We’re getting feedback on our mid-term photo-shoots in today’s class.
A guy named Rick is currently bragging about his new take on the theme of “jungle” that consists of pictures of girls wearing spotted clothes in what I think is Central Park. Astonishing, really.
Nobody seems particularly impressed. I glance at Grace from over my folder and I can see her narrowing her eyes, in the way she does when she’s trying not too be too critical. She’s too good to be a teacher. She won a Pulitzer for photography at only twenty-four and still puts up with a class of amateurs. Not to mention, she’s only human. (Yes, I’m trowing shade at Mr Group Leader.)
People overestimate being a mermaid. First of all, we don’t have shiny rainbow tales all the time,
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They’re just waves crashing but the ways the different shades of blue fade into each other reveal a million different stories: there’s the sea during a storm, telling of sunken ships and roaring wind; the winter sea, with its tales of loneliness and forgotten shells; the sea on a summer day of America’s East Coast, where you can almost hear the old rock ballads playing from a car's stereo. And then the underwater shots, which, I’ll admit, are my forte. As expected, people start getting excited and asking questions. “How did you get so close to the dolphins?” “Weren’t you scared of the red lionfish?” “What lens did you use?” I make up excuses and techniques they’re never going to follow anyway. This is the real advantage of being a part-time mermaid. I smile when I notice Grace is impressed as well. “Okay everyone, great job!” she says once the place goes quiet. “Class is finished for today. See you next week.” Unexpectedly, Grace approaches me as I’m packing my stuff. She hands me a leaflet. “I don’t usually invite new students to this kind of events, but I’m holding a photography competition this weekend and you should take part. The theme is ‘Nature’ so I think you’d fit in.” I did not see this coming. Grace Gallagher thought me worthy of one of her competitions. If I win this I could - my eyes pick up the horrible detail I had previously
They’re just waves crashing but the ways the different shades of blue fade into each other reveal a million different stories: there’s the sea during a storm, telling of sunken ships and roaring wind; the winter sea, with its tales of loneliness and forgotten shells; the sea on a summer day of America’s East Coast, where you can almost hear the old rock ballads playing from a car's stereo. And then the underwater shots, which, I’ll admit, are my forte. As expected, people start getting excited and asking questions. “How did you get so close to the dolphins?” “Weren’t you scared of the red lionfish?” “What lens did you use?” I make up excuses and techniques they’re never going to follow anyway. This is the real advantage of being a part-time mermaid. I smile when I notice Grace is impressed as well. “Okay everyone, great job!” she says once the place goes quiet. “Class is finished for today. See you next week.” Unexpectedly, Grace approaches me as I’m packing my stuff. She hands me a leaflet. “I don’t usually invite new students to this kind of events, but I’m holding a photography competition this weekend and you should take part. The theme is ‘Nature’ so I think you’d fit in.” I did not see this coming. Grace Gallagher thought me worthy of one of her competitions. If I win this I could - my eyes pick up the horrible detail I had previously