Nebraska.....or as the sign reads that stands just across its border, "The Good Life".  I've always been gushing with cynicism so my opinions regarding that particular motto have been known to vary from time to time.  However I am happy to say that I'm almost 86% sure that at no point did those opinions ever reach and/or stay forever rooted in the negative.  Nebraska is my home and she holds some fond memories for me.

The reason I mention that glorious Nebraska motto has to deal with my homeboy/high school senior, Ryan and also the particular details that adorn his portraits.  If you've ever spent a significant amount of time in Nebraska you'll quickly learn that during different parts of the seasons there usually isn't a whole lot of scenery afforded.  Especially near or around my 4,000 population town of Aurora.  Some photographers might throw in the towel on this as a location choice.  Luckily for me my cynical nature and unwavering dedication to being the stubborn jackass that I am, I instead see it as a challenge.  A challenge to stretch the mind and the eyes to new ways of taking portraits or building upon past images.

Luckily for this particular set of images/challenges my subject Ryan, was the embodiment of all that is old school midwest.  He was calm, quiet and took directions very well.  Three character traits I thought had been immunized in the Millennial Generation.  I'm pretty sure I got about 6 words out of him over the entire shoot.  Side note : The lack of words spoken by Ryan is a direct result from myself and his mother gabbing like school girls for the almost 4 hours we were taking photos.  Though let me tell you thats roughly a third of the words my father has seemed to say in the almost 40 years I've been on this earth and if Ryan's calm and quiet demeanor lead him to be even half the man my father has been in my life then it'd be my distinct honor to work with Ryan when and wherever he needed.

Cheers,

Titus