Dr. Stan McCracken
Documentary-style filming and photography are always a joy to shoot. I would be an explorer should my creative genes not gotten the better of me. But my explorer genes could not help but be expressed. Cinema and photography are two mediums which one can easily explore any topic. If an adventure to Patagonia is one's desire, make a film about it and go. If one's dream is to explore the beauty of culinary arts, a photographic documentary is a perfect channel.
Friend and colleague, Hart Ginsburg, whom I have been working with on several short films, invited me to photograph notable psychologist, Dr. Stan McCracken. Besides having a super-awesome name, his "blue collar" (as he calls it) style of psychiatry is deceptively titled.
Originally intending to be a biological oceanographer, his life took him in a different direction receiving a bachelors degree in English and Asian Studies. The Vietnam War and the draft brought him to enlist in the armed security agency and was assigned a to not his interests in Japanese but Vietnamese.
This excursion into a world both unknown, and perhaps at the time unwelcome, lead him to knowing the work of Carl Jung and his introduction to psychology and social services.
Lapsang souchung
Listening to his methodology, he simple and practical process make psychology less cerebral and more common. A quote from a mentor of his, "If a woman is out in the cold with no coat, don't ask her how she feels about being cold. Get her a coat," gives a glimpse to his insight into the human psyche.
Sipping on lapsang souchung tea with hints of lavender, he told stories of his beginnings as a PhD, success, defeat, and the psychological and social impact this election has caused. A cozy and warm office decorated with artifacts from both East and West, his charm was only matched by his incredible knowledge he shared.
Always honored to meet influential people, I'm excited to share from our engaging interview and more to come when the article is published. In the mean time, enjoy a few images from our shoot.
