"Larry Silver, 9, Freckles, Freckles, Freckles" © 1978 by Paul F. Moloney

Thirty-one years ago I photographed at a Greeley, Colo., swimming pool’s opening, and when I saw 9-year-old Larry Silver with his freckles, freckles, freckles and wild red hair, he reminded me of my Dad, A.I. Moloney’s, love for redheaded and freckle-faced kids..

In those days I often used an 18 mm full frame “fisheye” lens for my camera, and creatively utilized it.  I still do, for it is an innovative lens.  

Larry obliged me in his youthful pose, flashing an engaging smile, and the resulting 1978 portrait is featured in my book, “Friends and Celebrities,” 2001. 

Early this year Larry sent me an e-mail wondering if he could purchase an enlarged copy of the photograph.  We exchanged e-mails then in April, I met him at his mom’s home in north Greeley.  

We updated each other, and a month ago at Centennial Park‘s swimming pool I took the “Now” portrait of him to go with the “Then” portrait.

"Larry Silver, 40, No Freckles Now" © 2009 by Paul F. Moloney

Everything but his expression had changed.  He’s now 40 and has virtually lost his freckles.  His well trimmed hair is turning gray.  The pool is now bordered by a large slide which is extremely popular.

Larry, who lives at Martinsville, Ind., is an airline mechanic.  He still swims at every opportunity.  His regular swimming mate is his 9-year-old daughter, Heidi.

The lens I used for my SLR 35 mm camera the 1978 and 2009 panorama portraits covers 140 degrees viewing range or angle. The circular distortion of the lens creates an almost surrealistic perspective with Larry’s face turning out a bit more plump than normal. He posed at a slight angle. But his face is still realistic because I positioned it in the right-center of the pictures.  

Lines become curves in the surroundings.  The pool is rectangular and with a traditional perspective they would be “stationary” whereas with the “fisheye” lens they became a much more “active” curved scene.