Monday 7 April 2014

Photo phobia

In the age of the ubiquitous Selfie, I imagine that most kids grow up now feeling very comfortable in front of a camera. I don't need to harp on about how different things once were, because I know that you too remember the days of taking your roll of film to Boots for developing, then, feeling disproportionately excited, you'd collect your packet of photos a week later only to find that those which weren't over-exposed had brutally chopped off the top of your head instead. Plus you had to pay for them. The disappointment could not be over-emphasised.

I never liked having my photograph taken and I went through a particularly rebellious stage as a kid. Somewhere, in a box in a room in my sister's house, there are dozens of slides from our once-in-a-lifetime family trip to Germany, with shots from the Television Tower in Stuttgart and Black Forest castles and cobbled streets in the many towns we visited. In every one, I'm sticking my tongue out. Miley Cyrus had nothing on my six year old fotografizophobe (I looked that up). (I can still do a fair impersonation of Miley now, as it happens, just flick my hair up at the front and pull out ears to complete the effect... but not in front of a camera...)

So on our return from the European jaunt my mum took the multiple rolls of films to Boots for developing, then, feeling disproportionately excited, she collected her packets of photos a week later only to find that every single of one of them which included her spoilt little brat of a daughter was ruined by the horrible face that said offspring had pulled. Only my obnoxiousness was over-exposed.  I'm afraid I was a difficult child.

Then again, if you'd been forced to have your photo taken at the age of two whilst wearing a ridiculous knitted bonnet (and coat) indoors, you might have felt the same way. That's fear in that chubby cheeked face there. Fear.


13 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Haha, thanks! I still pull that face now btw - works wonders.

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  2. Every photo of you that you've ever posted here shows you to be nothing but adorable.

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    1. Well that's very kind of you, thank you! - but don't believe it when the say the camera never lies....

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  3. The Inuit look! Works well. This age of instant gratification has really lost something in the long wait for photographs to come back from the developers. Even is the results were often disappointing, the anticipation was wonderful. Actually, I worked in a photo developing factory for a while - oh the things people sent in!

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    1. That long wait just built up my expectations far too much though and I was always disappointed....I'm grateful for the delete button on the camera now I must admit.
      Oh yes I bet you saw some sights... (hopefully you don't recognise me, though?)

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  4. We are in the demented habit of threatening to eat the faces of especially cute babies and toddlers...you would never have seen your third birthday.

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    1. Thanks Erik! How about some baby/toddler photos on Low Cotton? - loved the early years ones you posted before. And yes, what IS that about, all that "ooh I could just eat you up" stuff? Never understood that one, and they do it to kittens too I believe....

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  5. I loved having my photo taken as a kid, but have liked it less and less as years have gone by. I'm very glad Dad was so keen on photography when I was growing up.
    Absolutely lovely photos of you. Don't diss the knitted bonnet, it's very cool!

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    1. Thanks - love the old photos of you that we've seen, and yes you look like you really enjoyed it which is great! Your Dad must have had so much fun too.
      D'you reckon knitted bonnets could catch on?

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  6. I sympathise, I have one very similar taken in a studio when I'm 5 with the most enormous bow on top of my hair.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, I'm glad to know you understand the humiliation! We must have looked like little dolls!

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