The Art of Shakeyhead

Ladies and gentlement, the very first user-submitted Shakeyhead:

Behold Sasha Shakeyhead.

Awesome in it's own way. It's as I would expect from Sasha; artful, eclectic, confounding even. Technically problematic but subjectively excellent. He tells me it was taken with a cell-phone camera. Well, one uses what one has on hand - which, given Sasha's background, I find dubious, but o well - I like the artsy-fartsyness of it. Do lips really do that? Reminds me vaguely of that horror film Jacob's Ladder for some reason. Oh yeah, I know why: cuz of the terrifying Shakeyhead action in that film. But this photo doesn't terrify me - not unless Sasha actually starts looking like that in person.

Slow Month

Well Kids, I know both of you fans of this blog are waiting patiently for more pics.
I've sort of run out.
I need to recharge my Shakeyhead portfolio so that we have many more to dole out for you.
I'll be doing my best to get more in the next week or two...Meanwhile, if you have any you want to contribute, tell me! Post here, and I'll let you know how to find me. That is, if you don't already know, which I think you do. Don't you?

Viva la Idiot!

Your ShakeyHead Fix

Given the dearth of new shakeyheads lately (That's DEARTH, not DEATH) due to the extended layoff, I'll post one of your faithful blog author looking absolutely ridiculous. The one above is from Nettie and Matt's wedding, as you may have guessed. I can only assume that they've taken this photo, had it blown up to poster-size, and framed it in their living room.

Where the hell have I been?

Wow, been a while since posting a good ShakeyHead fix. Sorry, I don't know where I've been.

I mean that literally, I really don't know where I've been. I'm not even sure where I am right now.

SHAKEy head!
Here's an excellent two-fer to make up for the absence in the last few weeks. The combination of this pair always makes for a first-class pic. Words can't express... so I won't try.

It's a Two-fer Friday! or is it?

You Be The Judge... Two-fer or Not-fer?

Jesse here in a stunning display of something, I'm sure. It's experimental. It's fantastically unflattering, in the best way. Actually it makes me think like it's a still-frame from some horror movie, where the female victim has just been attacked from behind by some unseen force. The next shot would be the victim collapsing to the floor just as the protagonist runs in, too late. Tragic. Great tragic shakeyhead.

Hand over that champagne

Wow, we have another winner in the "Dancers in Costume" category.
Matthew has got it going on here (pardon my slang). This is his second appearance in these pages, and altogether a step up. Correct me if I'm wrong, but even his nose seems to have a little warp to it. Now THAT is commitment to Shakeyheadedness. The eyes being a bit skewed also has great effect. A-Plus here, kids.

Shock and Awe

KAPOW! BLAM! ba-GOOSH! That's the sound made by this explosive shakeyhead with Brit. Big giant props to da man for also being in costume. See the champagne bottle? Lends authenticity. I've seen nothing like this since Soupcan.

Heck, now that I mention it, let's see Soup again!
Kapow! THWUNK! bullseye.

Surprise and Awe

Alexis wins this week, as the first dancer to do a ShakeyHead in costume. This was only her second take, and it has the hallmarks of a classic. Weird eyes, misshapen mouth, and the bonus of heavy makeup and a costume! Shall we imagine that this was some sort of reaction to Dark Elegies? No? Ok, we won't. Kudos to Alexis whom some surmised would never subject herself to this sort of thing. Well, Alexis, you proved them wrong! Surprise!

Next up, another newcomer: Suzanne!
Great effort here by Suzanne, who has that suckerpunched-look that is so sought after. In fact, in order to get this pic I actually did punch Suzanne right in the jaw. Ask her - she'll tell you the same! But terrific results, and that's what it's all about, isn't it?

Two-fer- something

Well kids, I missed our Two-fer-Tuesday date, sorry.
So it's Two-fer-Thursday!
Here's Keith and Suzanne at Nettie and Matt's wedding. See the sign? It may look like Keith is merely sneering in an Elvis-y fashion, but no, he's a Shakeyhead all the way. That's actually Suzanne sneering.
==============
Bonus Shakeyhead!
Go JEFF! go JEFF! go JEFF! go JEFF!


Fantastic. This is, dare I say, a perfect shakeyhead photo. I really can't say much else about it. Viva la Idiot!

self portrait

Just to prove another point, and because I was feeling guilty about posting Jen's picture, here's me looking awesome. If you dish it out, you should be able to take it.Aaah, hideous. Just right.

More Dancers. I mean dancer.

Sometimes I almost feel guilty about posting these pictures, because as I've mentioned, they're not attractive. .. They're funny. I think they are anyway. So in this next picture, we're going to take another very attractive woman and show her in her worst light. That sounds like a good time, right?
I hope Jen forgives me for posting this, cuz it was a very good effort. You can tell it's a good shakeyhead because this looks nothing like her. And, pretty good for a first try... the head angle is particularly good. Eyes like slits, as if she is contemptuous of the camera... the sneer... the emotion! The pathos! The headache afterwards! MMMm, shakey.

It's Two-fer Tuesday!

