Slap shot

Armed with 5x7 prints of my recent and favorite photographs I enter the Inspirations and Vision Photography class at the Continuing Education Department at the local high school. This particular class has become the "it" class that the local Larchmont moms are taking. It's not about the "how to's" but rather the inspiration and visual story telling of photography. Admittedly the only story I want to tell is my story. It is afterall, all about me.
For the first class we were asked to bring in our favorite photos. Upon arrival the instructor tells us he wanted us to bring in our strongest photos. Well that's a huge difference. Strongest implies photos meant to impress. So I walk in feeling pretty good about my photos and thinking I have a good chance at starting out as one of the best in the class. You guessed it, mine ended up being the worst. But everyone cheated!
Everyone, but myself and one other woman, brought in their laptops. All photos look great on a laptop. That's cheating.
So there I am with the photos, I got printed at Costco, which, although are 5x7's, look like wallet size photos in comparison to the full blown laptop screens.
We first look at everyone else's photos. These women, of course, bring photos they've shot in the most exotic venues on earth. First one ---photos taken at the Great Barrier Reef. Austrailia! Gimme a break! There they are - beautiful pictures of a walrus mother and her baby. Oh great wait until they get they get to my photo of a morning waffle.
Next comes a woman who says she takes classes at ICP, International Center of Photography in Manhattan. What in the hell is she doing here in an evening community class where the Italian cooking class has the longest waiting list?
She begins by showing us a simple but gorgeous, perfectly framed photo of a boy working a fishing net. "OOH AHH It looks like a painting," everyone keeps repeating. While everyone comments how the color and texture resemble brush strokes, I stand back cynically thinking "this has got to be enhanced with Photo Shop. The instructor gently asks her about Photo Shop. "Oh yes, I'm taking a Photo Shop course at ICP." WTF! She then proceeds to show us other photos she's taken in VIETNAM. Any photo taken in Vietnam is going to look exotic, right? (Does anyone just go to the local beach for vacation?)
Teacher's comments "fantastic"
We continue to make the rounds of class.
"Fantastic."
"What a story this photo tells?"
Blah blah blah.
The class is ending. As everyone shuts down their laptops only the instructor glances at my snapshots.
"That's nice".
"Um, that's a street scene."
"Oh, a waffle?"
I feel like the girl who instead of being described as beautiful is described as the one with the nice personality.
Our homework: take 5 photos that tell the stories of our everyday lives.
How many pictures of laundry can I take?
I'd better book a trip to the Galapagos.