This is a photo of a friend of mine, someone who’s been part of my life for as long as I can remember. We met when we were about 10 years old, and since then, we’ve shared countless memories, growing up together, navigating the awkwardness of adolescence, and discovering our respective passions. Dennis, in particular, has always stood out for his musical talent. He’s the kind of person who can pick up any instrument and, within minutes, start playing something that sounds like it’s been rehearsed for years. Beyond his musicality, he’s just a character — full of wit, charm, and a dry sense of humor that always makes me laugh.

I had actually taken Dennis’s portrait years ago when we were still in high school, back when I had a small darkroom set up in my parents’ basement. It was my first real foray into photography, and he was one of the first people I photographed. The whole process felt special at the time: developing the film, watching the image slowly appear on the paper under the red light — the magic of it all. That portrait was a snapshot of who we were back then, young and full of potential, but also a little uncertain about what the future held. Since then, we’ve both changed a lot — our lives have taken us in different directions, but the friendship has remained constant.

For a while now, I’d been trying to convince Dennis to let me take a new portrait of him. He’s always been a bit reluctant when it comes to being in front of the camera, and I guess, after all these years, I couldn’t blame him. He’d seen how much I’d grown as a photographer, and he was never quite sure if he wanted to revisit the spotlight, but after some persistent nudging, he finally relented. I’m glad he did, because it felt like the perfect moment to update that old portrait from our high school days.

We decided to do the shoot in his apartment — a cozy little space that reflects a lot of who he is: a bit cluttered, a bit eclectic, but always full of life. The one challenge, though, was that it’s a really small apartment. So, trying to set up a proper portrait shot was a bit of a squeeze. I remember trying to find the right angle where I could make the most of the limited space, all while considering the light coming through his windows.

That day, the sun was streaming in through the windows, filling the room with an almost overwhelming brightness. It was one of those rare, perfect sunny days, but it definitely presented its own challenges for the shoot. The light was so intense that I had to use a very fast shutter speed to avoid overexposing the shot. Even with all that sunlight, I didn’t want to lose the detail in Dennis’s face, and I wanted to maintain that balance of light and shadow that would make the image stand out. In the end, I used a carpet as a backdrop — simple, but effective, giving the shot a raw, personal feel. It felt fitting, considering how we’d grown up together and how much we had been through.

As I took the photo, I couldn’t help but think about the years that had passed since that first portrait of him in the basement. We’ve both gone through so much, yet we still had this friendship that was as strong as ever. This photo felt like a reflection of not just who Dennis was, but also who we had become: older, wiser, with a little more history behind us, but still with that sense of connection that only comes from years of shared experiences.

Now, when I look at this photograph, I see a different Dennis than the one I captured back in high school. He’s grown, his music has evolved, and so have I as a photographer. It feels like this image captures a chapter of our story — and it’s one I’m proud to have been a part of, both as his friend and as someone who gets to freeze moments like this in time.

What are the TWO most impactful features that make your image a good photograph? Don’t be shy!

The model, Dennis. He has such a character face that I was able to capture. I like the colours, the green tones, the yellow, and the little pop of red help the photo stand out.

If you could make this photo again, what would be the ONE thing you would like to do better or differently?

I only used one light for this image. If I were to do this again, I would add another light for just a touch of fill to lighten up the shadows.

Don Gavin shared this photograph with the FRAMES Facebook Group.

Photographer

Don Gavin, Vancouver, Canada

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Equipment and settings

Sony a7R IV with Sony/Zeiss 50mm 1.4
1/8000, f 2.0, ISO 320
One light with a soft box.