I first met Frank while shooting the 2009 Dunedin Wearable Art Fashion Show, where his metal sculpting style was tailored to fit the runway. He was such a big hit that he was invited back every year for several years.

When I met with him to discuss taking his portrait, I asked him to tell me about his life. I thought he was a rough and gruff F-bomb-dropping tough guy. That is his public persona. However, he confided that as he has gotten older, he’s gotten more mellow, at least on the inside. He came up with the idea that you see in the picture. I just had to pull it off. We went into his shop, and his partner Bethany held a grinder on a piece of metal to kick sparks towards him. That was the plate (base photograph). We later took images of him holding the baby chick and composited them. The idea was to show his rough exterior while guarding his inside vulnerability. He showed up for the shoot with his traditional Frank look. His hair was styled to stand straight up, his face was scruffy, and his shop was perfect.

Tech stuff: Canon EOS 5D Mk III, Canon FF16-35@16mm, 1/125 at f7.1

Taken with several gelled, gridded, and snooted strobes in Franks St Pete shop.