Pat Merton, September 1999

Those who know him will recognise Pat's slightly imperious air, but I have a niggling suspicion that to the general viewer he merely looks unhappy. Votes?

-- Struan Gray (struan.gray@sljus.lu.se), April 06, 2001

Answers

I really like this! I don't know him, but I'll bet that despite his grumpy look he's probably as gentle and charming as one can get.

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@alaska.net), April 06, 2001.

I too don't know him, but truly like the photograph. Please give us some personal background information. For me a photograph isn't just a photograph, but needs contextual commentary as well.

-- Todd Frederick (fredrick@hotcity.com), April 06, 2001.

Subject: Grumpy or Imperious?

ahhh... both?... t

-- tom meyer (twm@mindspring.com), April 08, 2001.

Tom, as usual, hit the nail on the head.

Todd, I agree with you that context is nice to have, but I'm interested in people's reaction to this as a photograph of someone they don't know. I like to learn from the responses here, and that sometimes means not giving the whole story, particularly in a case like this where I worry that my closeness to the subject makes me see things which aren't there.

-- Struan Gray (struan.gray@sljus.lu.se), April 09, 2001.

The "fill" side is a little too dark on my screen to see much, makes it look like the light is too hard on the forehead, but I recognize that expression; it's the "there's that damned camera again" look....

-- Chris Yeager (cyeager@ix.netcom.com), April 09, 2001.

I like the photo, makes me think of my (very Irish) mother in law. Same 'grumpy' look that isn't really grumpy, but more like 'lots on the mind.' I don't mind that it is darker near the ear on the fill side, on my monitor I can see enough detail. My eyes are drawn to the eyes, which are a little murky.

My at-home photos always look much more like snapshots than portraits, alas. I'm working on it, I have much to learn in the ways of lighting. I'll try and post one or two when I can get to the scanner again.

-- brian reeves (brianr@alpha1.net), April 09, 2001.

Great job of capturing character. My only nitpick is that his glasses cut right through the middle of his left eye.

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), April 10, 2001.