Shutter Sisters

Against Cheese!

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“Make a face, J!” I called out, camera ready and aimed downwards.  He readily complied with the most ferocious look he could muster.  And so it went, for the next few minutes; every time the lens was fixed on him, he’d strike a fierce pose.  I couldn’t have been happier.

If you’re like me, you don’t ever ask anyone to say “cheeeeeese!” when you are photographing them.  If you’re REALLY like me, you try not to let your subject even see your camera as you shoot.  Sometimes, however, you’ll want to make contact between your subject’s eyes and your lens, and on those occasions, telling them to “Say Cheeeeese!” will probably not result in the authentic image you were hoping for.

By asking J simply to make a face, I gave him the freedom to express himself as he wished instead of trying to manufacture an image based on my own idea of how one should look in a photo.  I think the resulting image was much more satisfying than a big forced toothy grin.

Share with us today your most genuine faces, authenticity of the moment unencumbered by cheese.

Comments

  9. Great photo! I love the furrowed brow~Here's two:

    One of my boy many years ago at the beach. He has a very stern look on his face because I was working a new horse that was just a bundle of nerves as it had never seen the surf before. My boy has a lead rope ready to go and the look of a 4 year-old that means business.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/humbirdhum/4893860831/

    The other is of my niece, holding a new lamb that was intrigued by her ears ~ the look says it all!
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/humbirdhum/4733109739/