Chip 1968

Taken at a friend's birthday party in 1968. I think this is one of

the earliest examples of a style of portraiture that began when I

started bringing my 35mm camera to parties and living rooms and just

shooting people in ordinary situations.

And that was precisely my take on this shot. Before I read your account I was thinking that your portraits never seem staged or glamorous, always straight up and without pretense. It's a very recognizable feature of your photography and you've apparently stuck with it through the years..

His pose is OK. What I object though is the reflection on the glasses and the shoot from below (or slight inclination of his head up). I read your biography. It's an interesting approach to portraits, although I tend to think with a bit of care one can get better snapshots (either being careful with what gets into the photo and looking for it - without necessarily staging it - or waiting for the magical moments).

Thanks for the comments, guys!  Jose, I actually like the reflections in his glasses.  Its a reflection of the party going on in front of him.  This was a party of 18 year olds drinking whisky.  I was one of them and I had a new camera to play with.  Who knows how much Seagram's 7 I had in me when I took this shot!   Doing this style of snapshots you realize that the "magic moments" come and go very quickly.  You don't have the luxury of waiting like you do in a studio.  Its all reflex.  I like this shot very much because it is a genuine moment and expression of a friend of mine.  The lighting is very good for a living room shot with natural light.  The whole idea of "documentary portraiture" is to capture something you can't get in a studio. 

I agree with Jack. Very Good