In the Rough

The three fellows that owned the building that housed my first studio were builders. Each guy had his unique talents. When they worked together, there was an incredible synergy.

One of them, Tommy, was a master finish carpenter. The things he could do with wood were astonishing. He was equally adepts in the shop as he was on the job site.

Until I observed him at work, I had no idea what could be done with raw lumber. The milling and joinery machines were fascinating. The sanding that he would do by hand appeared tedious but the results were magnificent.

I asked how he got any sleep with that much labor required for every project.

He said that every project was different and that some things just looked better in the rough.

This portrait from Orlando reminded me of Tommy’s wisdom.

About the author: I am Stephen Kennedy, an experienced photographer with more than 2500 completed sessions in all 50 US states.