Get Out! In Black and White said Claire.
Stretch yourself.
Find a place where there’s a lot of activity.
Fade into the background.
Fix your sights on an unsuspecting subject.
(Okay, she didn’t exactly say that.)
Snap and run.
(She didn’t exactly say that, either.)
“Does that mean birds are out?” I asked.
We have a lot of bird activity around here.
Leave the birds out she told me.
Oh, and then blog about the experience.
Sigh.
I planned to hang out at the mall. I figured there’d be a little activity there this time of year.
And maybe folks would be so focused on their lists they wouldn’t notice me.
But one granddaughter is ill, and I’ve kept her sister here with me.
Stranded at home for three days.
With only bird activity.
Not good enough for Claire.
********************
I’m finally free tonight.
After dark.
So I dress in black and grab my camera.
I run up the highway to the nearby Meijer store.
I need groceries anyway.
I turn the camera on and hide it under my shopping list in my purse.
I cruise the aisles, certain the security cameras have zeroed in on my beaded forehead.
I could just skip the whole assignment.
I feel like I’m stalking.
I guess I am.
I pretend to study a loaf of seven-grain bread and peek around behind it.
Snap down the aisle at a group of shoppers.
I try to avoid the face of the little boy seated in the grocery cart.
I flee that aisle and go to another section.
I duck behind the Christmas trees.
Snap. Snap.
Blur. Blur.
My heart pounds.
I know the security person is going to grab me from behind.
Then I’ll be cuffed and carried off in a black-and-white.
And since my husband is in Virginia, I won’t be bailed out for three days.
I’m not having fun.
Finally I decide since Dan can get away with a crowd of cows, maybe I can snag a crowd of cars.
In the parking lot.
Away from security cameras.
I shut the camera down and tuck it deep into my purse.
I pay for my stuff, stow it in the car, and take the camera out again.
I snap shots from behind the steering wheel through the windshield
No, I do not stand in the parking lot.
Out in the open where someone might think I’m up to no good.
But those shots are all blurry or show every smear on the window.
So I only end up with one photo to share.
The one where I snap a lady at the checkout lane while I hide behind the purses.
I’m certain someone saw me and passed on my description.
I’m certain I’ll see flashing red lights in my driveway at any moment.
I’d rather stick to birds.
Responding to The High Calling’s Photoplay prompt on black and white.
Whew! I’m glad that’s over.
Hey! Aren’t you the ‘photoplay stalker’ that I saw at the store? LOL! Seriously… I wasn’t really there, but I love that Claire turned you into a ‘photoplay stalker’!
It’s actually a pretty cool photo. It’s life. We don’t tend to just capture life too much, but I think that’s what this challenge was all about.
Maybe I missed an opportunity with the cows.
I love those cows!
What fun…I need to try that!
😀
Hi Sandy –
Oh dear, I better make sure I put on make-up before leaving the house. I’d want to look my best if someone took my picture.
Blessings,
Susan 🙂
You never know, right? 😉
A little guilt can go a long way when it comes to capturing things!
And raw fear!
Okay. I’m in the dark no longer regarding the Twitter conversation on (wait for it) prison 🙂
I like your style and the way you step far outside your comfort zone to accomplish the task set before you.
I don’t do sneaky well, either.
Far, yes. It was far.
Nowwwww I understand that tweet stream from last night. Oh.my.goodness. 🙂
😀 😀
That is too funny. I would be all kinds of nervous to do something like that! I do know it’s good for us to take up challenges so good for you, Sandra. 🙂
Thanks, Jason. Yes, I was all kinds of nervous.
Stalkers r us 🙂 so funny! love it. I was completely paranoid doing this… at least you were brave enough to take the lens cap off in the store. I could only venture to comfort in the parking lot.
Great pic!
I was, too. I think I might have been okay in the mall. Maybe not. But outside in the daylight would have been so much better.
I wonder if Claire is awarding badges of courage.
funny story – bet your heart was pounding – i hate it when i see a great photo opportunity and just know im going to get yelled at for it! – i stick to my rights though.
in the end the snap was worth the story! or the story was worth the snap!
Rights? I have rights to snap?
My heart still pounds when I remember.
Sandra,
I think God dished out an extra dose of humour into you.
Thanks for being naughty.
You have accomplished exactly what I wanted you to do.
You have pushed every boundary.
I’m just glad you didn’t have to come all the way across the ocean to bail me (and Jessica) out of jail! 😉
Were you hiding among the “unmentionable” undergarments, miss?
On a side note, yesterday at the grocery store, I think someone was taking a photo of me with their cell phone. I glared at her and pondered tackling her to the ground. She stuck the phone away…only to pull it out again and pretend to talk all whilst aiming it at me. Why was she doing this?! I turned my Carhart-coated back to her and left with my apples.
It has been said that I have an overactive imagination.
Blessings.
Sigh. Okay, I confess. It was me. It is Claire’s fault.
I would have felt exactly the same way. I get so nervous taking pics of strangers in a crowd. I feel embarrassed about it. I guess that’s probably why I skipped the assignment. Too chicken. So I admire your bravery!
Ok…and I have to ask…this is sort of a weird question…you said one granddaughter was ill…does that mean you have grandchildren????? I just can’t make sense of that. You seem far too young! Am I misreading that?
Ok, I’m back. I hope you don’t think I’m totally weird and creepy. I just read your “About Me” profile. You do have grandkids. I am freaked out! You don’t look a day over 40!!!!
Today you are my favorite! 😀