The Best of 2008: Portraits

Saying ‘cheese’ just isn’t enough

Movie and recording stars run riot across the pages of the popular press. The images can be trite and cloying -- and they can be arresting and transportive. Each of the L.A. Times photographers’ works shown here has its story. Here’s one from Times photo intern Benjamin Reed:

“The odds are against you making a great picture when you photograph a celebrity. You have minutes to make the picture and any preconceived ideas you have could easily fall apart during the shoot. This wasn’t the case with Beck. He opened his studio to me beforehand and gave me time to brainstorm until I landed on the idea. I wanted to create an image that said ‘experimental’ as I see his artistry being that way.

“I decided to frame the image as if Beck were taking his own picture in his studio mirrors. I also placed myself in the frame while hiding under a black cloth. I showed him the picture in my camera and asked if he had any ideas. ‘I like the one where your hand was coming in,’ he said. ‘Let’s try that again.’ Beck and I began to collaborate until we had something we both liked; artist and subject contributing to the final piece.”

-- Benjamin Reed  (Benjamin Reed / Los Angeles Times)