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Sweet Perfume
My dear friend, Emanuel Washington of Nokturnal Escape Productions asked
me to photograph a couple the other day for an upcoming poetry night
he’ll be doing later on this month. I am a novice when it comes to
photography but welcomed the chance to get my feet wet. While waiting
for them to arrive, I thumbed through magazines to gather ideas about
positioning and possible poses. On the pages of the magazine,
expressions and gestures reached up and grabbed my attention in order to
draw my attention to whatever perfume, clothing or useless product I
didn’t need. It’s amazing what a picture can say to you. I had chosen to
do the shoot with black and white film because I prefer the simplicity
of it. When looking at a photo in black and white, one can only focus on
the statement that is being made. The absence of color allows you to see
into the depths of the person being photographed as opposed to focusing
on the circumstances surrounding them. What a wonderful world we would
live in if we could adapt to the same principles when viewing people of
different races and colors. If I don’t pay attention to what color you
are, I can truly see you.
The couple arrived all smiles to take their photos. Armed with a change
of clothing, they seemed relaxed and ready to be immortalized. As the
shoot began it was obvious that the two were more than just models, but
rather a committed couple in love. It made my job ever so easy. They
moved with the pliability of Playdoh as I issued instructions for
various poses. But after the first few shots, it was obvious there was
no staging needed for these two. If what I wanted to capture on film was
love, they gave that effortlessly. Were it not for the fact that I was
taking the photos, they wouldn’t have needed me there, they were
oblivious to me and I proceeded to capture them in their natural
habitat.
The love lingered between the two like sweet perfume and it was amazing
to witness the carefree interaction of two people unafraid to be
captured in their secret place with their most intimate exchanges on
display for all to see. Their flow was like poetry to me. Almost
synchronized, she rhymed with him; he with her. You could see the
reflection of him in her eyes and his hands anticipated her every turn.
As Sade provided a sensuous backdrop, I watched while their eyes danced
lovingly with one another. I was happy to document their experience on
film and saw them not as models but as artwork. A masterpiece from the
hands of the Master. The beauty of love is timeless and a blessing to
receive when one realizes that its origin does not begin or end with any
one particular person. Since love is the essence of the Creator, it
grows wherever he sees fit. Case in point; it’s next to impossible to
stop loving someone once you truly love them. If it is real love that
originated from the real source of love, it is immovable by any power
other than his. It made me reflect upon the love that has been placed in
my life. I found myself viewing my intimate relationship through the
same lens I was peering through. I couldn’t help asking myself the
questions: Does my love have the aroma of sweet perfume? If someone took
a picture of my love and me, what story would the picture tell them?
What would our love say about us? In my mind, I took a mental picture of
my love and me. It helped me to bring our image into a much sharper
focus. I suggest that you do the same. If you happen to notice that your
love is smelling a little foul instead of sweet like your favorite
perfume, you may want to re-examine. If, when looking at your photo, you
don’t see love obviously and clearly, you may also want to re-examine.
After all, people have been telling me for years, the camera does not
lie. Ya feel me?
by Bridgette Hogan
Ya feel me?
Email her if you would like to respond to this subject.
Bridgette is a contributing writer of Blacksonville.com |
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