Hollywood Portraits:
Don Cheadle

Don Cheadle photographed by Brian Smith
Don Cheadle photographed for Entertainment Weekly

I’ve always been a huge fan of chameleon-like actor/director Don Cheadle. His latest project, ‘Miles Ahead’ takes on iconic Jazz legend Miles Davis in a role only Cheadle could play. Cheadle also directed, produced and co-wrote the film, which follows Davis though the late 1970s when he stepped away from the spotlight in the years before his comeback.

When I photographed Cheadle a decade ago for Entertainment Weekly, I wanted to strip out all distractions from the shot. Cheadle sits in the spotlight against a black background in order to simply capture the face of this great artist.

Camera: Ebony SV 45 Ti 4×5
Lens: Schneider 300mm F5.6 Symmar-S Copal 3
Film: Polaroid Type 55
Lighting: Profoto Acute 2 2400 Pack
Profoto Acute 2 Head
Profoto Zoom Reflector
Profoto Honeycomb Grid for Zoom Reflector (20 Degree)

Check out this trailer of Cheadle as Miles Davis in ‘Miles Ahead’ – in theaters NOW!

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