Embarrassing Photos

Embarrassing photos can manifest themselves in many forms. You could be captured in an awkward position, be seen with your eyes closed or tongue out, making a funny face, etc. The possibilities are endless. Recently, I have discovered a new way to take embarrassing photos.

During my senior year of high school I took a black and white photography class. I used my parents old Minolta SLR. Once the class was over, I decided to primarily use my digital SLR because of greater control in development. Normally I would say that black and white film in a dark room gives you the most control, but since I was out of the class I had a significant lack of dark room.

The old Minolta was left in a sparsely used compartment of my camera bag through the summer and into my first semester of college. Then, on one of my photo expeditions, I decided to shoot old school. I was in luck, the camera informed me of 17 remaining shots on this roll of film. I really wanted to make this roll count. Every picture I was going to take on this roll was really going to mean something to me.

Taking my time, I spent the rest of the year filling the roll with quality photographs. There was portraits, nature shots, landscapes, macro, a whole slew. Just this weekend I was coming to the end of the roll. Having not finished a roll since about a year ago, I couldn't remember if it would stop automatically at the end or if it would continue to double and triple expose the last photo. I took a few shots past the 24 limit and it kept going. I began to get worried about ruining my last photos so I rewound it and opened the case.

What I found behind the light-proof door was a surprise, to say the least. I found emptiness. Well, not emptiness, but a roll of embarrassing photos. I had spent half a year meticulously setting up and taking 17 photographs but to no avail. I can only hope that none of my portrait subjects ask for the results of my shots or that none of my friends will ask me what has become of my beloved roll. This is the ultimate form of embarrassment for me when it comes to photography. My friends know me as a pretty knowledgeable photographer and I like to keep my photography up to very high standards.

I had a similar incident happen to me in the field of baking. As I am with photography, I like to be precise and careful with my baking. I have make four layer cakes, scrumptious cookies, and other delicious treats for which I am proud of. But, upon trying a very difficult devil's food cake recipe I failed. This recipe, comes from a cookbook of mine which has some of the most difficult creations. Though they all take quite a bit of time, the outcome is always worth it. Since the book uses a nonstandard measurement systems I always have to check my measurements three of four times. I didn't check enough for the baking soda. They cakes were bitter. BITTER! I was so embarrassed, I swore my family to secrecy. My reputation was on the line. Well, after having gone through the same ordeal with photography, I have found there is something to learn from these situations and I should never forget about them. Though cliché, I have learned first hand to always be careful and never take things for granted.

Luckily, I will never have to worry about anyone seeing my embarrassing photos, but unfortunately, that is what makes embarrassing.