I shot this the first time I met Jesse Elksrunning at a meet & greet in Orange County for models and photographers, back in 2009. He was wearing a black tank top, an olive drap utility kilt, and black combat boots... and he pulled it off like no other man could. We became instant friends, and he later became like a new brother to me. At one point, several photographers were taking his photo in a makeshift studio in the hostess's garage. I didn't know anything about studio lighting back then, so I asked him to take off his shirt, directed his pose, and shot him using available light.
Jesse later used this photo for an audition and subsequently got the lead role as Dusty in EA Games 2010 video game "Medal of Honor," as well as the supporting music video "The Catalyst," by Linkin Park. It helped that he was an Army combat veteran. Jesse was a soldier, a hunter, a poet, a philosopher, a horse trainer, a Harley rider, and just an all-around amazing human being. Sadly, Jeese's PTSD from his combat experience, along with heartbreak from a divorce, drove Jesse to take his own life.
I truly miss my friend.
Shot with a Nikon D100 and a Nikon 105mm AIS f/2.5 lens at 1/100 sec.