Camera No

 When I was a world traveler flying with far less cost and hassle than now, the camera was always out there waiting to capture something rare. You wanted faces and people that were different than in your space. You were able to snap scenes with people in them freely and catch the smiles and waves to show everyone when you got back home. But now, when you go abroad, you don't take people pictures without asking, because it is considered an insult. And when you think of it, it is insulting for someone to photograph you and walk away with your image to do whatever they please with it including sending those images wherever and to whomever they choose. We have become what we might call more sophisticated about the matter of taking pictures of persons. I fully agree that we ought, indeed to be. Being no more, as I am now, someone who looks good in a snapshot from any angle, make-up or not, the camera on me, has become an offense. Cameras are not friendly machines. They "love" some people and do horrible things to others  who have certain shapes, shadows and bad reflective qualities. Saying "oh no, they tell the truth" is nonsense. They tell "a" truth, but not the true truth. If it were so, why would photographers spend time and money on special lenses, lighting and locations. And let's not forget the old fashion magazine habit of air brushing or digitally enhancing what they put on view. Everyone loves to look their best or film it, even if it means doing a little bit of magic using whatever tech methods are available. What I find the worst, is going to an event with friends and someone is cell-phoning everyone with this scary device. Cell phones, I admit do take great pics, and I am as guilty as anyone doing it, but with my efforts, a lot of editing time follows and I am being careful about where I am sending the pictures of people. If they don't look good, their picture goes to delete. When someone sends me their reams of photos after an event, I often see myself in them, at my worst. I recall that I tried to hide behind other people or put on my best face, but inevitably when I see myself  on film, I am horrified, and want to run behind the nearest tree and stay there. Who is this person, me of late, who looks like Jaba The Hut with an emphasis on hut because I am one. Others, who I assume are the same height and weight and width as I am, look far more appealing than this individual in the same scene, and the individual happens to be me. The truth is, I am not who or what I think I am. Apparently, according to psychologists, it's true. Most of us think we are pretty lovely but we have our flaws. And I get that. But I have to say, some people take great pictures when in real  life they aren't quite as perfect as their photographs. Do you know what I mean?