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Show I HARD TO PHOTOGRAPH DEAF. Their Infirmity Gives Them a Hard, Fixed Expression. "That Isn't u good picture," said tho photographer, with an air ot apology. "Tho man was deaf." "How can that Infirmity affect the picture?" asked a visitor. "It gives his face a tense, strained look," said the photographer. "All deaf persons have that expression when placed beforo a camera. They sit wlt,h their heads tilted forward and oyobrows uplifted, as If waiting for tho command to look pleasant. Generally, I suppose, that Is what they are waiting wait-ing for. But even after I havo given tho order to brace, their muscles refuse re-fuse to relax. "What's that?" says tho deaf man when ho sees my Hps move. "'Look pleasant!' I shout again. " 'Oh,' says he. "Ho takes his hand from bohlnd his ear and tries to nssumo a beaming countenanco, but ho only compromises on a fixed glare. None of tho dovlces known to the photographic trado can dispel that. In fact, the moro 'business' 'busi-ness' I Introduce to charm my subject sub-ject Into a Joyful state tho moro rigid his facial muscles become. Ho Is listening always for further Instructions. Instruc-tions. Whether they como or not, tho look of expectancy Is there. For that reason tho deaf aro tho hardest peoplo In the world to photograph. If an artist's ar-tist's reputation dopended upon tho pictures ho makes of thom ho would soon be obliged to go out of business." |