My photos from my trip to Acapulco two months ago are sitting next to my computer, rectangular prints of deep cobalts, vivid yellows, and glowing raspberry pinks. Yes, I just got them developed. No, I'm not going to post them on this entry. They need work, and when I'm done I'll put them up over at my Ring of Photography page. I'm very pleased with them, and not just because they remind me of the most relaxing vacation I've had in years. They also contain some excellent images. My sense of composition has noticeably improved in the last two years, and although I'm still fearfully low tech about it all I am clearly getting the hang of F-stops and filters and the like.
On top of that, they represent a personal triumph. For the first time ever, I let someone take a photo using my camera and then could not tell which photo it was after I got the prints back. The someone was Denise who is a truly accomplished photographer. This cheers me up no end. Normally, I get disgruntled and irritated because the other person's photo is so egregiously better than mine that it sticks out like a sore thumb. Not this time!
Denise agreed with me. She came over tonight after visiting Masako's salon. I met her at the shop where she was getting the full Masako treatment: fabulous haircut, ear talked off. Afterwards, we went next door and bought Kentucky Fried Chicken to bring home. While we were in line we were amusing ourselves by critiquing the Star Wars tie-ins available at KFC: the scary Queen Amidala cup puppet which looks as though the Queen has her feet and lower half planted in your drink cup, the "life" size cutout of Jar Jar Binks looking like a sleazy disco king, and the chintzy game pieces for winning various plastic prizes.
"'Defeat the Dark Side and Win!'" Denise read from the game card she was handed with her meal.
"The Dark Side must win sometimes, you know," I said absently, wondering whether to eat a biscuit right there or wait until I got into the car. "Otherwise there wouldn't be any conflict in life."
"Tcha!" Denise scoffed. "It doesn't say, 'Defeat the Dark Side and Lose Once in a While. It says beat the Dark Side and win. This is Star Wars, not life."
"I can't believe you're having this conversation," put in some total stranger standing in line behind us. We stared at him with withering scorn.
"What's his problem, he's never heard inane conversation before?" Denise asked indignantly as we walked out with our dinner.
"Probably not from such perfectly coiffed ladies," I replied.
We went back to my place and talked about plants while thumbing through the collection of old Sunset Magazine gardening books she bought at a used bookstore earlier today. The pets gathered nearby, hoping a miracle would occur and some chicken would fall on the floor (they don't precisely beg, they just position themselves carefully and keep their eyes on anyone eating). Denise commented favorably on my photos, and I beamed with delight. I decided I can probably count on taking a higher and higher percentage of good photos each time I pick up the camera.
All I have to do is keep going on exotic vacations. I'm sure that's the answer.
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