I have the smirk down. I’m still working on a smile but feel that if it were going to happen it would have happened by now. No future for me in politics I guess if I can put on that look on demand.

You can’t beat a good smirk in a photograph. Always looks more real than a forced smile……….which I’m terrible at!

Yeah, that was my first reaction as well. And looking at the video of the actual production of the image I admit I felt a little lazy being a photographer!

Hi Josef–great question! Since this specific composition is a figment of my imagination, it was based on multiple photos.

For Steve’s face and expression, I was fortunate to have a photo that was taken a couple years ago when we’d gone for a ride. For Steve’s upper body and crossed arms, I used an image I’d found here on his blog where he is standing with his back against a wall in a similar pose. The only problem was that he was wearing a different jacket, so that meant a different photo reference for that as well.

Steve’s Vespa was much easier to find reference for here on the blog. Again I used 2 or 3 images to get the particular angle and lighting I was looking for, including the helmet positioned on the seat. A photo of my own Vespa was used as reference for the glowing headlight.

I’m not sure what Andy based the portrait on. I’ve reached out to him about it so he’ll probably answer here.

Smiling? I guess I see more of the smirk I usually have. I looked through the site media library and most have the smirk, a few more serious, and a couple have grins. But generally, I don’t smile in pictures I guess.

Like you say though, I am smiling on the inside!

The attention to detail amazed me. And as you have always taught Paul —“BAM!”

Andy is a gifted artist, without pretense or posturing. He has my new Fuji X100F around my neck and in the video, I love how the headlight comes on at the end.

Good to hear from you John. I’ve sort of fallen out of touch with the ZONERS. Not sure why since I have far more time now than when I was working.