Deux Amis

We were free men in Paris, unfettered and alive, posing somewhat awkwardly in front of a structure that is anything but awkward - the Nortre Dame de Paris. I handed my camera to a passing tourist. So I guess that this isn't really my photo is it?When I give my camera to a stranger so I can pose, I try to pick someone who appears to be slower than I am so that if they decide to run with my valuable equipment, I can catch them. I wouldn't tackle them, though, since that might harm my camera. . . .

Flesh and Blood

My oldest son, Brian, is pictured in this blog more often than Jon is. And, because Jon sent me a flattering email about my blog photos earlier today, I thought I would reward him by posting a photo I took of him 10 years ago somewhere in Italy. He has a better sense of style than I do and he gets his looks from his mother, fortunately. He's a pretty good photographer, though. Maybe he got that from me?

The Bird Man And the Child

I was with a group of students in the Montmartre district in Paris and as we were walking down the steps of the Sacre Couer Basilica, I looked down and saw this man and this apparently mesmerized child. This isn't the only photo of a child marveling over birds. What is it about birds that is so fascinating to children?

57

Yes, I am 57 today, though I don't think I look a day over 12.

The Wittenberg Wiener Man

I'd like to think that if I went back to Wittenberg, Germany (where Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses), I could get a better photo of the Wiener Man. Like the girl I posted a few days ago, he looks a bit suspicious. A better shot would have people waiting in line for the wurst he was selling (which I think is the best wurst in Wittenberg!). The Wiener Man would be oblvious to me and I would have a great action shot.For what it's worth, there are very few photos I've taken and posted here that I wouldn't want to take over again so that I could improve them. How do other artists deal with their old art which could be made better as their skills improve?

Suspicion

For the last several years, in addition to teaching at Watertown High School, I have also volunteered to take photos for our yearbook. Sometimes the editors tell me what to photograph. And sometimes I'm told to "wander." And that's how I found this subject.The art rooms are my favorite places because I can almost always find people doing things rather than sitting and listening to teachers. Often the students are so absorbed in their work, that they are oblivious to me. But this girl was anything but oblivious.When I was about to take the photo, this girl gave me this look, which isn't exactly hostile and not exactly friendly. It is suspicious. After taking this photo, I told her who I was and what I was up to and she relaxed and let me take a another photo or two.This photo didn't make the yearbook but I like it nevertheless, largely because of her undisguised doubt. But I also like it because I think this girl looks a little like Scarlett Johansson, one of my favorite actresses.

What If God Was One of Us?

Joan Osbourne's song "One of Us" asks an interesting question:"What if God was one of usJust a slob like one of usJust a stranger on the busTrying to make his way home?"Neither of the men in this picture is God (I don't think). And we aren't on a bus, either. We're somewhere under Paris riding the Metro. The gentleman on the left is my friend Billy, The Lutheran Minister. So I guess he's close to God. At least that's what he tells me.The man on the right was wide awake and lucid until Billy started talking to him about the marvels of Lutheran theology (or some such subject) and you can see the effect this had . . . Can you say "soporific?"But I do love my friend Billy.

Basketball Hex

At the Watertown Civic Arena, the south bleachers put the fans pretty close to the action. In this case a Roosevelt basketball player is getting some friendly help from the Watertown fans as he attempts to throw the ball inbounds. He seems oblivious.I find it interesting to study the various expressions on the faces of the Watertown fans. Are we showing good sportsmanship here? I don't think so, but I'm a little old fashioned. . .Subscribe to A Photo A Day by Email

11-23-10 Wonderful Freckles

I went looking for a portrait to post today, in part because I don't post many and I thought it would be a good change of pace. As I was looking, this one jumped out at me.There is really nothing fancy about this shot. It is a fairly standard head shot done outdoors in open shade. I know it's outdoors because I can see the sky in the catchlights of Amanda's eyes. The photographer is reflected there, as well, if you look closely enough.What struck me about this photo is that the subject is clearly very relaxed and she has a very real smile - maybe even a Mona Lisa smile. I also like Amanda's freckles. Generally, the eyes are the focal point in a head shot. And then what? In this case the answer is the pattern of freckles playing across her face gives the viewer's eyes something more to do. My experience in taking photos of young people is that they wish they didn't have freckles. But in Amanda's case, I'm glad she did.

Old Fashioned Portrait

This senior portrait was taken a few years ago and by 2010 senior portrait standards, it is dated. But I still think is is a good portrait.We were out at Lake Kampeska near Watertown but the location is irrelevant. What is relevant is the combination of soft lighting, of the bright eyes and of the genuine smile. The hat adds personality and the black and white suggests that the colors she is wearing are less important than her face and eyes. Finally, there is very little Photoshop post-processing in this photo. Those are her real eyes and teeth. That is her real skin. And those are real freckles.By today's standards, this isn't a fashionable portrait. But I still like it.

Jack

I thought I would take a break from leaves, travel and flowers to post a portrait of one of my best friends. A few years ago Jack asked me to take a professional portrait of him. I was bit intimated because I had quite a bit of practice with high school seniors but little experience with more mature males.But what I had going me was a confident subject who was also comfortable with the photographer. Jack was pleased with his portrait and so was I.

Katie

Every once and a while I find a portrait I have taken that catches my eye. This is one. Katie was a great subject. She was relaxed and easy to work with. And the fact that she was pretty didn't hurt. When I shoot a subject like this, I think that if I don't get good photos, then I must not be a very good photographer.Canon 1DII 1/320s f/3.2 ISO320 70mm