How I took a Controversial Picture
Photography is both an art and a science. Photography allows us to express our feeling and emotions, but to do so we need to master the scientific part of the medium. Unlike a painter, who is in direct contact with his subject and his canvas, a photographer is separated from his subject by the camera and from his "canvas" by computers and printers today and by darkroom equipment previously. - Alain Briot
It's quite hard to be separated from the subject of your picture when you are the subject.
Okay, let's back up to the Monday after the Host Dance Party.
I suppose you're wondering if ever did make it to a Photography Club meeting. Happy to say, I did.
"Thank God, a proper meeting place." Daitaro huffed as he dropped his bag on the floor.
"I know, right. What's up with that meeting in the middle of the maze?" teased Fuyu. "Huh mister President?" He grinned.
"Plus, Nori-chan totally got lost and never made it." Mari said dramatically with tears in her eyes as she pulled me in her arms.
You know she does kinda remind me of Tamaki. Huh… Never really noticed that before.
"Hai, hai. I get it. No more meetings in the middle of the school maze." I heard Toshiro say sheepishly as he set up the screen and projector.
Umm, here's a picture of the club. That's Daitaro and Fuyu. Mari. The underclassmen. And Toshiro next to me.
Yeah, he is cute I guess. He was pretty popular in school. But- we've known each other since middle school so I couldn't really see him as good looking before so-
Anyway, he was my best friend…that was a guy.
No-no-no, he was not my boyfriend. Just-yeah.
"I-I-I told you I'm fine." I pried Mari's arms off me. I heard my other club members enter the room, chattering as they placed their bags on the floor and cameras on the table.
I peered underneath the teacher's table to see Toshiro plugging in the wires and cords.
"Hi Toshiro."
A loud and painful sounding thud came from underneath followed by a hiss of pain.
"Dai jou bu?" I gasped through my hands covered mouth, backing away as he climbed out.
"Hai. I'm fine, Noriko. Just a small bump. Nothing serious." I looked up as he stood before me, rubbing the back of his head.
"May be you should go to the medical ward?"
"I'm fine, really. It will take me more than a little bump on the head to send me to the ward." He looked down at me grinning reassuringly.
"Yeah, don't worry Hokama," Fuyu said as he draped himself on Toshiro's shoulders," there's not much brain cells left to damage up here." He said rapping his fist on Toshiro's head.
"Ha ha ha." Our club President said, as he shoved Fuyu off him. "Alright, kidding aside let's start this meeting." He said good-naturedly and strutted to the front of the room, as everyone took their seats.
I took my seat at the front and reserved a seat for Toshiro.
"So today we'll catch up on your assignments-unless you don't have any-" he glanced pointedly at Fuyu and Daitaro, "show the club your photos so far then we can go out and take a few pictures around the campus. Kay?"
There was a murmur of agreement and everyone slid their CDs of their assignments forward.
"Okay so, let's start with Fuyu's."
There was a groan followed by snickers from the rest of the club.
"Nice job Ryu. But next time… if you're taking underwater shots, use a waterproof camera." Toshiro tried to control his laughter.
Ryu blushed as he stood to claim his flashdrive but didn't really seem embarrassed about it. He easily had three more cameras.
The club laughed along and applauded for Ryu's work.
"Alright. Who's left?" Toshiro tipped back on the back legs of chair.
"Only Noriko next." Daitaro said with a smirk.
I realized that it really was only me left. With a blush I watched the President load my flashdrive into the computer.
"Ooooooh! Pictures of the Host Club!" Sighed out Fuyu dreamily. The room was filled with high-pitched 'Kyaaaa's and giggles.
We may have been a club that delved in the arts and pondered on the artistic value of printed art; but we were still first and foremost, hormonal teenaged girls. Thus, prone to fan-girling.
The girls in the club, some with guilt-ridden fascination, others with shameless excitement, shoved the boys to occupy the seats closest to the already enlarged screen.
I twisted my yellow skirt nervously as I waited for the rest of the club to see the photographs. I was intimidated by their focus. Well, the boys just grumbled in their seats, arms crossed, and restrained yawns.
