The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-04-17
The
Photographer S
Way

I've been looking at your framed
photographs down in the reception
room and l don't like any of them!"
announced the girl in the evening
gown, as she emerged from the dress
ing room into the photographers
studio and posed herself gracefully
on the Louis XIV. chair.
whats the matter with them?"
asked the photographer.
WELL" replied the girl, "Tve ideas
of my own-you know I attend art
school and we've studied p%ortraiture.
Now, there's a certain stiffness in all
of those photographs downstairs-"
Stiffness" interrupted the photog-
rapher, %brusquely. "Well, all I can
say Is that your art school needs a
new teacher! Why, every one Of
those photographs that you criticise
has won medals-two Of them in
Parish"
IT can't help that" returned the
girl, gently but firmly. ION the face
Of that Madonna and Child that's
marked First Prize there's IN ex-
tremely worried look-you can see
that the camera was held a second
too long and the product Isn't easy
and natural"
We'll, but Madonnas are all sort
of worried-look at the great Ones"
protested the photographer, earnest
ly.
The girl smiled amusedly, as she
might have smiled at a small boy ex-
pressing his views on art. But, don't
you see, they're natural in those great
pictures" she said. "The worry, If
that's what you call 1t, isn't because
the Madonna's afraid her mouth will
be stiff from holding the expression
too long. Her eyes aren't stiff from
being afraid Of winking and blinking.
Do you see what I mean?" She drap-
ed her train more gracefully.
well we've got to hurry now"
said the photographer, glancing at his
watch and looking meaningly at the
closed doors Of the various dressing
rooms. How do you want yours
taken? I suppose you want to pose
yourself?"
"Of course" responded the girl,
coldly. She smoothed back her hair
and smiled sweetly, bending a trife
forward. There, I think this Is a
very good pose," she remarked, mod
estly.
"Um-hum!" the operated smiled.
"That'll be a peach. It'll give you a
nice big head and bring the forehead
out beautifully! It'll quite hide
your smile with your nose, which will
be large enough for any modest
human being, and If I take it full
length people will wonder whether
one foot is really So much larger than
the other or if it's just your Shoes"
She heard him snap the bulb-it
clicked loudly-and so she knew that
was over.
"Now, another pose, pleased" He
was aggressively polite.
The girl in the evening gown held
herself frigidly. 81 think I'll have
one, now, sitting dreaming-not any
particular pose. I'll just put myself
In the attitude and when my express
sion is really that Of a dreamer
when I've sufficiently forgotten your
presence and that Of the camera
you may snap me-"
The photographer drew up a chair
with much commotion and settled
himself in it. "All right, get set!" he
ordered, YEARLY.
The girl, for lack Of a window, BE-
lected a certain leafy fly to set her
soul upon in meditation.
WELL" she exclaimed, after five 81
lent minutes had elapsed, why don't
you snap me?"
II haven't seen that dreamy expires.
sion yet" The tone of the photog-
rapher was calm.
The girl opened her lips to speak
but closed them and took up her po-
sition again. Snap me in two min
utes!' she ordered, tersely.
She dreamed during what seemed
to her several minutes without hear
ing a sound from the camera. Her
lips we're dry and her eyes ached
from being kept in one position. She
closed her eyes a second for rest,
wiping her lips with her tongue,
when-click! She knew the photo
graph was taken.
Just two minutes" exclaimed the
photographer, theoretically, as he
shut his watch.
"Do-do you think 1t will be good?"
queried the girl, apprehensively. q
my tongue out in that last one!"
well, you can't tell about these
artistic pictures" commented the
photographer, sagely. But I'll tell
you what III DOLL take a few quick
snaps, now, on my own hook. Just
you sit and do what 1 tell you and ]
think yell manage to get a few good
poses for you"
When the door Of the dressing
oom closed on the girl in pink the
photographer said to his assistant,
who had come in to remove the
plates; "T fooled her, all right-can't
afford to let these people run the
studio. Why, every woman would be