile lab by non-photographers, says checks all the boxes.
But creativity isn’t like that. It’s unique to the individual.
G1 and I like to wander, go on road trips, make images.
We will see something we want to shoot. We can stand side by side with technology laden cameras and make different images.
An example was during a workshop we did in May for MRU. On a wander with participants we were drawn to the dramatic lines of the library. (images below).
Image by G1
Image by G2
We do this regularly. There is no competition, no worry one might make a better picture than the other. We genuinely hope the other makes a great image.
We have discovered, after over 30 years each as professionals, what matters….making images for us, to feed our soul, to make our heart happy.
For both of us, art directors, photo editors, clients…..they often place ridiculous constraints on creators. On one occasion, during an ad shoot in Edmonton, we were on day one of a five day shoot.
It was to be an “intimate” shot of a couple. There were probably ten people behind me….hair, makeup, art directors, client reps….my camera tethered to my laptop. Every image…”fix her hair, turn a bit this way, do this, do that…”
I was a technician. They were directing from the laptop.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity “that’s a wrap. We think we have something to work with”, came a voice from the dark recesses.
“Can I ask you a favour?” I said.
“Sure”.
“Everyone out except the talent. You hired me for my portfolio and you haven’t allowed me to do what you hired me for. Give me fifteen minutes”, I said. The tone in my voice seemed to work as a “Ummm sure” was muttered.
They left. We made some really cool pictures in those few minutes.
The client and art directors came back in, looked at the work and said “YES! That’s it!”
The next four days I had not all, but a significant amount of control. The shoot went from being just about the money to being so much fun!
I’ve made some great images in my career as an assignment photographer. Met some amazing humans. Heard incredible stories.
Christopher Hitchens, JC Anderson, Mickey Rooney, Eartha Kitt, Tiger Williams….the list goes on and on. It’s been an honour to spend some time with every one of them.
And what is the common thread among almost everyone who I have had the privilege of making a portrait of…..to bastardize the lyrics of Frank Sinatra (actually written originally by Egyptian born, French singer Claude François) “they did it their way!”
What made them successful? They didn’t follow a road map to success created by someone else, or an algorithm…..they wrote their own map.
They weren’t afraid to offend, although it wasn’t necessarily their goal. They made mistakes, they learned from them, they followed a passion, a desire, a need. For some that success brought financial wealth, but it wasn’t their goal. It was, perhaps, a bonus.
I had the good fortune to spend several hours on a rainy morning with Calgary oil legend JC Anderson on his sprawling ranch south of Calgary for a magazine cover. I had photographed him a number of times in his downtown office. He was always kind, amenable and humble. He was also a very, very rich and powerful man.
The magazine editor said simply “we want something different”. I called his assistant to set it up, explained what we would like.
She said she would talk to JC and get back to me in a few minutes. True to her word, about 10 minutes later my phone rang…”can you be at his ranch at 10am on Saturday? You’ll have 15 minutes.”
“Perfect. Thank you so much!”
It was a rainy morning, more of a really heavy mist….Vancouver-like. Chronically early, I arrived at 9:45. I never want to leave a subject waiting for me. They are giving me the gift of their time. They are allowing me to make images, to earn a living doing it.
I knocked on the door.
It swung open. There stood JC, denim shirt, jeans, a straw cowboy hat.
“Greg. How the hell are you? Fucking rain!”
“Come on in. Want a coffee?”
I walked into his stunning, sprawling home.
“Sit down” he motioned to a stool.
A sly grin….”Want some Bailey’s in it?”
“Sure”, I responded.
I had long ago figured out, no matter what time of day, you never say no when a subject offers you a beer, Bailey’s, whatever. If you say no, they will feel you are judging them and will never trust you. They have to trust you!
The old belief by some that to be photographed means a part of your soul is stolen, I believe is absolutely true. And if a subject is willing to allow you that thievery they must trust you 100%.
We sat and talked for at least half an hour, long past the 15 minutes originally scheduled. He spoke so lovingly of his grand kids, reflected on his life, shared so beautifully.
The view from where I sat looked out over a sitting room, massive windows framed a pool before the eye moved to cloud and mist shrouded foothills and the Rockies.
A mist rose from the pool.
“Should we make some pictures?” I asked.
“I guess we should,” JC replied.
“I have an idea. I think it would be great!”
“What’s that?” JC asked.
“Get into a bathing suit and get in the pool. I’d like to shoot a portrait of you in there, mist rising all around you, the gorgeous scene in the background,” I said. The photo already on the magazine cover in my mind.
“No fucking way”, he laughed.
We went outside and climbed into his John Deere Gator. We spent hours touring around his 700 acres. He introduced me to his son John who was on horseback at the south end of the property.
We stopped many times as he told me of his life, from growing up in the States to his decision to come north, the long fence that bordered the drive. He had built it out of drilling pipe.
At one point we stopped by a stack of bales. We got out, he leaned against some bales as he told me a story about his grand kids. He took a piece of hay, put it in his mouth and paused. I made a portrait.
I knew I had it.
We parted that day after more hours just hanging out. I was given the most beautiful gift that day. A lesson of life. This extremely successful person showed me we were all just humans. He no better than I. Humble, kind, giving, beautiful.
The portrait went on to be a magazine cover.
But more cool, some time later I received a call from his assistant. JC had sold the company. He was retiring. She said the portrait I made that day was his favourite and they would like to buy a copy to have framed to give him as a retirement gift.
I said no, you can’t buy it.
Silence.
“You can have it. JC gave me such a gift that day, the least I can do is give you a copy of the image.”
JC passed away a few years later. I wasn’t at the funeral. I wasn’t close to him. I wasn’t assigned to cover it.
But a few years later I learned that an artist’s rendition of the portrait I had shot of him was on an easel by his casket.
The point of all of this…..I had an assignment from an editor who trusted me. He gave me an assignment with one parameter….”give us something different”.
I made an image that day that no one else could. Why? Because I am me. I am unique.
Make your images. Don’t make someone else’s.
Richard Avedon once said “every portrait is a self-portrait”.
Be unique.
Do cool shit.
Be happy.