The thing is, the Dance Party was only two nights before and lasted pretty late into the night. I don't know what I did on Sunday, but I know I didn't edit the selection of pictures to show to the club. I simply uploaded all the photos into the computer then into the flashdrive and that was that. No editing at all.
Big mistake on my part. I learned the importance of editing your work from this experience.
So we went through the pictures- some are in the box there somewhere, I'm sure- girls squealing at the sight of their favorite host or a particularly "kawai" shot. These comments were followed by complains from the boys. ("Noriko-senpai! This is such a good picture! So dramatic! So amazing! Tamaki is like a God here!" 'He's not even doing anything in the picture, he's just drinking water.')
"Oh, I wish I went," sighed a second year, "Ugh! Why are my parents so strict?"
"Was it as fun as it looks senpai?" asked a first year behind me. I turned in my seat.
"Well," I trailed, "it certainly was…interesting."
"I'll say," muttered Toshiro, almost indistinguishable.
"What do you-" I started but caught my self as I stared at a picture I didn't remember taking.
…
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" The girl club members went wild.
I covered the bottom half of my face with my hands as everyone talked about the now controversial picture.
Whoever took it, it wasn't a good shot. There was no composition whatsoever The picture was from the bottom, usually a bad angle for taking pictures of people. The background of the sakura and the giant clock tower was slightly blurred. It included too much of the steps on the stairs. The subjects' heads were slightly cut off, as the picture was too low.
But it was the subjects of the pictures themselves that caught their attention.
There I was, seemingly pushed up against one Morinozuka Takashi.
My hands were trapped between our chests. His long muscular arms wrapped around me tightly, one pressed up against my upper back and the other secured around my waist. My dress looked as if wind pulled it towards Mori. My messy bun was really a mess. I looked as unsteady as I felt in those heels, teetering on the step. But what caught everyone's attention-even the male club members stood and leaned forward to get a better look- was our expressions.
The me in the picture was looking up into her savior with relief and awe. Looking every bit of a saved damsel. Mori's expression was stoic but kind of gave of a stern look, as if he was protective of me, and was somewhat reprimanding me for being so careless.
It looked like a captured intimate moment, perfect in its imperfection.
A picture worth a thousand word, though none came to my mind.
"You're a closet Host fan?" Toshiro said weirdly, as if there was something caught in his throat. Whatever it was it effectively snapping me from whatever trance I was in.
"N-n-n-n-n-n-o-o, Toshiro! This is the first time I've seen the picture. M-M-Mori-kun was just helping me. I was just t-t-here t-t-taking pictures!" I choked out. ("It looks like something more that helping you!" Daitaro whooped.)
"Right," Toshiro seemed to snap out of it, "If the Host Club's going to try and poach you and your skill, they'll have to get through me first!" He stood and put on a 'serious' face and tied a bandana around his head that said, "This means war!" Then struck a warrior pose.
"I-I'm not being poached!" I exclaimed. "The Host Club is kind of paying me to cover some of their events. That's all!"
I think I waved my arms about like an idiot in an attempt to calm him down.
"Hai hai. I know," he collapsed onto his seat. "I just can't lose my best photographer." He smiled sincerely at me, his messy brown hair stuck to his face because of the bandana he still wore.
I wish I had seen it earlier. Maybe things would have went a bit differently.
I think…it was so obvious at the time…
…
I just…didn't notice.
I didn't think to look.
Sigh.
Some photographer I am.
…
Sorry, just talking to myself …contemplating about life…you know?
Don't worry; I'll try to tell this story properly.
It's just tempting to change what's already happened, right? I'm in control in telling it. Maybe change my flaws and hide my weaknesses from you all. I could change so much and you guys wouldn't even know it…
But no, I will try as much as possible to stick to the script , so you will get an idea of…who I am, I guess.
Yes, the chapters are starting to get longer. :D Another non-Host chapter again but I needed to show Toshiro. I'm planning to make him an important character, I'm sure some of you could already guess why. I'll try to get the NoriMori action going but...it's Mori, I don't things go fast with him. XD Ugh. I think How is slightly more drama than comedy. Oh noes. It's quite hard to be funny on paper.
Anyway thank you guys for the reviews and alerts and favorites! They're my motivation! :D
Leave a review...pretty please. ;)
-Shnitzel
