66 Nebraskaland • May 2021
THE LAST STOP
By Jeff Kurrus
MY FAVORITE PHOTOSHOOT
When it comes to photography, midday light is often bad.
Really bad. So when I met living history reenactor Megan
Katz for a recent photoshoot, I wasn't expecting much. I knew
she would be good in front of the camera, because I had seen
her before. What I didn't know was if I would be any good.
We met at Rock Creek Station State Historical Park to
capture one photo we would use in our recently-debuted
special issue, 100 Years of Nebraska State Parks. Jeff Barger,
the superintendent, was on hand to take us anywhere we
wanted to go on the property.
As I began photographing Megan, who was adorned in
homemade period attire, I kept looking at the noon sky,
unable to place her in a spot that fl attered her.
"I can open up one of the buildings if you'd like," Jeff said.
"Please!" shot from my mouth even before I had time to
think. But sometimes thinking is overrated.
When he opened the door to one of the wooden buildings,
the light I had just been fi ghting with outside gave me a soft
glow within.
And for the next hour, I kept pressing the camera's button.
Megan was amazing as a photo subject, from her perfect
look and posture to her willingness to have me go way
overboard on the number of images I made.
What she didn't know was that I could have spent the rest
of the day photographing her.
When I had fi nally wore out my welcome, we went back
out in the stark sunlight.
I immediately fi led that photo tip for future reference,
knowing I'll encounter a similar situation again. Hopefully
when I do, I will have a photo subject just as good.
