The time has come when I must really choose which author photo to go with. Afterall, my novel "Talking to the Moon" comes out in February, 2007--mere months away. I was hoping you can help me decide. I've narrowed it down to these two. Let me know which you prefer. The serious one or the smiley one. (Photos by Ericson Herbas)
37 comments:
they're both great (with your bone structure, how could they not be?), but i think i prefer serious a little more.
Serious
Not only because of the good symmetry of the photo (and your face) but also because of the tone (I think) of your new book.
I dissent! I like the easy-breezy one; the colors are striking. But how about the one at pinoy expats? I really like that one, too.
What about your Pride photo...?
I'd go with Smiley--the angle is better and you look better in blue.
I'd go with the smiley pix, only because your smile is so much more inviting. I love the red background because it show's off your beautiful skin tone!
smiley. and i'm glad you enjoyed my nephew's pic:)
tough one...i'm leaning more towards serious.
The serious one looks so literary and literati.
Oh, Noel, use the smiley pic! It brings out the real you. Or better yet, what about the one we took in my bedroom the other night. . . ??
I like the serious one. I don't know the tone of the book but I feel that it showcases you as an artist. I also like the way your hair falls to the side bringing out "a little boy quality" with lots of earnestness and a little bit of sensuality to the cause. However, I like the colors of the "smiley" which is what I think others are drawn to it. I look forward to reading it! And congratulations!
...i like both, but i'm drawn to the smiley...your smile and the vibrant colors project your warm
personality...
Serious. It's a better photo, poignant but also more resonant somehjow (and what a handsome subject...)
Definitely the one with the smile. The dynamic composition is much more striking that the static non-smiling photo.
Good Evening Noel, nice to meet you and offer you some input. I love the picture of you with the smile. Hands down, it is the stronger of the two. You look confident and at peace with yourself in the picture, slightly amused, but not cocky or too arrogant. I definitely think it has more allure and sex appeal (not an insignificant consideration if one of your markets is gay men) than the serious photo. Although the serious photo is pleasant and unthreatening to look at, I don't think it does you justice. If you are a writer, you have conquered at least a few hurdles in your life; be bold, make the decision to go with the picture that asserts itself a little more and exposes a little more heart and humanity - go for the smile.
Like them both but I vote for smiley. The literary gods are smiling down on you. Of course you would smile back.
I like them both, but if I were to pick on, I vote serious.
What a difficult choice, as you look so cute in both! I'd go for the serious pic, because you look more interesting - more like someone with a story to tell. Any chance someone could digitally change the color of the shirt to something more exciting than white?
hey! how come you don't use the pic of me sitting on your lap!
the smiley one has too much forehead. so i go for the first one.
use the pic of me on your lap next time.
k
i prefer the serious one - makes you look more boyish, vulnerable, innocent (even though you may not be).
Smiley captures the Noel I know better.
Noel! I would go with the picture that best suits the tone of your book. I like the serious one though. :-) -gerlie
I much prefer the smiley - it's more flattering (in my opinion). A book can have a serious tone without requiring a depressed author....
Serious
geez yer so damn hot. okay go with the serious one. it feels like you are looking the reader in the eye versus looking up toward a towering person. also the beams/poles/rod whatever behind you is a nice contrast. maybe you could photoshop the color of your shirt which seems to draw folks into the smiley one. serious serious serious
erin
I'd say the smiley one ^_^
you can never go wrong with the primary colors: reddish, blueish, brownish.
pomegranate background, sky shirt image gets mah vote. you look relaxed, if slightly devious -- not "smiley" to my eyes.
the bars in the other put me in mind of a gay prison or a playground (what's the difference you ask..?). and there's a hint of 'tude in that shot, almost a sneer. dump it.
the pomegranate b.g. outlines your head face distinctly. this viewer dosen't wonder "WHERE the hell is he!!?" also, the low angle puts the reader/book buyer in a superior position. and that's what we want, right? LOL
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looked again. hmm... i take that back. there's no 'tude in the first image. there's nothing. you look blank. i wouldn't know what to think about that author.
to me 'smiley' is fully bared teeth, or upturned mouth corners. this one is a wry smile.
Serious.
The other one makes you look Filipino.
it's funny, because in the "serious" one, it is obvious you are on a child's playground, which, after all, is not so serious! Having said that, I actually prefer that one quite a bit.
Looks like there's no real consensus. I'd say at this point you should just flip a coin...
Yeah, both good, but I like the serious one best. I like the composition of the serious photo better.
Vicarious thrill!
They both are cute! Does that help? I don't know what the book is about but my vote is for the serious one.
Hey Noel,
I missed Eduardo's event at Skylight and have been wracked with guilt ever since. That said, I prefer the "serious" photo because it makes the viewer focus on your eyes. There's a hint of mischievousness there. The other photo has this odd angle and the smile is a bit lopsided, like in a hot second, you're going to spit out something that doesn't agree with your tastebuds. I was also distracted by the amount of space over your hair. Are these comments helping you at all?
The smiley pic. But you look great in both!
fs
hi noel
i like the serious one.
because writing
IS NOT SOME SORT OF FUN GAME YOU PLAY WITH YOUR MOMMY AND YOUR BROTHERS AND YOUR SISTERS AND YEAH I SAW THEM THE OTHER DAY AROUND MOTHERS DAY AND HEY NOW NOW
anyway. you look cute in the serious one.
-sophia the great
Hey Noel.
I vote for the serious photo.
I think it goes well with the serious theme of your new novel.
Hope all is well.
Take care.
- ANGELO 0:-)
I like the "serious" one, although neither of them reveal the trickster in Noel, which I believe I saw in Berkeley. heh. The trouble with the smiley one is that it's looking down at you, which places the subject in a slightly subordinate position.
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