Some Kind of Supermodel

Usually, I have this amphitheatre to myself. Today, I arrived to find a man testing the outlets, hoping for a live one to charge his phone. After he was unsuccessful, I explained that I was going to take photos here, but he’d be out of the frame. I expected him to leave. Instead, he sat down and watched the show.


Vest, Tilt (cut from a consignment jacket). Dress, Banana Republic (consignment). Shoes, Seychelles. Sunglasses and bag, Target. Earrings, Charming Charlie.

To make matters even more awkward, I had forgotten my camera remote in the pocket of the vest I wore on Tuesday. Instead of a smooth series of poses and clicks and a quick exit, I had to use my cumbersome back-up method:

1. Set up camera and tripod.
2. Place purse where I intend to stand.
3. Take a picture of the purse using the autofocus.
4. Check that focus is sharp.
5. Lock focus.
6. Set auto-timer.
7. Press shutter button.
8. Stand exactly where the purse was.
9. Wait a few l-o-o-o-o-n-g seconds while 10-second timer counts down.
10. Pose and hold.
11. Go to camera and check image.
12. Make adjustments as needed.
13. Repeat steps 6 - 12 ten more times to get images I find marginally satisfying.
14. Repeat steps 1 - 13 if I change position or location.

About half way through, I got the only comment from my observer: “You must think you’re a supermodel or something.” To which I replied, “Yes,” and thought, “I’m super something.”