Photographer Edward Weston once wrote:
"There is no time of the day (or year) when sunlight is
better, photographically speaking, than another. It may
be better for a certain subject, that is all. The light
of high noon is just as important as morning or evening
light, almost every 'authority' to the contrary notwithstanding."

I'm inclined to agree with that, although as a general practice
I don't often photograph portraits close up with a wide angle
lens in the harshness of the direct midday light (it just ain't
the most flattering for that kind of work).

Nevertheless, in this particular case, it wasn't so much a flattering
portrait I was going for (or at least I hope not -- ouch) but rather
more the want to put the emphasis on my "old man reading glasses"
(I never needed glasses before, but apparently after 40, it's not
that uncommon that our eyesight isn't as sharp as it use to be).

So while I did make some images of this around dawn, it just wasn't
giving me that gritty old man look, and I later thought this is
perhaps just one of those times where Weston's words ring quite
true and the intent here would better be served by the stark
harshness of using midday light.

So there you have it... and that's for Jeanne -- who was good
enough to put on her "spectacular spectacles" (as Angela called
them) in her Feb. 25 shot... http://www.pbase.com/image/26389085

C J