Mike Safin Character Portrait: A Senior Profile Portrait by Jerry Chang (2011)

The character is Mike Safin, a college graduate who dreams of running a successful business but is struggling to find people to help him. Since leaving school, he's been working at a coffee shop during the day, which feels like a waste of his time. The image shows him considering his realistic options. In the photo the character is lying down, looking up as he reflects on his life. The phone on his chest represents his isolation and inability to reach out to others. The shadows and bright highlights upon his shirt suggests that he's feeling a mixture of helplessness and optimism. The photograph is greatly desaturated and tinted with light blue to give the character a ghost-like persona.