05/31/2026
We at Panama Photo Adventures recently completed a project for the talented portrait photographer Ron Cooper. Ron travels the world creating stunning portraits of indigenous people, often focusing on elders. Here in Panama, we handled all the pre-production and scouting, helping identify both the subjects and the locations where he could photograph them.
It was the first time I had done this type of pre-production work for someone else's project rather than my own, and it was an incredibly rewarding experience. Collaborating with another seasoned professional gave me a chance to see a different approach to portraiture, and I learned a great deal simply by watching him work.
One of the biggest lessons was the importance of catchlights in the eyes. As a documentary photographer, my work has always required me to move quickly and capture moments as they unfold, even when making portraits. I had never really observed someone slowing the process down to such a deliberate pace—carefully studying backgrounds, removing distracting elements, refining compositions, and thoughtfully creating clean, uncluttered scenes. Ron excels at that.
As an added bonus, I often served as Ron's stand-in while he tested and refined his lighting setups. That meant I spent quite a bit of time in front of his camera, which gave me an even greater appreciation for his process and attention to detail. This portrait is one of the images Ron made of me during our time working together, and I am grateful he shared it with me.
