Waltz #2

Dreamworks hired me to photograph Elliott Smith for his forthcoming record, X/O.  The label said, “Maybe you could shoot at one of his Brooklyn haunts, like a local café. You could build a relationship towards further sittings.“ They made it clear that Smith was shy about media, and being photographed, and we need to proceed gently to keep him engaged and stress-free.

I was a fan of his music, and respected his viewpoint, but when given an assignment, my goal is to get the best pictures possible on the day of the shoot. I mapped out a couple of dynamic locations in New Jersey, just outside of the city, including an old farmhouse, and an emptied out swimming pool.

Smith was introverted and initially difficult to connect with, but after getting a low-key setup under our belts, he was more flexible and displayed that wry sense of humor he’s known for.

We shot a half-dozen distinct setups, and came away with a number of beautiful images, but like a rebellious teenager, Smith booked an early dinner plan, and headed back to the city while the light was still good.

But my favorite memory of Elliott is unconnected to our photo session. A year earlier, Mark Eitzel brought me along for social drinks after a charity music event. A group of a half dozen ended up at a cavernous karaoke bar in Manhattan’s Chinatown. One at a time, we each got up to do a song to the mostly empty room. Elliott stepped up last, and was the showstopper, doing a heart wrenching “Moon River."

Top Image: Elliott Smith, April 24, 1998. An emptied swimming pool in rural New Jersey. (Crop of a promotional poster.)

Second Image: Full fold out of the CD packaging for the Waltz #2 single.

Third Image: A snapshot of Elliott sleeping in the car in the drive out to the location, shot in the rearview mirror.

Fourth Image: Handwritten photo notes, on the envelope for the Elliott Smith concert at Tramps in Manhattan. (Two sides of the envelope shown side by side.)

Bottom Image: Portrait of Elliott Smith in a New Jersey farmhouse, part way through a renovation.