l'anatomie d'une photo

In August, almost unexpectedly, we found ourselves at Monticello, touring TJ's old stomping grounds. As we were all together in a picturesque setting, we naturally wanted to take a family picture. Here is the result we like best.

And here is the process that produced this one shot...

1. While wondering where S & his grandparents were...we staked out a backdrop, and I snapped this. L, as he is here, is the one to watch in all of these photos. Does your family have one like him, too?

2. I took this close up shot, still wondering where S had gone off to. L puts on a good face for the camera.

3. Working the angle some more...kids getting distracted.

4. A few minutes later, still no S or grandparents, a fellow tourist walks by and offers to take a picture. With a stranger around, L sat still (!) and gave us the best face we got during the entire shoot. Unfortunately, S was awol!

5. S, a tad disheveled, & grandparents show up! The Don captures this precious picture as I primp S for the photo.

6. All together and groomed, Grandpa tries to get a good one for us. Not everyone cooperates...

7. I'm glad we took a couple more because E's getting tired and looks a bit goofy here. L is about to put on a show...

8. L pulls out his gun right when The Don snaps this one.

9. L also has a bow and arrow in his arsenal.

10. Giving L a little nudge to quit goofing off...the others are getting amused.

11. L runs with it. Flexing? I end up cropping this one just below L's shoulders and proclaim it "The Winner."

12. Such a picture derelict!

13. "Bring it on..."

And that, my friends, is one of the reasons we do not take many family photos.