A Photo a Week Challenge: Attitude & #FOWC
I once took a series of pictures of Garry. All of them came out kind of dull. He looked at them. I looked at them. He said, “Why didn’t you tell me I needed to give you some ‘attitude’?”
That was, believe it or not, the first time I’d heard that expression used as a photographic term. I’m not a portrait artist. What I do best are landscapes and casual portraits, more or less on the fly. I’ve done very few “formal” portraits. Anything else has been candid, at best.
But Garry worked on television, so he “got it.” He also knew “his good side,” something about which I knew nothing. To this day, I don’t know if I have a good side, but then again, I didn’t spend forty years in front of a camera.
I have, however, spent more than 40 years on the other side, so I probably ought to know more. I guess this is what you get for picking it all up without any training at all. You know things, but you don’t know what to call them. Terminology doesn’t come with “hands-on” learning.
Garry is the only person in my current life who seems able to take a picture of me I don’t immediately hate and want to delete. He has a knack for finding the “me” under the wrinkles and bags of age.
And also: FOWC with Fandango — Attitude
I, too, have taken few portraits other than candids. It seems, though, that the keys are — the “good side,” a smile, a lean towards the camera. I like that last shot!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s the best picture of me this year. But it keeps getting harder to get good pictures of me. I have this same shot in color, but I couldn’t find the color version. I don’t like the way I look these days, so I mostly avoid the camera, but Garry likes taking my picture and fair is fair, because I like taking his picture too. That’s why we have so many pictures of each other taking a picture 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those are among my favorite people shots — people taking photos of people taking photos!
LikeLike
That’s as close as we can usually get to a couples shot 😀
LikeLike
SLMRET, I find it easy to take good pictures of Marilyn. I just wait til she’s otherwise involved. Plus, she has a lovely face. No worries.
I’m always surprised Marilyn gets flattering pics of me. I’ve never been good in posed, still pics. During my working years, I hated when I had to pose for publicity photos. I was always aware of myself. I felt phony. It showed. Marilyn “directs” me in her shots of me. She’s very good. She even physically positions me. I just tell her, “Hey, don’t touch my hair. don’t touch the suit”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I almost overlooked this challenge this week, so will be back later today. Mr. Swiss said yesterday he takes more photos of me than I do of him, but I give up because I always have to get permission to show them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, Garry was on TV for more than 35 years, so I think he is public enough already and he likes the attention. If he didn’t, I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t have had a career in TV. I could never have done that job for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is that I freeze in front of a camera.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Does Mr. Swiss let you touch his hair??
LikeLiked by 1 person
What hair?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha. Same problem here. What happened to all my curly hair?
LikeLike
Lots of attitude going on here! Nice one of you too, I know, I know, you don’t always like pictures of you, but trust me, almost everyone (except Garry) don’t like the way they look in picture.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know that Garry “likes” the way he looks, but he accepts it because he has had to work with it. I had to get to that point with voice recordings where I finally stopped cringing at the sound of my voice. I suspect we ALL do that. We have a self-image which isn’t what we want and if we are going to work like that, we have to learn to be professional about it. It isn’t easy. I’m sure I couldn’t have done it daily..
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s ironic. I get it. But still it’s hard for me to remember in a still pic setting.
LikeLike
Dawn, you are absolutely right. We are all vain. Want to look good in photographs. In television news, you learn your “good side”, how to position yourself for flattering angles for those on camera “stand-ups”. It becomes a game after awhile. We mimic certain gestures which are just shy of John Barrymore ham. Once, we had a period where “reporter involvement” was urged by management. It was an open invitation to anyone who wanted to be a “star” rather than a reporter. Some of my wise-ass colleagues and me used to see how many “bits” we could cram into one on camera appearance. It often became super-hokey. It’s why I always appreciated Steve McQueen and his scene stealing habits.
LikeLike
Totally dig the jewlery, Marilyn. And the attitudes (good or not) rock.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s all Native American, mostly Navajo, but these days, it’s hard to be sure because so often, families are mixed. The beaded earring are great because they are big, but they are also VERY light.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Marilyn, where are are all the gold chains?
LikeLike
I love them! Hard to find big earrings that are also light. Keepers, for sure.
LikeLike
I have four sets of these, all made by the same designer. Silver and beads. I really love them. I have other beaded earrings, but these are quite sturdy compared to the plain beaded ones.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did you buy them in New England or during one of your trips in the West? I’ve seen gorgeous jewelry made and sold by Native Americans in Arizona while traveling on Route 66. My husband bought me a lovely silver bracelet with a turquoise there several years ago and I wear it all the time.
I’m not a huge jewelry person, but when I see a piece I love made by artisan I can totally fall for it.
Yours are really beautiful.
LikeLike
They (and you) all are very lovely….. I don’t have a single really good photo of mine but everybody around me is having tons of my work. Hero Husband could model with all my shots I’ve taken of him. I used to be quite beautiful, now I’m only just quite……
We now go for the inside beauty – and the insight! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I always wish internal beauty would show better in a photo 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like Gary’s attitude, but that is a very good portrait of you
LikeLiked by 1 person
He is the only one who can take a picture of me I don’t immediately hate 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Garry makes you smile, everyone looks good when they smile. To me Katie is saying “you got to be kidding.”
Leslie
LikeLiked by 1 person
He does make me smile and it changes my entire face. A real smile is a game changer 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
It really is…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great photos all! He catches your personality which is the best. I don’t think I have a good side! : ))
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know if I do, either, but if I do, I think Garry has probably found it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is a very good photo of yours.
LikeLike
Thank you. I’m going to have to find the color version of it. I have so many files, it’s really hard to find stuff.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome. Once you are able to locate the file, please do share. I know finding stuff is becoming increasingly difficult.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Is that you on the horse at a young age?
LikeLike
No, that’s a friend of our granddaughter. I do have a few of me on a horse, but they are not digital. I was um, a lot younger 😀
LikeLike
Awesome photos! I LOVE that one of Garry too. You captured him so well. The “what the hell are you doing?” pose. I love that pic of you. And the others, well, it goes without saying, they are spectacular too. Love your photos. You capture the essence, it’s not just a “photo” for the sake of it.
LikeLike
Thank you. Garry does have a very good “eye.” But then again, why not? He’s a movie buff and he worked on TV for more than 40 years, so he must have learned something, right?
LikeLike
Absolutely ! If not, weeeeelll… lol
LikeLike
So much attitude in these photos. Garry, you make me laugh! It’s a good laugh. Beautiful photo of you, Marilyn. I, too, hate being in front of the camera. Thanks for joining the challenge!
LikeLike
It’s funny. Every photographer I know hates having their picture taken. Maybe that’s why we like TAKING the pictures? So we can hide behind the camera?
Garry really doesn’t like getting still pictured. He’s fine with moving pictures, but he always feels stiff and uncomfortable in a still shot. My job is to entertain him until he relaxes 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
As a portrait photographer, I find that entertaining my subjects is a regular part of the job. 🙂
LikeLike