Friday, October 14, 2011

Click


Photography, when it first made an appearance, was rejected as the Devil’s Work, because a photo clicked of you was supposed to steal your soul.
Times have changed, haven’t they? Photographs are clicked everywhere – roadsides, beaches, workstations – even at ATMs and airports – and right here, while I sit and clack away – my webcam keeps clicking.
And anyway – who’s even got a soul left to steal still?

Makes me think about the way I’ve been posing for pix. Over the years. I see black n whites carefully preserved in moth-eaten frames of me as a toddler, peering under the table at the wedding reception. Who cares about looking at the camera, when the half-eaten cake underneath is way more inviting!
Next, the convent school stage – neatly ironed girls in rows. ‘Knees together!’  All of us outdoing each other in solemn frowns.

Teen pix swing the other way. Way Way – the other way. Wild clothes, wild parties, hairstyles that belong to the Ripley’s Believe it or Not – and enough embarrassments for the rest of my life.

Somewhere, along the line, I learn to smile for the camera. Demure or seemingly delighted – that there was going to be an image of me captured on some server somewhere in the world.  The minute the ‘Look here’ was sounded, my lips would bare, teeth would stretch, head would tilt.
Click would go the camera, flash would go the flash. And here comes my pic. One eye shut. Click again. Head half cut off. Click once more please. Teeth look like jaguar’s. once more. Oops, cleavage showing. Re-click. Red eyes. Click again please.
No one’s got that one perfect pic of themselves. The truth: We all think we look much better than those photographs of ours do.  I know I do. I mean, is one side of my nose really fatter than the other? C’mon, click again. Please. Just once more!


15 comments:

  1. I feel that your tone is changing. There is more seriousness, and less frivolousness coming in Jandy. I hope you do not move away from your own special brand of humour, because no one else writes like you do. We have too many serious blogs and articles around. And that is why we keep coming back to your for more.

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  2. So nicely put yet again J !! Another place where all spontaniety is lost!

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  3. yes, adi, you have a point. i am thinking of removing this post.

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  4. don't you dare remove it Jandy - there are many many sides and facets to each of us and your blog is your special space to express them all or the ones you choose to ;) - like those digital pics!!!
    And believe you me, your sense of humour comes across no matter what the subject matter of the blog post - you and your brand of humour are inseparable - thank god for that :D

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  5. thanks - hathi patani. sigh - though sometimes, i feel like the clown in the circus - caught with a smile always painted on my face - even when i'm not feeling smiley.

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  6. You know,Jandy - I have taken zillions (literally) of pics & have had zillions of pics taken through a number of my 300 camera collection! But I dont have a SINGLE perfect picture of mine - NOT ONE! Because you are right - a perfect picture of yourself does not exist. But show that imperfect picture to the boys or to S or to Aunty & ask them what they say! I love all your pics, even when you have that silly smile pasted on your face! Keep smiling :)

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  7. How true... everytime a picture gets clicked I'm asking... it is nice? Let me see ... but your pics are all so beautiful !! and your humour is precious. Keep writing !!!

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  8. Lesson of life,baby-LOVE YOURSELF!!
    Leela

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  9. keyamom - and i would have thought almost all of those pix you posted of your travelling - each one of them in fact - was a prize-winner!

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  10. The moments that the pictures capture mean so much that the individual looks don't matter, specially when you go back at look at the pictures of yester-years...really thankful for the world of photography because of which we can keep those treasured moments with us forever:)

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  11. there is nothing as a 'perfect' picture except in the eyes of the beholder. trying to freeze 'the' moment is magical as one retrospects. thank god for photography!
    a click click here and a click click there,
    smile please say cheese
    look here pretty please... :)

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  12. sms - you manage to click some pretty near perfect pictures though?

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  13. Jane just too good, hairstyles that belonged to ripleys believe it or not !!!! am grinning at that one, really tickled by it..... and yes we all think our pix just don't do us justice ....
    pappy

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