Chuck Widstrand

This image, circa 1977, is from my high school days when I began my career-long interest in photographic experimentation.

The image, shot with Kodak’s High Contrast Copy Film, is of my father… a bit of a fashion hound and ladies man. Indicative of 70’s fashion – he sported a handle bar mustache and toupee´, wide collared shirts, pinstriped trousers and leather boots. He was quite the character.

The photograph is less of a traditional portrait and more of an experiment in process. I was working with this very high contrast film on a variety of subject matter including people and architecture. My attraction in playing this image today is the shadow, and the memory of a man who was all at once, intimidating and yet a hard working provider.

I miss him, but it is a confusing kind of love.