On Sunday I took my author photos. Lucky for me, Robin happens to be married to an amazing photographer. A couple weeks ago he came up with a great idea on how to incorporate the suspenseful tone of my book into the photos. So yesterday we met at a tunnel that runs beneath the freeway so people can walk from their homes to the beach. Truthfully, it didn’t look very suspenseful, but I learned something about photography through this experience: It’s all about the lighting, baby!
The idea was to shoot me at one end of the tunnel, backlit by the opening at the other end. Then he thought it’d be cool to have some shadowy figures far behind me. Two teens entered the tunnel and Jayson said, “Hey, this guy just sold his first book...actually, it’s for people about your age. As you go down the tunnel, would you mind walking on the left side so we can get a cool effect?” They were more than happy to participate, and when they exited the tunnel they shouted back, “What’s the book called?”
Yes! Two more books sold. (And the answer to their question is Thirteen Reasons Why, if you're just joining us.)
We wanted to experiment some more with people in the background. Unfortunately, the only other person passing through was a mom on a bike with a baby on board (not the look we were going for). So Jayson picked up Robin at the beach and that’s who wound up standing behind me in the tunnel. When you read the book, that shadowy figure could represent a couple characters. Or it could simply be someone who walked into the shot. But, no...it’s a Disco Mermaid!
Or maybe Razorbill will go with one of the other photos I'm sending in. Either way, here’s the photo with Robin:
- Jay
13 comments:
That photo is AWESOME! Very evocative. And my guess is that Robin's never looked so menacing.
Way cool picture, Jay! Robin's husband is amazing. Looking forward to seeing one of these photos on the book.
Hi, Kelly! Actually, I'm very menacing. Especially when I'm hungry.
When I asked my husband what ideas he had for my author photo (if I ever sell a book!) he said, "Oh, not much. Maybe just something in a bathing suit on top of a Mustang. But for Jay's...well, it just HAD to be cool."
That's my man.
-Robin
Very professional looking- Oh yeah, you ARE a professional now! Great picture and good things, great news.
Cool photo! Can't wait to read the book and say, "Hey I met that guy as SCBWI!" One thing to think about. On my first book, I hired a photographer who suggested something creative with a baseball glove, since the subject matter was Willie Mays. I liked it at the time, but that photo keeps popping up years later, and when it's not with the book and shows up on festival posters or something, it doesn't make much sense. People ask me: Are you a baseball fan, and I say, No, long story.
Very cool! But...it does look like Robin is stalking you. :)
And that's the whole point, so that's actually good. When you read my novel, I think that picture is just going to send shivers up your spine.
And Don, you can leave as long of a comment as you need cuz I really wanna hear that story!
- Jay
Well, OF COURSE I'm stalking you. How else am I going to collect that $3.50 you owe me!?
--Robin
LOVE the picture. Will you sign one for me? Robin, I mean! Lamy
This photo is amazing and awesome.
!!!
Great photo. Quite a cool and mysterious look.
I love the concept and lighting. Constructive criticism: Remove your hands from your pockets to match that same clean line above the waist.
Regarding the criticism, what you may not realize is that Jay was actually born with crab claws for hands. He's very self-conscious about them. It's a pity, really.
But it might explain why he always has so many typos. Good thing he has us!!
-Robin
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