Photographer and Boing Boing pal Bart Nagel shot this portrait of Steve Fossett last year at the millionaire adventurer's home in Carmel. The renowned aviator has gone missing after taking off in a small plane from a Nevada airstrip on Monday.

Nagel tells us:

He is such a nice man, not at all what you'd think of as an adventurer. Unpretentious and authentic.

He told us that his wife Peggy hated his explorations and never wanted to know when they were happening.

She must have been getting ready for a day like this for some time.

But Fossett has been in even tighter spots than this before -- and I will continue hoping for the best.

Our best wishes to Fossett's family, and we hope for the best, too.

Previously: Aviation adventurer Steve Fossett is missing