I wish I could remember the exact date, I do know it was the early 90's when I got the assignment to photograph Patrick Swayze. It was a cover shoot for The Cable Guide, which though a small outfit, paid well and flew me via the fabled MGM Grand Airlines to L.A. for the shoot. The art director was great and very open to letting me just do my thing. I was not really a fan of Swayze's but I had really liked Ghost and at this time he was pretty huge. I shot at Smashbox studios and was very impressed that he showed up solo with no entourage in tow. It made sense though, as I soon learned he was just a very nice, down to earth man who was also patient and willing to try anything I suggested, not always the case when working with celebrities.
Most know he has had a long battle with cancer, which he sadly lost earlier this week at the age of 57. I went into my file cabinet and pulled the file I have from the shoot. I have not looked at them in at least six or seven years and was actually amazed at how much we had shot. I do not even remember the sweatshirt set up above. The top shot was scanned from a color slide, an image I remember loving but I am sure has never been published. As I believe is the case with most of these. It came from the same set up below and I think the progression you can see in the proof sheet* is interesting. *Please forgive my fogging scanner it reacts badly to humidity.

He was even game enough to dawn some vintage cowboy gear and walk over to the nearby Rae's Restaurant, a legendary Santa Monica diner with classic signage.
I may not have been a fan before I met Patrick but I certainly was one after. Because of my work I am privileged to meet some unique and talented people. The challenge is to capture something of what makes them so in an image. It can be an intimate tug of war while you work to gain the subject's trust. In a few rare cases, such as Patrick, the subject gives even more of themselves than is fair to ask...

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol