Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin indicted on 21 federal corruption charges today. Here’s an outtake from my portrait session with him for Vibe a few years ago.

It’s interesting to me how perspective and circumstance change the reading of a photograph. Some respond to this with foreboding or menace, others respond to it with perseverance or resolve. I have my own opinions but prefer to let the photograph speak to the viewer’s feelings instead.

Here’s the take Vibe used for the article spread, and Nagin chose for the cover of his book.