I want to become a good portrait photographer. My idols -- Chris Buck, Seydou Keita, Danny Clinch -- make a lot of pictures in natural light. I'm attracted to that because, well, lights scare me. I need more practice with them. There really is no better light than muted natural light. These portraits, of artist/writer Lisa Teasley, who happens to be my ex and the mother of our beautiful child, are really a straight ripoff (maybe I should say homage) to Keita. He was the master of creating distinctive portraits with textile backgrounds. Simple and beautiful.