Important Memorandum
From the desk of Mick Orlosky
9 April 2009
To: All The Grumpy People April 2 through April 9,
Dear Grumpy People,
You saw me point my camera at you and you looked momentarily shocked and then pissed off because I thought you had an interesting face. You’re probably thinking I thought you looked funny or weird, but really I loved how you looked. I didn’t pity you or look down on you. I just wanted to remember you because I thought in your own way you were beautiful. If I could have it my way, I’d take photos of you and you’d never even notice me. But, usually you do notice and you’re pissed, you’re brainwashed about our society’s twisted notion of beauty, or you’re suspicious of anyone you don’t know because the media and the Internet have given you no reason or opportunity to connect with a stranger like me. So, you glower. You look away. You try to hide. I’m extraordinarily shy, but I’m trying to overcome it. I want to take your picture without your assent because I don’t believe I can convey to you just how much I think your face is beautiful. I’ve reached the point where every picture I take without a face in it somehow feels like a waste. I’m really depressed about it and every time I try to take your picture results from a small battle within me and if I click the shutter, my soul scores a minor victory over fear. I’m sure I can never communicate this to you. So, I snap a frame and offer a weak smile, which you probably think is creepy. But, I truly believe I’d treasure that picture more than you’d dislike having it taken.
Anyway, I just wanted to tell you you’re safe. The roll of film in my camera never fucking spooled properly, so all the pictures I took of you were just illusions. Mimed inconveniences that exist now only in my failing memory. I’ve got nothing. You should be happy.
Cheers,
Mick O
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This entry was posted on Thursday, April 9th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
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You should snap for Vice Mag if you have ninja skills
Does a photo really need to have been developed in order for it to be remembered? We may never see those photos that were not taken, but I bet you will.
[...] Flashback, the first: Discovering that a roll of film didn’t load properly is a rush of desperate frustration. It’s like a sinking feeling in fast-forward. It’s a rapid plummet as the heart searches for some escape where there is none. It’s terror and pain. I just went through this! [...]