To: pml1@yahoogroups.com
From: Mark Tomlonson
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2003 09:34:15 -0400
Subject: [PML1] CC: Jan Roberts

Jan Roberts' centerfold (August 1962) is an absolute disaster.

Jan's not an inherently ugly woman. I think her Bunny shot in the 
beginning of her PMOM feature is one of the better head shots of its 
time. It's dated, but still a good picture. But this - this is just awful.

First is the way the set has been lit. Printing and photographing white 
is hard. If you don't do it right it looks like chalky milk, or like the 
cabinets here. The copper accents don't help much, and the lumpy one 
makes it worse.

Secondly is Jan's expression. She's either got a lip sticking to a dry 
tooth or one hell of a cold sore. Either way something else should have 
been tried.

Thirdly is Jan's figure. It's perfectly natural, but then so is a lump 
of mashed potatoes. She needs a pose that adds more drama and tension. 
She doesn't need to be turned toward the camera in a way that adds 25 
pounds.

Lastly is the way she's sitting on the stool. Moving her butt forward or 
backward would have been better.

On the whole, this looks like a test shot that should have been thrown out.

Photographer: Pompeo Posar

Scoring:
Pin-up: 0.0
Erotic: 0.0
Artistic: 0.0

Overall: 0.0 out of 4.0

Cyber Club Portfolio Photo I like better than the Centerfold: #17. Since 
I absolutely loathe the centerfold, let me expand on why I feel this 
alternate direction would have been a better choice.

1. Set lighting - deep rich tones instead of the wimpy and unappetizing 
whites. I can see from Jan's hair why the whites were tried, but I don't 
think Jan has enough color herself to make a white background work.
2. Expression. Jan's got a goofy looking smile. Sorry, but it happens to 
the best of us. The alternate picture gets around this in a very 
alluring and sexy way.
3. Jan's figure. Much better when she's lying down.
4. Sitting on the stool doesn't work. A bed of pillows works much better.

http://cyber.playboy.com/members/playmates/files/1962/08/centerfold-med.html
http://cyber.playboy.com/members/playmates/files/1962/08/17-lrg.html

Update: This review was one of the more controversial when I first 
posted it. In taking a second look at this centerfold, I retract part of 
my assessment of Jan's smile. I can't put my finger on what made me 
refer to a sticking tooth or cold sore, but I stand by my statement that 
another expression and another approach should have been tried. I also 
retract what I said about the copper pots on the wall. They're doing 
everything they've been asked to do, forming something of an appropriate 
diagonal contrasting with the leaning Jan. I stand by the remainder of 
my comments.

New rating:

Pin-up: 0.0
Erotic: 0.0
Artistic: 1.0

Overall: 0.2 out of 4.0

Mark Tomlonson
Kalamazoo MI