So we've made a decision -- both Bob and Marjorie agree that this is the best photo, as do the majority of y'all (except for poor Jed, who dislikes it mightily). Thanks everyone for voting; it's extremely reassuring to have your opinions in this.This version is cropped; Marjorie does plan to do it as a typical headshot -- I guessed on the cropping, but she may cut it down even further. But like this, I like. :-)
I'm a little sorry to lose the blue jeans, 'cause I do think that's sort of culturally interesting. But I think it's a cleaner photo with just one color of background (the sari fabric didn't reach all the way to the ground, so we ended up draping two different ones for the original shot), so there are clear advantages to this version.
Note: This is still off the contact sheet, hence the bits of dust and fuzziness.
I’m with Jed, actually. I think it makes you look too serious and I don’t care for pics where the subject is looking away from the Camera.
Which isn’t to say it isn’t a Nice pic, just not my fav or second fav…
You do look serious, or at least thoughtful, in this picture. But I like that in a writer’s photo. I did not vote, as I like most of the pictures and could not decide on a favorite.
My favorite was the one from Feb. 17, 2003, at
http://www.mamohanraj.com/journal/show-entry.php?Entry_ID=1073.
These all seemed to me to be very dark, but maybe they will print it lighter?
Serious or smiling? Either one can be effective, but I always think of you smiling most of the time.
REH
I suspect that the main reason most people liked this is that it looks the most like their idea of what an ‘author photo’ should look like. But I’m just guessing here. 🙂