Outside my office

[joel aron]

<a href=" title="Photo

Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/188/481058609_da764086c9.jpg"

width="500" height="498" alt="Conan" /></a>

<br>

<br>

Two weeks ago, Conan O'Brien was here at ILM to record segments for his

upcoming, week long show in San Francisco.

<br><br>

Earlier in the day, I ran into Conan, and our introduction started by him

spotting my Leica, and informing me that the picture I quickly grabbed of him

would not expose very well since I had the lens cap on. This was a first. A

first for meeting Conan, and a first that I forgot to remove the lens cap in a

rush to grab a quick shot. We talked Leica for a few (he's a user), and then he

went off with his crew to have fun with the animators.

<br><br>

Later that day, while setting up one of the gag shots for his segment on his

visit to ILM, Conan and his crew were pondering their moments with ET, who

happens to have a permanent home with a fixed gaze that beams directly into my

office.

<br><br>

It was my chance to make up for the black cell that occupied an early spot on my

roll of Delta 400. The light was blasting in from the sky-bridge to the right,

and cast a perfect halo around Conan's gigantic head, and onto the

matte-painting on the wall behind him.

<br><br>

The image is candid, and not staged. He was reacting to a conversation from his

producer, and the camera men that were talking about what they were going to shoot.

<br><br>

The segment aired last Tuesday night, and I attended the show in the audience.

Afterwards, backstage, I presented a framed print of this image to him. It was

a true honor, and I am so flattered that he honestly loved the print.

<br><br>

For obvious copyright reasons, the version here is low resolution. I only made

10 prints from the original scan that match what was given to Conan. The print

is much sharper, and was slightly tinted to match the frame used. Now that the

show has aired, and Conan has the print, I can share it with you. :)

<br><br>

Ilford Delta 400

Microdol-X Dev

M6 : 35 Summicron-M f2 ASPH

[keith_lubow]

Hilarious photo, Joel!

 

I am noticing some pixelation. Is there any way you can smooth it out for out viewing pleasure?

 

I'm also interested (as always) in seeing the full frame.

 

Keith

[jtdnyc]

Well seen, well captured, well done. It's rare to see a celebrity photo that isn't either a formal shot, a staged "candid," or a paparizzi shot.

 

You really caught the moment.

[joel aron]

Try hitting <a href="http://http://farm1.static.flickr.com/188/481058609_07eaaa83a9_o.jpg">this</a>

 

<br><br>

it's not that much higher, but less jpeg artifacts. I'm trying to keep the 'print from web' quantity down for that crowd. Unlike digital, at least I have the negative to call my own ;)

<br><br>

The full frame has his camera crew on the right. Since I planned on a square frame to give Conan, I also trimmed a small amount off the top as well to get the square composition better balance. For the sake of keeping my print original, I'll upload the full frame here when I get home in a very small size with massive compression... I hope you understand, as I have not only my copyright to deal with :)

 

..if I so much as draw on a napkin at work, it belongs to Lucasfilm. :)

 

cheers, and thanks!

 

j

[joel aron]

woops...

 

 

here's the link to it larger:

http://flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=481058609&size=o

[stuart_richardson]

Nice shot Joel. Funny too that he is standing right under the painting from Ghostbusters II...

[joel aron]

Thank you Stuart!

 

...it's funny how sometimes everything just harmonizes. :)

 

cheers!

 

j

[vivek iyer]

Really a nice capture, Joel.

[evan_goulet]

I love the Ghostbusters II painting behind him. Conan and Vigo kind of share the same forehead.

[chris_m13]

Joel, thank you for sharing.

[christopher_a._junker1]

What a great shot! Were you aware the Ghost Busters II painting was in the frame when you shot it? Is this the only shot you took or are there others?

[joel aron]

Yeah... our publicity people will not stop making fun of me for hopping out into the hallway like a spider to get the framing that I wanted, and then bouncing back into my door way like nothing happened. :)

 

I do have lots more, and once I have the ok, I'll be putting them together in a series.

 

thanks for the compliments! appreciate them very much!