Senioritis

In terms of image quality, I honestly feel that the Hay Day photography is a disappointment; I’m rarely good in a “formal” setting, as the superior quality of the [all too few —Ed.] candids in that set prove (along with that one carefully-planned group shot). I’ve been wondering if I’m getting too fixed in my photographic “style,” or even too old, to do a preset, studio-style formal … well, “right.”

However, one of the day’s benefits was arranging some senior portraits with a local college student the following day. It wasn’t going to be at all formal, and at that, I excel.

So, I jumped at the chance — and am glad I did. Why? Well, first, some context.

I rate the quality of photographs taken on a five-star rating system. In 2009, I’m on track to shoot more than twenty thousand photographs, possibly twenty-five. Seriously, that’s a lot of photographs.

Of the several thousand already taken this year, fewer than a hundred are three stars or better. By the same token, in 2008, I took fewer than a hundred four- or five-star photographs … all year.

Thus, it was a pleasure to follow the last, less-than-exciting set with one I really like. Including these two:

Genuine Smile

And:

Window Gaze

But it’s not a fun moment on the porch, or even a posed contemplation, that wins the day for me.  It’s this — one of those vaunted four-star-or-better photographs:

A Couched “Look”

My favorites are always the ones that involve multiple layers. The interplay here is revealing, yet mindful of the historic setting. Nice.

Thanks, KM. I truly enjoyed it.

Up next: Photography from Historic Macon’s Party of the Year. (A follow-up to last year’s great time.) Then, after the book project I’ve been working on has been completed to satisfaction, work towards back posts. As always, thanks for stopping by.