Sunday, February 24, 2013

The Faces of James Duckett: Round One

Okay, I need your help. And, I'm sorry, but this post is all about my face so you might want to ask small children to leave the room.

I've been giving some thought to an author's photo. The photo I use now is fairly out of date and it is time I take something more recent. I wanted to pose in front of some of my book collection (though, honestly, 95% of what I read is on my Kindle now). Can you tell me if you like any of these, and why. None of the above is a valid option. Or a combination of them. Any feedback will be taken into consideration.

If you have one you like, what do you like about it? If you don't like the books, do you have a suggestion on what kind of backdrop I should use? These are just some quick n' dirty ones, trying to find out how I want to be pictured. Smiling? Big smile? Little smile?

And most of these are just trying to find the right pose. I realize the books, and even my face, is a little out of focus. Once I find something I'm happy with I'll increase the focal length.

Here are the pictures:

a) I started off showing some teeth

b) A little more serious

c) Tried looking like I was in a contemplation

d) Looking off into the distance with some teeth

e) I'm listening to something very enlightening

f) Looking into the distance, less teeth

g) The thinker, and the smiler

h) More thinking and smiling. I was trying to show a little bit of my watch. If I redid this, I'd lower my sleeve a bit.

i) Looking off in the distance but the other way.

j) The thinker, no smiling
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

12 comments:

  1. E looks the most natural to me. I like the bookshelf backdrop. Very authorly.

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  2. I like A the best. You're smiling (I'm almost always bias toward a smile, and that smile looks very real), you're connecting with the reader (eye contact), and you're happy about it.

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  3. C looks a little smug and confident... like I'd like what your wrote because you believed in it.

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  4. Dear Mr. Duckett,

    After studious contemplation of the evidence, my son and I have declared C to be the best portrayal of your authorly persona. Aesthetically speaking, C is divine. Notice the wily use of the golden ratio. Additionally, C projects the perfect juxtaposition of personality and professionalism. Therefore, I post this advice in great haste, because in the words of my son, "You better hurry and tell him before he makes the wrong choice."

    Amused Regards,
    Brenda Sills

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  5. I have to agree with Brenda about C. You look very eager to tell us something, but you're goading us at the same time, "Read already, I swear it's really good." At least, that's what I see. ;)

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  6. I'm a fan of E. It's a nice professional-looking photo with good framing and focus. It looks natural and charming as well. :)

    Good luck!

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  7. P.S. I think C is a great option too. As I'm looking over them again, I think it's a toss-up for me.

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  8. As a newcomer I'm sorry to say I'm not familiar with your work--and that's important. Depending on the tone/genre of your work I would switch my vote between A, C, E, or J. J would be your "Horror/suspense" face, A would be your humor/satire/comedy face, and C/E would be somewhere in between, depending on tone.

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  9. OK, I'm the loner---I liked D. And I ALWAYS love books backing up authors.

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  10. I don't think anyone is with me on this but i vote g minus the hand in the shot....remove the hand and i think it's perfect....i also think it should be in a more natural setting, maybe the place that seemed to spark the most ideas for your first book.

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  11. Am I too late to vote? I like C :)

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