FULL FRONTAL

PHOTOGRAPHER MICHAEL SPAIN-SMITH TAKES PHILADELPHIA STYLE READERS BEHIND THE SCENES OF THIS ISSUE’S SIZZLING SKYLINE COVER.

“Philadelphia will always be my home. It’s where I started my career, where I learned to run my business and hone my creative skills. Philadelphia Style was such a big part of my career’s launch. It was kind of surreal to shoot this cover. While I knew the lay of the land, shooting the skyline for a magazine cover is so different than shooting it for a lifestyle brand, which is what I normally shoot now. It took four hours of waiting for the perfect minute or two of light, and one click of the camera, for the perfect shot. It was a true ‘hurry up and wait’ situation. It was so important for [publisher] John Colabelli to be there with me. In the early days of Philadelphia Style, John and I would travel to all parts of the country to shoot these covers. Back then, I wasn’t even the photographer; I was the assistant. Fifteen-plus years later, it’s really cool to be out there with him again, helping with equipment and lighting. It kind of brought it full circle, after all these years. The city is definitely changing. After spending 20 years in Philadelphia, every time I come back now something has changed. Giant high-rises that were in production are now alive and glowing. It’s awesome to watch.”