Charis, Lake Ediza, California, 1937 by Edward Weston
"Eddie, you need to change your perspective," she said.
"I have the perfect perspective, thank you." He paused, adjusted his camera, murmured, "Open your legs, just a few more inches, yes, yes, that's better. Drop your hands, no, just let them dangle. That's good, good, hold that."
"You realize this position is torture on my thigh muscles after hiking for the past two hours."
"Charis, please. Just give me that I'm only putting up with you for two more minutes look and we're almost done. Yes! There it is. Perfection, my darling girl."
"Edward! Listen to me. You're wasting your time taking pictures of me squatting by a boulder. You're not seeing the beauty--"
"I'm looking at the beauty through my lens right now," he interrupted. "And who's the photographer here?"
"To be honest, I'm beginning to wonder," she snapped. Abruptly she surged to her feet and stomped over to where he stood next to the large boxy camera. Putting her hands on his shoulders, she turned him around as she grumbled, "You foolish man."
The mountains rose in the distance like exotic dreams of Shangri-la; surely in that jagged landscape of weather-sculpted minarets, there must be a path to paradise. With a gasp, he spun, repositioned the camera and began shooting frame after frame, muttering incomprehensible words under his breath.
Charis smiled to herself as she returned to the boulder and sat. Watching him work, excitably, almost feverishly, she thought perhaps she would have to marry him. After all, who else could convince him to see what was right under his nose.
Magpie Tales 142. I got hooked on photography--landscapes in particular--because of Edward Weston, along with a handful of other brilliant camera geniuses.
"I have the perfect perspective, thank you." He paused, adjusted his camera, murmured, "Open your legs, just a few more inches, yes, yes, that's better. Drop your hands, no, just let them dangle. That's good, good, hold that."
"You realize this position is torture on my thigh muscles after hiking for the past two hours."
"Charis, please. Just give me that I'm only putting up with you for two more minutes look and we're almost done. Yes! There it is. Perfection, my darling girl."
"Edward! Listen to me. You're wasting your time taking pictures of me squatting by a boulder. You're not seeing the beauty--"
"I'm looking at the beauty through my lens right now," he interrupted. "And who's the photographer here?"
"To be honest, I'm beginning to wonder," she snapped. Abruptly she surged to her feet and stomped over to where he stood next to the large boxy camera. Putting her hands on his shoulders, she turned him around as she grumbled, "You foolish man."
The mountains rose in the distance like exotic dreams of Shangri-la; surely in that jagged landscape of weather-sculpted minarets, there must be a path to paradise. With a gasp, he spun, repositioned the camera and began shooting frame after frame, muttering incomprehensible words under his breath.
Charis smiled to herself as she returned to the boulder and sat. Watching him work, excitably, almost feverishly, she thought perhaps she would have to marry him. After all, who else could convince him to see what was right under his nose.
Magpie Tales 142. I got hooked on photography--landscapes in particular--because of Edward Weston, along with a handful of other brilliant camera geniuses.
He proved her wrong.
ReplyDeleteHe certainly did...
ReplyDeleteDid he? Perhaps.
ReplyDeleteHowever, without her, he might not have won the Guggenheim--she wrote the grant; she also wrote the articles in the photography magazines...articles attributed to him. More importantly, she inspired his art as he depicted the female form--arguably his most enduring images. She played her part, even if only for those eleven years.
[His nudes are great, though I prefer the landscapes; the dunes in particular.]
I wonder how many marry believing that they can make the other see what is right under their nose.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting!
ReplyDeleteYou're so creative :)
ReplyDeleteI can imagine this very scene happening in their lives. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteIt would be a shame to miss the beauty on either side. Great story!
ReplyDelete