Jeff Bridges is a world-famous Academy Award-winning actor.

He's appeared in such modern classics as Tron, The Last Picture Show and of course The Big Lebowski, where he played the iconic Dude.

But Bridges is also an accomplished photographer. He's been taking pictures on the sets of his movies for more than 30 years. With his trusted Widelux panoramic camera, he's able to capture intimate and surprising behind-the-scenes moments.

Since 1984 Bridges has self-published a book of photographs for each of his films, a gift he gives to the cast and crew. More recently, he's made that work available to the public in a collection entitled Pictures.

With characteristic humor and insight, Jeff Bridges describes his picture-making process and his love for filmmaking and photography.

2014: Webby
Place: Winner
Category: Documentary: Series

2014: NPPA's Best of Photojournalism
Place: Honorable Mention
Category: Visual Column

Since 1985, the International Center of Photography has recognized outstanding achievements in photography with its prestigious Infinity Awards. The awards ceremony is also ICP’s primary fundraising benefit, with its revenues assisting the center's various programs.

Harbers Studios commissioned MediaStorm, on behalf of ICP, to create a short film about each of the recipients to screen at the awards ceremony and to later remain online. The films serve as an introduction of the recipients to the audience as well as a showcase of their work, highlighting the motivations for honoring them with Infinity Awards.

Jeff Bridges’ photographic archive spans more than three decades and several dozen movies. Many of his images have never been available publicly. And because he is not primarily a photographer, Mr. Bridges’ work was not centrally located or always easily accessible. The primary obstacle in completing this project was access to high-resolution scans.

A second challenge was finding out late in the process that we would be producing this piece in addition to the other seven pieces. At first we were nervous because we were already pressed for time, but when we found out it was the “Dude,” we knew we had to do it, even if it meant flying across the country for the interview.

MediaStorm worked closely with representatives of Rose Gallery as well as his personal editor in order to meet a tight deadline. MediaStorm used screenshots and snapshots taken of his book as placeholders until the gallery staff was able to locate and send high-resolution images.

We also worked with Rose Gallery staff to arrange the interview and flew to Los Angeles to conduct it. The gallery staff was incredibly helpful, coordinating the interview, setting up the space for us and staying late so we could complete the interview. Bridges arrived early and gave us all the time we needed.

The result is a portrait of Jeff Bridges as seen from the other side of the camera. The actor talks about the intersection of his photography and professional career with both humor and insight.

In addition to this piece, MediaStorm interviewed the recipients and gathered images to create stories about each of the other recipients. The resulting eight short films serve individually as biographical glimpses into the recipients’ work and collectively as a portrait of some of the important contributors to photography today.

This film was a collaboration with Harbers Studio and the International Center of Photography.

Harbers Studios turbocharges the efforts of charitable entrepreneurs by helping them tell their stories. Our goal is to help them articulate and share the value of the work they do so they can inspire others to help them do it. Working with some of the best filmmaking talent in the world, we create compelling visual narratives that enhance the endeavors of organizations working to make the world a better place.

The International Center of Photography (ICP) is the world’s leading institution dedicated to the practice and understanding of photography and the reproduced image in all its forms. Through our exhibitions, educational programs, and community outreach, we offer an open forum for dialogue about the role images play in our culture. Since our founding, we have presented more than 500 exhibitions and offered thousands of classes, providing instruction at every level. ICP is a center where photographers and artists, students and scholars can create and interpret the world of the image within our comprehensive educational facilities and archive.

As a privately funded nonprofit arts and education organization, ICP depends in large part on friends such as you for support. Your generosity is vital to ICP as it continues to grow and succeed in its mission: to present photography's extraordinary power to the public.

There are many ways to give to ICP: Donate to the Annual Fund, create a scholarship, sponsor exhibitions and education programs, contribute to the Collection, or make a planned gift.

Since 1985, the International Center of Photography has recognized outstanding achievements in photography with its prestigious Infinity Awards. The awards ceremony is also ICP’s primary fundraising benefit, with its revenues assisting the center's various programs.

Harbers Studios commissioned MediaStorm, on behalf of ICP, to create a short film about each of the recipients to screen at the awards ceremony and to display online. The films pay tribute to the contributions of each artist to the craft and field of photography and demonstrate ICP's commitment to them.