Photographing Jomny Sun

Artist Jonathan Sun and I bonded early in preparing for this New York Times Magazine sitting, with a brainstorming phone call, then multiple lengthy emails. He sent many great ideas for locations, and concepts (a few of which directly overlapped with my notes). 

We spent a long and satisfying day together shooting too many set-ups for the magazine to use - ranging from highly conceptual to just plain weird. I was very pleased that Mr. Sun was eager to go deep and far-flung with me.

Top Image: Side planking at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA. 

Second Image: Christine Walsh, the photo editor at the Times Magazine specifically requested having Jonny draw his “aliebn” on plexiglass for us, inspired by a 1949 film of Picasso painting on glass.

Third Image: BTS of the plexiglass shot. We shot in Jonny’s bedroom, shooting through a dark gray seamless to cut the reflections in the plexi.

Bottom Image: Where the real work is done: making final notes over breakfast before we head over to Jonny’s home. Portrait by Michelle Watt.