San Francisco Blog

Jeremiah Maller

Fair enough, pal -- don't say cheese...

Jeremiah Maller is getting serious. And he'd like you to do so as well.

Every weekend the aspiring photographer stands at 17th and Hoff Streets and hits up passers-by with the pitch "Can you make a serious face for me?" Since San Franciscans are used to dealing with lunatics, performance artists, or a combination thereof, one's first thought isn't, "Oh, he wants me to be part of his photographic project." Also, the camera and backdrop are hidden out of view on Hoff.

When queried why he doesn't want his subjects to turn that frown upside-down, Maller, a 27-year-old Oakland social worker, notes that people aren't smiling most of the time -- so why should they artificially grin for the camera? So far, he's been scowled at by more than 250 subjects. He hopes to get his project shown locally -- but even if gallery owners glare at him as well, he notes that you do meet some interesting people in the Mission when you ask them to frown. 

Click on the link for more of Maller's work.

Jeremiah Maller