How photographer Shawn Bruce transformed a field test of the Harlowe Sol 40 into a moving portrait series that celebrates identity, presence, and the art of being seen.
In the heart of downtown Manhattan—at the crossroads of Lafayette and Spring Street—Brooklyn-based photographer and cinematographer Shawn Bruce created something rare in a city defined by its relentless pace: a space for stillness.
With nothing more than a backdrop, his camera, and the Harlowe Sol 40, Bruce opened a free portrait studio to the public. The project, now known as Free Portraits, began as a straightforward lighting test. But it quickly evolved into a multi-week creative initiative that brought together more than one hundred people, each offering a glimpse into their story.
When a Lighting Test Becomes a Portrait Movement
Shawn first stepped onto the street with the Sol 40 simply to evaluate its performance in natural, uncontrolled environments. Yet the intention shifted almost immediately. Passersby paused. Conversations began. People asked to step into the light. Shawn invited them in.
What started as a technical exercise transformed organically into a portrait series that blended artistry, community, and human connection.
“People brought themselves to the project and shared a moment of their lives with me,” Shawn reflected. “The community that came together from the project was beautiful.”
From solo travelers to local creatives, from couples to families, each portrait became a quiet collaboration—a moment suspended, shaped by trust and light.
A Creative Philosophy Rooted in Memory
The inspiration behind Free Portraits traces back to Shawn’s early relationship with photography. Growing up, his father would document family trips with countless photographs, later stored in shoeboxes that resurfaced during holidays. Those images became anchors for memory—silent markers of time and experience.
That sentiment shaped Shawn’s approach to the project.
“I wanted to offer people a chance to have their lives documented, just as they stood in that moment,” he said. “Each person told me as much or as little as they wished, and those details live between me and them and the photograph.”
This intention—to create portraits that feel honest, present, and deeply human—sits at the center of Shawn’s broader artistic practice.
A Portrait of New York, One Frame at a Time
Across several weeks, Shawn photographed a cross-section of New York’s cultural landscape. The resulting portraits are diverse yet unified: individuals stepping forward to be seen, many for the first time in this way.
“I’ve always been fascinated by people and their experiences,” Shawn shared. “This project reminded me that every story, no matter how small or understated, is worth documenting.”
The series demonstrates Shawn’s signature ability to balance candid emotion with intentional lighting—a blend that gives each portrait both immediacy and depth.
Light as a Creative Catalyst
At Harlowe, we believe light is more than a technical tool—it is a medium for connection. Seeing the Sol 40 become the spark behind Free Portraits is a testament to what happens when equipment empowers artistic curiosity.
Bruce’s project reflects the mission that drives our work: to support creatives with tools that elevate their vision and help them tell stories that matter.
