The Picture I Did Not Take:

It might seem ironic to take a photo of someone while they, themselves, are behind another camera. But that is exactly what I wish I had done. I visited my boyfriend, Jameson, while he was at school in Syracuse. He is an Environmental Studies major who has always loved the outdoors, making music and basketball. One thing he despises, though, is being photographed.

On a Saturday, while I was upstate, he took me on a beautiful hike around a lake. As we walked,  the hike became more intense. I did not realize that much of the hike was along an edge that overlooked the water. Since I thought it would be a more relaxed walk, I had taken my camera without the case. Nervous that I would damage it while climbing over a section of rocks, I asked Jameson to hold it for me.

Once we cleared the rocks, he walked ahead a bit. From behind him, I saw that he turned the camera on. He then glanced down and appeared so visibly intrigued by all of the possible settings. Finally, he began snapping away. At first they were just straight-on shots of the lake. Then, I saw him bend down and contort himself to capture the autumn foliage and trees at all different angles.

I have always loved art, and have asked him many times before to draw or paint with me. But, I never realized that photography may be the artistic outlet for him. With my camera in his hands, he stood there- distracted from the hike- for what felt like a very long time. I got to watch him go through all of the emotions that artists experience– disappointment when a shot does not look how you want it to on the screen, adjustment, and eventual happiness with the result. Then, the process begins all over again for the next shot.

I had left my phone in the car for that hike, but I really wish I hadn’t. Maybe if he saw how happy he looked behind the camera, he would try to create more. And, maybe he would realize that being a subject in front of the camera isn’t too bad, either; especially when you are captured while doing what makes you happy.