William McEwen is a Texas portrait photographer, photo teacher and author who works only in 8x10” large-format and only in B&W.  He’s shared some classic & compelling images from his “Faces of Classical Music” series with bwphotopro. Check out his Web site: http://www.mcewenphoto.com/index.html  AND CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO OF MCEWEN AT WORK WITH HIS 8X10 , making these photos.

Color Photo, Below, William McEwen with his Wisner 8x10 camera and the Albers Trio, San Antonio, April 2009. Photo by Sheryl McEwen, taken with Laura Albers' I-phone. COPYRIGHT NOTICE: All B&W photos on this page, Copyright William McEwen, All Rights Reserved, No Reproduction Whatsoever Permitted Without Written Permission from the Photographer

William McEwen

Chronology

1960

Born in Saginaw, Michigan (followed 10 minutes later by twin sister Patty). Father is a physician and mother is a homemaker.

Mid 1970s

Becomes interested in photography as a serious hobby. Receives a Canon FtbN for Christmas 1975 from his father. First thinks of photography as a possible career choice after purchasing “The Photo Illustration,” a book about Bert Stern’s portrait and fashion photography. Enjoys photographing all kinds of subjects, including people in his makeshift studio.

1977

First exhibition in a group show, Saginaw Art Museum, Saginaw, Michigan.

1978

Graduates from Eisenhower High School, Saginaw, Michigan.

1978-1983

Attends Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and graduates with a Bachelor of Applied Arts in journalism with a photojournalism emphasis. Works for Central Michigan Life, the campus newspaper, shooting photographs for ads. While once considering fashion photography as a career, he finds the fashion world boring and is more interested in the person than depiction of clothing. During final semester, takes a studio photography class and begins using a 4x5 view camera for the first time. He finds the early assignments interesting, and is captivated when he veers from the curriculum, deciding to shoot a portrait, and sees a face on the groundglass for the first time.

1984

Purchases a Sinar Alpina 4x5 view camera. Uses the camera to photograph portraits and landscapes. A favorite subject is a swamp in Saginaw.

1985

Marries Jennifer Schneider, who he met at Central Michigan University. They move to Texas. Continues to photograph the Saginaw swamp during Michigan visits.

1989

Starts using 8x10 view camera, a used Burke & James. Continues to photograph portraits and landscapes.

1991

Daughter Erin is born.

1992

One man exhibition of portraits and landscapes at the Irving Arts Center, Irving, Texas. This begins a long association with the center, exhibiting photographs and writing guest articles for the IAC newsletter.

1993

Daughter Lindsay is born.

Purchases 8x10 Wisner Technical Field camera, which quickly becomes his favorite.

1994

Begins a portrait project of Texas celebrities. Subjects include Keri-Lynn Wilson, associate conductor with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

1994-1995

Exhibits his swamp photographs at the Bookstop bookstore in Dallas.

1996

Decides to concentrate on portrait photography, largely because of limited opportunity to photograph the swamp in Saginaw.

2000-2001

Texas celebrities series is exhibited at Irving Arts Center, Irving, Texas.

2001

Bored with the music he’s listened to all his life, and not impressed with contemporary popular music, begins listening to classical music and opera. His book “People and Portraits: Reflections and Essays” is published.

2002

Photographs pianist Petronel Malan. Within days decides to begin “Faces of Classical Music” project.

2004 (to present)

Teaches “Taking Better Portraits With Your Camera” at Texas Christian University, a short class totaling two evenings every semester.

2006

William and Jennifer separate and divorce. Little activity with photography for the next two years.

2008

Marries Sheryl LeBlanc, a Louisiana native who moved to Dallas after Hurricane Katrina.

2009

Interviewed by The Dallas Morning News for a news video about his “Faces of Classical Music” project, and is shown photographing violist Ann Marie Roeske and working in the darkroom. Tells of “a sense of urgency” because he is unsure how much longer traditional film and darkroom materials will be available.

ABOVE: Isabel Trautwein, violinist; BELOW: Leanne Zacharias, cellist

ABOVE: Miriam Kramer, violinist; BELOW: Aurelien Petillot, violist

ABOVE: Ann Marie Roeske, violist; ABOVE, LEFT: Jade Smalls, pianist