As you know from my previous post on this topic, I have decided to educate myself in the ways of good picture taking. You also know that this is not something that the average Midwestern girl learns at her mother's knee.
One of my LA girlfriends is now my Photo Guru. For the last several weeks, I have welcomed all photo ops. Practice does make perfect, after all.
We were out the other night at a "Taste of Chicago" party at J's, featuring house music (which, despite what some might say, originated in Chicago). The dj was Steve "Silk" Hurley. Click here to hear some of his mixes. Especially check out "Remember the Time." The music was fantastic, and the crowd was great. One thing I can say about Chicagoans is that we are friendly and we know how to have a good time. Here I could insert a story about Chicago friends rolling up the rug and cranking up the stereo at a party in an apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, as the New Yorkers looked on with bemusement, but that's for another time.
To proceed: it's an outstanding party. Whether black, white or rainbow pink (as my father would say), people were there to dance. During a dancing break, we took pictures. I was thrilled to realize how much progress I had made. In taking pictures with a guy friend, for example, I looked at a few of them and said "No, it's not good. Take another one." Photo Guru agreed with me (she was taking the pictures). We took a few more pictures and she said "No good. I think it's the camera. Let's try mine." "What's wrong with it?" our guy friend asked."You'll see." Photo Guru said.
She takes a picture. We look. "You see, it's better." she says. "What's the difference?" he asks. We both look at him with pity. "You see her smile is more defined in this photo."
I have to report that I felt great. 'I've arrived,' I thought. A few short weeks of intensive work with Photo Guru, and I'm cracking the code. I might have a few moments of awkwardness, but then a lifetime of looking good in print. Hooray for me.
We go back to dancing. A guy comes by with a huge camera and light. Having learned the drill, I stop and get good expressions as he snaps away. I then say, "I've never seen a camera like that before, what does it do?" "It's designed to take pictures of people in motion, so actually you wrecked the photos by stopping." I then notice that my LA friends, although camera-ready, have not stopped dancing.
Ah well, there's always more to learn.
Click here for J Lounge Details
And if you want to join the party in Los Angeles (or Chicago, New York, London), click here to go to Fusicology, the site that has all the info.
So I'm intrigued about hearing more about this photo guru....I loved this piece.!!! Always remember practice makes perfect...
Posted by: Beverly Lindo | September 07, 2009 at 12:37 AM
That's just what my guru would say!
Posted by: Darcine Thomas | September 07, 2009 at 10:44 AM