‘Can I take your picture?’
He had been thinking, recently, to try to be a better person. To approach and engage, rather than sneak and snatch at his shots. This was Proper Etiquette, and at heart he was an old school gent.
![](https://www.35mmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/AZ09_2col_1.jpg)
Well today it was time and here was a rare opportunity, not only for the Pipes Man: with a small nod, the girl moved square to him, fluffed her hair, and pulled back her gums in a strange static grin.
![](https://www.35mmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/AZ09_2col_2.jpg)
‘Erm. Try to relax a bit?’ he suggested. ‘You know, like I’m not there.’
She clicked her tongue impatiently and fixed a dead-eyed stare that pierced through him. ‘What, like this?’
They say tension is required for a successful portrait.
![](https://www.35mmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSCF4749.jpg)
![](https://www.35mmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSCF4760.jpg)
This is gonna be sick he thought, pushing a measured run of air through the pipes. A sneeze—WAAAAHEEE—followed by a lazy slap of the shutter and a sardonic smile from the girl.
One should leave one’s subject feeling valued, an equal participant in the creative process. He wound a small crank under his jacket, squeezed out a spotty carbon print and offered it to her.
‘Nah that’s shit, mate.’
![](https://www.35mmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSCF4764.jpg)
![Aperture Zero](https://www.35mmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSCF4510-1-1.jpg)
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Peter Roberts on Aperture Zero 09. Proper Etiquette
Comment posted: 12/09/2021
Done it.
Sympathise.
petergreyphotography on Aperture Zero 09. Proper Etiquette
Comment posted: 12/09/2021
Suridh Das-Hassan on Aperture Zero 09. Proper Etiquette
Comment posted: 13/09/2021