Timewaster's Guide Archive

General => Everything Else => Topic started by: EUOL on July 19, 2004, 07:41:34 PM

Title: EUOL headshots
Post by: EUOL on July 19, 2004, 07:41:34 PM
All right, kids.  Which of these do you think should go on the jacket of my book?

Thanks to Micah for the photos.  These are copyrighted to him, so, uh, don't steal them or anything.  (I can't imagine what you'd want a bunch of pictures of me for, though....)

http://www.brandonsanderson.com/graphics/BRANDON1.JPG

http://www.brandonsanderson.com/graphics/BRANDON2.JPG

http://www.brandonsanderson.com/graphics/BRANDON3.JPG

http://www.brandonsanderson.com/graphics/BRANDON4.JPG

http://www.brandonsanderson.com/graphics/BRANDON5.JPG
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: Tage on July 19, 2004, 07:47:04 PM
Definitely #5. While I think #2 is not bad, it makes you look really young for some reason. And you just look weird in the rest.
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: Brenna on July 19, 2004, 07:47:35 PM
I like the first two and the fifth the best, I think. You look very concerned about something in the fourth one.
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: fuzzyoctopus on July 19, 2004, 07:49:03 PM
I second the motion. Both #5 and #1 look great, but for some reason #1 looks like you're trying to sell the shirt.  #5 is definitely better for the back of a book.



And yes, I just said you look like a model.
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: Prometheus on July 19, 2004, 08:13:33 PM
#1 then #5. I'm not a shirt-buying guy, but I can't see what fuzzy was talking about. Not #2.
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: GorgonlaVacaTremendo on July 19, 2004, 08:14:40 PM
Uh, were you being sarcastic and cruel about anything imparticular in number three, or...?

Five is the best, definately go with five.
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: EUOL on July 19, 2004, 08:17:39 PM
No, Gorgon, the sun was just in my eyes.  I couldn't pull off a smile that day without giving a strange squint.  Micah threw in one smiling pic for variety, but none of them turned out well.
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: Master Xaio on July 19, 2004, 08:34:58 PM
Definitely 5.   Number 2 looks kinda artificial, 5 is a more natural looking posture, while still looking good.
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: 42 on July 19, 2004, 09:28:03 PM
I concure, #5 is the best. #1 isn't too bad, but doesn't look as natural as as #5. The rest just look silly.
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: stacer on July 19, 2004, 10:18:30 PM
Quote
You look very concerned about something in the fourth one.


I second that. And Micah was right, the smiling one isn't nearly so good as the serious ones. The way to avoid the dead-eye look is to stop smiling between, and to have the photographer or someone talk to you about something pleasant so that you forget you're getting your picture taken. I have to have people stop smiling all the time when I'm doing engagement shots, etc., because it ends up looking fake.


I'd actually vote for #1, because it's a little closer and just enough off-center to give the photo a little dynamic movement or whatever you might call it. Either that or I'd crop #5 in just a bit to be at the same dimensions as #1, because the expression is a little better in that one. I also like the turn of your head in #5, just slightly more than #1. So maybe I'm really voting for #5--I'm convincing myself as I talk about it.

And by the way--looking good! These are much better pictures than the one on your staff page. I don't remember seeing you without glasses.
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers on July 19, 2004, 10:42:30 PM
shaven?
oh yeah, you teach at byu

we've got the facts and we're voting 5
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: Gemm: Rock & Roll Star; Born to Rock on July 20, 2004, 12:14:14 AM
Well, were you writing a book about constipation or something similar, #4 would be excellent.

But I think I like #3 best. Not that I totally know you or anything, but a smile does me better for an author than a... non-smile. Or you could do the Gaiman "Mona Lisa" smile thing. Which I must say EUOL, just because you cock your head to the side a bit and then put on a straight mouth, doesn't make it a smile. Or maybe just wear darker clothes.
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: Tekiel on July 20, 2004, 12:26:07 AM
#1.  Everyone in my family voted, and we all said #1 (or #2 without the bars in the background).  You've got a little squint in your left eye in #5 that I just can't get over.  

Definitely #1 (or 2 with some touch-ups in the background).
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on July 20, 2004, 02:29:26 AM
I like #3!

my roommate says you should have glasses on so you look smart.
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: EUOL on July 20, 2004, 02:41:58 AM
Yeah, they were bad with the lighting, though.  They have a slight tint to them--unnoticeable to most people, but they were turning dark in the photographs.
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: JP Dogberry on July 20, 2004, 03:31:29 AM
I like 2. 2 could pull the chicks. if, y'know, you wanted to pull chicks.

The smiling one looks rather ridiculous.  If I saw a book with that photo on the back, I'd buy it so I could bring it home to show my friend, and then laugh at it and claim "He looks like an idiot!".
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: Entsuropi on July 20, 2004, 03:32:07 AM
You look like a smurf in #3.
As for the rest... #1 or #5. The #5 squint is a bit awkward.
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: Spriggan on July 20, 2004, 05:12:56 AM
I think we now know what our next Poll will be.

Frankly they all look odd to me since you're without your glasses, but #1 and #5 were probaly the best.
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on July 20, 2004, 05:38:14 AM
Quote
Yeah, they were bad with the lighting, though.  They have a slight tint to them--unnoticeable to most people, but they were turning dark in the photographs.


Take out the lenses. That's what I did for my high school senior pictures, back when I wore glasses. Usually you just need a really small screwdriver.
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: fuzzyoctopus on July 20, 2004, 09:35:26 AM
Quote

Usually you just need a really small screwdriver.


And then the patience of a saint to get them back IN again...
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers on July 20, 2004, 10:04:27 AM
contrary to popular belief, I actually have very little patience.
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: GorgonlaVacaTremendo on July 20, 2004, 01:23:03 PM
The More You Know...
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: Lieutenant Kije on July 20, 2004, 01:30:27 PM
Three!  Three!  Three!

Smiling makes you look accessible and not pretentious.  Not that you look pretentious in other photos, but a reader would see the photo and get the impression that B. Sanderson as a person is probably friendly and a cool guy who likes fantasy like I do.

And you don't look like a smurf.  
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: Nicadymus on July 20, 2004, 03:30:28 PM
#5.
Title: Re: EUOL headshots
Post by: The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers on July 20, 2004, 04:50:55 PM
you know, my favorite part of that post is the period.  I mean, it's a no frills thing. No commentary. not even words, just a pound sign and a number.  But it has that period. very final.