pseudo-sinister

I didn’t ask for this expression, nor did I do anything at all to elicit it. And besides, who can tell a two year old with limited verbal skills what to do anyway? But this very same look appeared on this little guy’s face numerously during our brief time together, to the degree that I had to ask myself: is this pseudo-sinister expression telling of something inside me that I’m attempting to conceal?

Most often, in my painstaking quest for only the most genuine and ego free expressions, I will dismiss anything that hints of the contrived. I present no images to the parents of forced smiles, goofy mannerisms, or manipulated outrageous behavior. Nope, if the image doesn’t reflect an air of peaceful repose, unfeigned joy, or earnest thoughtfulness, it does not make the proof book. With my camera, I am the “sincerity police”, and nobody gets away with concocted appearances while on my watch.

One little boy I was photographing screwed up his face in an endless array of contorted ways trying to figure out what it was that I was after in not wanting him to force a smile, “say cheese”, nor look angry, until he finally pleaded, “why are you so picky about my face”? I felt a bit sorry for him, being photographed by the militant me.

Lately I’ve been somewhat relaxing my stance on what constitutes an acceptable expression, allowing for more ego driven attitudes to creep into my images, and into the proof book. I’m realizing that it can be forthright and honest at times to want to stick your tongue out a someone, or make an exaggerated face, in order to get one’s sincerest feelings expressed. And perhaps I might do well to indulge myself in this behavior on occasion, too. (Interesting……I was thinking this would be the perfect place to insert one of those little emoticons with the tongue sticking out or making a rebellious face, yet haven’t a clue of how to create one…..I do have issues in this area!)

~Cynthia