The tradition of Usual Suspects photos - group family portraits - began several years ago - for the historians out there, the first example was taken at Pienza in Italy on July 20th 1998, when the Boy Wonder was a mere bambino of five. Early examples usually showed a row of seated family members, wearing blank expressions and betraying a certain world-weariness. Over time, subjects have experimented with subtle variations - standing up, showing some awareness of being photographed, and even going as far as smiling on occasion, though this is naturally frowned upon by purists.
Pienza, Italy July 20, 1998
This photograph has all the key elements that go to make up a top class Usual Suspects snap : people in shades; people in hats; people looking tired; one or more people looking out of frame; a bicycle. It's an image that will never date, an instant and permanent classic. And the Boy Wonder never looked cooler.
Verbier, Switzerland August 02, 2002
The family spent a wonderful weekend at the chalet of my friend JPK, who was thrilled and proud to take us on a long walk on the mountainside above the chalet, stopping every few minutes to point out to us with infectious enthusiasm every detail of the local flora and fauna. This picture was taken half way through our walk.
Ballenberg, Switzerland August 05, 2002
This photo is more in keeping with the traditional Usual Suspects format, even if no-one is wearing a hat and there is no-one actually looking away from the camera.
Isola Bella, Stresa, Italy August 08, 2002
There is nothing the Usual Suspects like to do more on holiday than to bury their collective nose in a good book. Other than to rest their eyes and catch forty collective winks, that is...
Central Park, New York February 16, 2003
In February 2003, we took The Principal on a surprise visit - alas without the BW - to New York (she thought she was going to Geneva until I surprised her at Heathrow airport). It was bitterly cold when we arrived, and the next day it snowed - 15 inches fell in no time, and the city ground to a halt. It was quite magical !
St Gervais, France January 02, 2004
Another variation on the classic theme, with a change in the line-up to boot. The Boy Wonder is on the left, and the Paternal Optimist on the right. But instead of flanking The Principal and The Recluse as would usually be the case, here they are standing either side of the Lovebirds.
Cambridge, England May 15, 2005
Not the classic Usual Suspects line-up - this picture features the PO, the BW, the Principal, the Mother Superior, the BW and Button - but definitely an image that belongs in this album. Taken on the Backs at Cambridge on a sunny May afternoon.
