James

Arranging to take my friend James' portrait wasn't easy. He had expressed some anxiety to me about sitting for a portrait; he didn't like having his picture taken. A common aversion, I think. So I approached the whole sitting with respect, of course, and with some clear ideas of what I wanted him to do. The whole picture worked from the start-the place, the light, the subject-everything came together. I took about 30 photos and was pretty happy with the outcome at the time. As I drove home after, though, I thought, "That was too easy-it didn't cost me anything". Nothing was risked, on my part. When I got home to look at the photos, I was not happy. I didn't get him to look at the camera once! If I had had the courage to ask him, to direct him, the outcome might have been quite different. In the end, it's okay, I guess, but I really wanted to see his eyes! Lesson learned-takes risks! Easy to say.