Matthew was a young singer and I liked the intensity of his dream and his belief that anything is possible. It was only natural that Matthew asked me to take portraits of him.
It was a beautiful day, but too sunny for what I wanted. The light was simple and the story was complex. It wouldn’t work. About six o’clock, just before dusk, I suggested that we go to ‘the city’.
I do not remember our conversation while we were walking, because I was looking for a place to shoot. Suddenly I saw a small church, so I asked Matthew to rest against a doorway. Matthew wedged himself into a corner and leaned his head against the wall. The uniform, grey hue of that evening gave the scene a monotonous character.
I gently asked Matthew to move out of the shadows just a little and as he turned towards me, the street lamps suddenly came on, casting an orange streak of light on his cheek.
I shot instantly.
Since I photographed this scene on black-and-white film the portrait almost retained its tranquil atmosphere, but with an underlying tension.