Bangers & Smash

I recently asked longtime friend Nick Smash to be the model for my workshop demo in Toronto.

Nick had moved to London in the mid-eighties to pursue his ambitions, which include a music career, which morphed into being a writer, and then a publicity rep. He was a complex and charismatic portrait subject, but more importantly, I needed to redeem myself for an earlier fumbled opportunity. 

I first photographed him in 1986 for a college project. Back then, I was intimidated by his stature in Toronto's music scene, resulting in a hurried and unsatisfactory shoot. Recently, when Nick returned to our hometown, I saw a chance to make amends.

This time I was determined to bring something of my affection and respect for the man through in the pictures, rather than distract me from my goal.

On a phone call before the meet up I assured him that he could veto my suggestions, but made it clear that I would be pushing it, and taking him to some awkward places. (He laughed hesitantly at this.)

The sitting went smoothly, with Nick intuitively grasping my direction. At one point, I asked them to lie on the ground and he adopted the fetal position, enriching the shot.

I haven’t yet made my masterpiece with him, but I’ve made peace with that earlier session.

Top Image: Nick Smash 2024, an accidental headshot.

Second Image: My favorite picture from the session.

Third Image: The sitting takes place in front of the full workshop group. BTS photo by Becca Gilgan of Worker Bee Supply.

Bottom Image: Contact sheet from Things People Carry with Nick Smash. Shot at the Nerve office, Toronto, ON, January 1986.