Snapshots ~ Frozen in Time August 22, 2012
Posted by nrhatch in Art & Photography, Happiness, Mindfulness, People.trackback
An unflattering photo of me is floating around the neighborhood and soaring through cyber-space.
Or so hearsay says.
Snapped at an inopportune moment, the photo (as described to me) caught me with a murderous expression on my face.
Whose murder was I hatching?
If you know, do tell.
I haven’t a clue.
Despite the fact that pertinent facts surrounding the snap have disappeared into the ether, my frowning countenance is now frozen in time for others to pass around, and ponder.
If they are so inclined.
Like snapshots (flattering and not) which fail to tell the whole story, our reputations with those we meet are patched together piecemeal from extraneous facts and evidence.
Recollections and memories, like photographs in the digital age, are susceptible of conscious and unconscious manipulation.
In truth, we have as many reputations as we have acquaintances and NONE is accurate. Some see us in a more flattering light than we deserve. Others focus solely on superficial blemishes and miss the big picture entirely.
My advice, listen to Dr. Seuss:
Be who you are and say what you feel . . . those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.
Aah . . . that’s better!
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Spirit Lights The Way 
Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder.
I hate having my picture taken. I don’t photograph well. And I’ve had people silently agree. Because no one says “Oh, come on…you look great in pictures”. Funny thing is I own like an umpteen amount of cameras!
Well . . . that explains your avatar. 😉
While I wouldn’t frame an unflattering photo of me and hang it on the wall to see, I don’t worry unduly about having them floating about. At least, given my current anonymity, I don’t have to worry about paparazzi trying to catch me at my worst.
This reminds me of how the media takes snippets of a conversation and leaves out the important facts making it take on a different meaning and leaving the victim to pick up the pieces while trying to defend himself…Not fond of getting my pic taken, and really hate it when one of those unflattering one gets sent through cyber space!
Yes . . . words (and images) taken out of context skew the perspective of the audience, inclining them to take away something other than the “whole truth.”
When my neighbor told me about the unflattering photo of my “murderous expression” and how it was making the rounds, I just shrugged ~ life is too short to waste time “defending myself” from mistaken opinions others choose to hold about me.
As long as I know who I am . . . I’m satisfied. That said, I am glad that it’s not likely to be splattered across the tabloids! Just one more reason to love my anonymity. 😀
I try very hard to get to know the story before making a judgment. It isn’t always easy, but I think it is the best way to live life.
When we remind ourselves that we rarely see the “whole truth” as it relates to people, places, and things . . . it’s easier not to make “snapshot” judgments. 😎
I try to remember not to judge a book by it’s cover.
First impressions count . . . but when someone has made an unfavorable first impression, I give them the benefit of the doubt AND a second chance.
In fact, I’ve been known to give certain odious sorts more than a dozen chances . . . ever the optimist, am I! 😉
There’s none so odd as folk, eh? You’re right, they don’t matter.
I thought it was terribly ODD of this gent (also, the photographer in question) to bring up his unflattering capture of me . . . maybe he felt guilty for sending it into cyber space?
It’d be nice to see it just for a laugh! That’s all we should chalk it down to!
I confess to a certain curiosity about the photo . . . inter alia, would I agree with his assessment that my “murderous expression” was unflattering?
Or would I fall in love with the captured perspective . . . believing it to reveal strength of purpose and commitment to a cause? 😆
Where’d my comment disappear to??
It got swallowed up by the SPAM filter for some unknown reason. I snatched it back out and restored it to its proper place.
When I lost my corporate job in the aftermath of the 9/11 in NY, I was interviewed by the New York Times. During the interview, the photographer took various photos, and I had moments when I was smiling and even chuckled as it was a relaxed interview even if the subject was a difficult one. When the article was published, a photo with my most angst ridden expression was selected. I would have preferred a neutral expression. LOL. I understand it served the article better for them, but as most of you who know me through my writings, I like to give hope and stay positive.
What a PERFECT example of taking words, photos, and deeds out of context, Marie. The Times probably had ample relaxed and happy photos from which to choose . . . instead they chose to share the one exhibiting consternation. Angst sells! 😉
“Angst sells.” Oh, so true, unfortunately.
And “drama” – real, imaginary or engineered. (Thus: I watch very little TV anymore.)
I agree – it would be amusing to see the pic, just to see what his idea of a ‘murderous expression’ is!
If I get a copy . . . I’ll have to post it so you all see how MEAN I can appear. 😀
Oh, I can’t believe someone would do that, spread around that “murderous look” of yours. That’s pretty lame.
When I capture someone on digital film at an inopportune moment or in an awkward pose, I toss the image into the cyber trashbasket at the first opportunity. And none’s the wiser.
I do keep some pics of my kids if they make really funny faces but they usually choose to make them. If the photo is less than flattering or goofy, I save space my memory card for a better one!
Yes! Kids hamming it up for the camera are often worth sharing. 😛
What jumped out at me was the reminder that in some instances our reputations with certain people may be higher than we really merit. That’s true, but I hadn’t really thought about that before. I do get fixated on being misunderstood and perhaps judged negatively. So in the end, the immortal Dr. Seuss really does have it right! You, too, of course! 🙂 Debra
Sometimes we idolize people and put them on pedestals, using them as shining examples for others to emulate ~ we do it with movie stars, singers, sports players, etc.. And, then, we knock these “gods” off their pedastal and grind them into the dirt when they act all too human ~ e.g. Tiger Woods.
If I find that I’ve been put on a pedestal by someone who wants to “look up to me,” I step back down to terra firma. 😉
Candid pictures of me are the worst. Apparently, I’m very animated when I talk and the snapshots of my facial expressions are rarely flattering. (Me in denial: I don’t really look like that :))
Living by the wisdom of Dr. Seuss sounds like a wonderful idea!
Bwahaha . . . same here. Candid shots demonstrate why photographers encourage subjects to stop talking, eating, drinking, and gesturing and just say CHEESE!
Like these people who always go by their first impressions, and if these are bad won’t budge from their negative assessment even after a testimonial from all the saints and angels.
Some people do carry the ‘say what you feel’ thing a bit far, though! There are better ways of putting it than, ‘That dress makes you look disgustingly fat.’ 🙂
Yes! If we are “too blunt,” EVERYONE minds and we are left to our own devices. 😉
Which is just as well, because I have always found people like that to be shallow as well as selfish.
Well, I’m glad we got that settled. 😀
I hate photos of me, and to have them floating around cyberspace can be unnerving. One thing blogging has taught me is that your cyberfriends build up quite a portfolio about us: and have quite enough information to debunk some grouchy moment caught on film.
Just so. In the blogosphere, we get to share the best parts of ourselves with the world . . . until those “best parts” become the strongest muscles we possess.
Smile and say CHEESE! 😀
Wait… conscious manipulation?
I can’t imagine anyone would be interested in trying such a thing!
😉
Said the black pot to the kettle. 😆
Oh, I really like this post, Nancy!! Great last line, too, about “those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind” — terrific!
Thanks, Janet. Dr. Seuss had a way with words!
Given how profoundly rewarding it is to take gorgeous photo’s of people, I don’t relate to those who share unflattering ones. I also love your comment about sharing our best parts..until they become our strongest muscles. Way to go, Nancy!
When we share our best parts, we become who we portray ~ the perfect example of “fake it until you make it” . . . or “claim what isn’t as if it were until it becomes.”
I’m with you. Unflattering digital photos are best tossed into the cyber wastebasket. As quietly as possible.