Picture This

Picture this and smile

by Stephanie Platt

guest commentator

As a child, my parents bought me a 110 camera. This was a very popular, inexpensive, compact, point-and-shoot camera. In truth it was junk. The quality was poor, the photos were grainy and the zoom button allowed you to move from four feet to three and a half feet from the subject. But I didn't care, because my camera had a built-in flash.
I was looking through my photo album from when I had my first camera. I had quite a few pictures of animals at the zoo. Mind you, there were no pictures of faces, just tails and feet and horns. As I grew older I started taking pictures of people, places and things that you could actually recognize.
This is not a story about how my parents bought me a camera and I grew up to be this great photographer who takes dramatic photos in exotic lands. I hope that someday that might be the case. But until then I can offer my advice on how to be a better U.S. citizen.
I have noticed that many people do not like to have their picture taken. They back away from the camera, turn their heads and draw attention to the situation by yelling 'NO, DON'T TAKE MY PICTURE.' This in turn causes the photographer to slink away in search of another victim. What these people do not realize is that there are only two types of responses possible when someone takes your picture. You can either act like you enjoy having your picture taken or you can act like you don't want your picture taken, but secretly hope that the photographer continues to snap away.
Celebrities are famous for using the second response. After years of practice they master the response so well that some people actually believe that they don't want their picture taken. Quality tabloid magazines promote this viewpoint by publishing slightly blurred photos or pictures of people's hands in front of the camera lens. This has led to the American public believing that they don't have to have their picture taken. However, I would like to note that this is NOT an option. You are supposed to have your picture taken. You are supposed to preserve your image for posterity. You are supposed to like it.
So the next time you see me or a fellow photographer on campus, please don't cause a scene or run away from us. Just smile and nod and I promise we won't make you say cheese.