It's one of those happy portraits, which always makes a change to the more serious nature of portrait style photography.

In a way i feel this could have worked better in black and white, mainly because the colours for me seem a bit subdued. I know the purists would have wanted the eyes open, but somehow you shot him at a happy moment, which always gives the viewer that wondering feeling of what he is laughing at.

so go on, what made him laugh?

I'm trying to take his picture for the photo boards at work and I'm probably telling him to sit still and stop laughing. It ended in fits of laughter and big giggles, but I did get a good 'official' portrait as well. This one sums him up, though!

How can one be a purist about how people laugh? Surely fun and laughter, i.e. emotion, is about more than having your eyes open?

Photography is full of experts who believe the rules should be followed and rarely broken.

i believe thats utter bollocks

I like that his eyes are closed because you truely caught him in a moment.

I like this almost candid shot of somebody laughing. The overall colours are quite toned down, but perhaps that makes the contrast with his skin greater. This puts even more focus on his face.

great shot, i like this
it makes me smile