Wahoo! Being that it's tuesday, we'll show two pictures featuring two shakeyheaders each!

First up is Soup and his beautiful wife Kim, at Nettie and Matt's wedding. That's why the paper they're holding up is offering good wishes to them. This shakeyead photo was in honor of their nuptials! Excellent form. I especially like the eyes-rolled-back-in-the-head look from Soup.

And this one is not technically a two-fer shakeyhead, since little Lola there isn't doing it. But who cares. The juxtaposition is what I'm all about. Keith appears slightly deranged while Lola remains thoughtful. Really, no different from any other time.

Another two-fer next Tuesday!

Just to Prove A Point

Mandy claimed that there were no good shakeyhead pictures of her. I post this in response, and in rebuttal. She was concerned because she felt it was too close-up. Well, it is close-up, which is unflattering.... but as I mentioned, that's the definition of a good shakeyhead.
But to the merits of the picture: I think this is a good one. And it's all there: eyes, cheeks, hair, lips, all totally out of whack, looking like she's been punched. And good form, too. It has an intimacy rarely seen in shakeyheads. You feel like you're really there, in the moment. No distracting background.
This is top-flight.

You'd think I was talking about a freakin bottle of wine, wouldn't ya?

The Psychology of Shakeyheads

Let's take a moment to explore this phenomena. A good Shakeyhead photo is, practically by definition, a really unattractive photo. Of you. No, of course it doesn't look like you. Well, it does look like you, only worse. Which naturally is funnier. It looks like you, but a crazy you, which leads many people to be too distracted by their own egos to properly take a good Shakeyhead.

I try not to hold that against people. Some people don't even like attractive photos taken of themselves, so it's no wonder that those same people, and a few more, don't want to take a Shakeyhead. I guess it's actually more about insecurity than vanity (though I suspect the latter in some cases - they shall go unnamed). Actually, I applaud anybody who even attempts one, even if after seeing the very first results they immediately say "AAAAUGH" and hastily excuse themselves from the exercise.

So, let's take a moment and say "Thanks!" to all those idiots beautiful people pictured on these pages.
bRAVo.

More Dancers

Let's take a moment to appreciate David's effort here. The bottom lip is always the first, best thing to really "pop" in a Shakeyhead. And he's got a bit of that "I've just been suckerpunched" look - always good, and possibly true, as I'm sure he never expected this photo to be posted here, so let's not bring it to his attention.

The same is true for Mauro here:He never expected this photo to show up here, either, is what I meant. This was obviously a first try. Eyes closed, little movement in the face, but a little bit of the puffy-cheek going on. It's clear he can do much better in the future if, ever since he saw this pic, anyone can ever convince him to attempt it again. We'll be waiting, Mauro.

Broken was fixed.

Dude. Some of the Early Days pictures mysteriously disappeared from the site a couple days ago, and now they're back on account of I fixed it.
I think.
So for all of you who missed them because you only have become fans of this site since Monday, well... you are in for a treat, my friend.

And I do mean friend, singular.

And now for the Dancers.

Observe April, above. This photo, excellent as it is, required several tries. As stated, try, try again till your friends fall over laughing. See? Eyes: wacked, and open. Mouth: warped, also open. Face: nutty. Overall, a top-notch effort.
Matthew here displays some of the innate problems dancers tend to have - supple, taut skin. He gets the lips going OK, (I like the fish-lips in the 1st one) but the rest of the face just looks like Matthew, handsome devil. Also, I think the removal of the glasses is pretty much mandatory. If you're not shaking your head hard enough to send your glasses flying, you aren't putting your heart into it. We'll keep trying with Matthew.

It takes some practice

Sometimes it takes a few tries to get a good Shakeyhead. Nettie tried for a while. I think her skin is too tight.
So That was a good try, but she did much better more recently...

Well, mostly better. She does look like she was punched.. or punch drunk. Or just drunk. She may actually have been all three. Good shakeyhead.

Run for your Lives.

Another one of Jeff. Note the slightly misaligned eyeballs. Good cheeks.

If you click on this picture and look at the large version, you can read the nametag, which always makes me chuckle. It's sort of a caption for the picture, which Soup says should be "Run for your lives!" The whole body is working this Shakeyhead photo.

More Early Days

Keith...

UPDATE: I have to add more critique to this. Technically, this is not a terribly good shakeyhead. Eyes still focused, not much going on... but it's the intensity that gets me.

Early days of Shakeyhead

All the following were taken very soon after the first photos of Steve, back in 2005. The epidemic of Shakeyhead pictures grew exponentially after.Keith and Jeff do a double.

Soupcan with an exellent example. Experts say if you're doing it right, it looks like you've just been punched.

Michael, looking appropriately disturbed.

My First ShakeyHead Pictures

I forgot whose idea it was to begin with - I thought it was Steve's, but I was wrong, it was Jeff's... He told me so: "...it was absolutely all my idea......via me and my brothers doing it at an early age...." . Anyway, Steve demonstrated, as above. Hilarity ensued, and the rest was history, or still is.