A portraitist's most difficult subjects are likely to be his mother and father.

My father squirmed more than any child in the barber's chair for the first time. He was more than uncooperative. He really meant it when he said he didn't want his picture taken, and I am left with family portraits that show me violating my own principles. A portraitist can work only with the subjects' collaboration.

Even the film worked against me. These rather mushy 35 mm negatives show impressive thinness in the facial areas.

My father, like many people who don't want to work with me, knows that he doesn't know what he reveals to the camera. He does know he doesn't want to reveal anything. My mother, as usual, was just along for the ride. Sad to say, her ride was coming to an end.