From the Archive: Ed Kukelkorn
Friday, January 29, 2010 at 5:44PM A former co-worker of mine contacted me last night to ask if I had a copy of a portrait of Orangeburg gunsmith Ed Kukelkorn. Apparently, Kukelkorn passed away last year and a columnist at the Orangeburg Times and Democrat was writing about him. I photographed the guy in the late 1990s. Back in the film days. Indeed, a print was in my ancient pre-grad school portfolio.
Portraits seemed so simple back then. Flat lighting from a bounced flash, 1/60th of a second, ISO 400 film and a great character. Nowadays I make it complicated, and maybe I'm missing the point. Back in the film days, I had about 36 chances to get a portrait right. Now it takes hundreds of shots, light adjustments, profanity and a ton of batteries. By the time I make the final capture, I think I've forgotten the whole reason for being there and my subject is squirming uncomfortably as I make shot after shot.
Looking back at my old stuff, it was much more emotional, whether it was an intense gaze, a hidden sadness revealed by the lens, or expressive natural lighting. I think it's time for me to turn back the clock.
Ed Kukelkorn, Gunsmith, Orangeburg, S.C., c. late 1990s
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