It's a remarkably well-tailored suit, so it's less uncomfortable than you might think, but now that you mention it the shoes are less comfortable than my normal ones. That, plus everything else…

In the background, between Neil and x, are Patrick Nielsen Hayden and Felecia Herman. (Or should that be two "n"s?) Patrick's the one with the beard; Felecia has her back to the camera. I can't identify the woman sitting at the far right.

I don't believe that the most flattering conceivable shot has ever been taken by anyone—we're only human after all. Or maybe I should strike "only." Part of the human condition is that our ability to conceive usually exceeds our ability to achieve—some times considerably. I reckon this is a good thing; for one, it keeps complacency at bay. Or, as Mike Glicksohn once so poignantly put it, "A man's retch should exceed his gasp, or what's a heaving for?"

That aside, perhaps it could have been more flattering to me, but I believe it was an accurate photo, and certainly not unflattering to everyone else in it. Neil's characteristic "explaining something" affect is true-to-life, Katya Pendill and Jim Rigney look appropriately engaged, and so on. I likely was just that stiff, for reasons we've touched upon.

I've always found the timing of phtographs of groups to be remarkably difficult. It's hard enough to capture (shall we echo Cartier-Bresson?) the decisive moment when working with one person; I've always felt that each additional person increases the complexity geometrically. It's so hard to pay close attention to so many different things at once! And candid groups … I guess they're easier in some ways (there's usually less nervous attention toward the photographer) and harder in others (people will stand and move as they will, at unpredictable times). I reckon luck plays a great part in how well candid group photos turn out and that people who appear to be consistently good at it have been successful in courting lady luck (as well as making good use of The Photographer's Friend—the trash can). Of course, if you're not out there trying you can't get lucky. Me, I have in my files far too many candid photos of people's backs &hellip but that's probably in part pyschological—I'm hesitant to intrude or, you know, "get in people's faces."

Mmmmm. Interesting. I hadn't given any thought at all to the effect people in wheelchairs have on photography—your mention brought it to my attention. I suppose if we started thanking people in wheelchairs folks might take it wrong.

Ah, interesting. So part of the reason likely was that I knew but one of those people. And your general observation that I tend toward stiffness in social situations where I'm nervous or otherwise ill-at-ease shouldn't be that much of a surprise, but I guess it's easy to forget how thoroughly I physically manifest my mental state. This is a good thing when I'm having fun—I've noticed that when I'm in the middle of a good song, for example, my joy tends to be infectious—but I can see how it might exacerbate an already uncomfortable interaction. I must ponder this.

"Sigh."? Oh. Right. Not the most festive of occasions.

Thanks. Yeah, the freeze is not always good, which is why DD-B and I were ruminating above about the whole issue of timing, which can make all the difference.