Photography

Posted by MichikoNakamura Sat, 24 Nov 2007 22:14:50 GMT

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Now, let's get started by reading this conversation between two friends in an airplane:

Michiko: Ohhh, take a picture of me and those mountains.
Michael: It won't come out. This won't be a good picture.
Michiko: Let's just try. Just push that black button.
Michael: Where?
Michiko: Right there on the top.
Michael: O.K. 1-2-3 Say Cheese!

Sometimes people don't know which button to push. You can give them directions. For example:

"Push that black button"

"Press the button under the lens"

In America, we usually say "cheese" right before we take a picture because that word makes our faces smile. If you have trouble taking a picture, your shutter might be closed. Now read this conversation at a photo shop:

Customer: I'd like to develop my film.
Clerk: What size would you like?
Customer: Just the regular size.
Clerk: All right.
Customer: When can I pick them up?
Clerk: On Monday, anytime after 12.

We use the word "develop" when we want to process our film. For example:

"I'd like to develop my film."

or
"How long will the developing take?"

If you develop it at a drugs store, you might have to ask for the photography department. You could ask:

"Can I have the photography department, please?"

Then you should ask if your pictures are ready. You can use this sentence:

"I wanted to know if my pictures were ready"

People always like to look at pictures. If you go to a friend's house, they might show you an album. Read this next conversation:

Michiko: Do you want to see my baby pictures?
Michael: Sure.
Michiko: This is me at 5 months old.
Michael: Wow. You were the spitting image of your mother!
Michiko: Yes, There was a likeness before.
Michael: Now, you don't even look like her.
Michiko: People change as they grow older.

Some people look exactly like their relatives. We can use one of these sentences:

"You are the spitting image of your father"

"You look exactly like your father"

There are more questions you can ask when you are looking at someone's album. Most of us look like somebody in our family.   For example:

"Who do you take after, your father or your mother?"

"Who do you most resemble in your family?"

People who look good in pictures are "photogenic." Read this example sentence:

"You are photogenic"

Nowadays, people like to take home videos and show it to guests. They might be boring. Now, read this conversation as the Smith family visits the Steward family:

Mrs. Smith: I'd like to show you folks our home video that we took in Arizona.
Mr. Smith: Oh, we'd like to see it.
Mrs. Smith: And this is me, by our hotel swimming pool and our son Joel.
Mr. Smith: Ahem. I hate to interrupt but it's getting late and we need to get going.
Mrs. Smith: Oh, we're so glad you came over.
Mr. Smith: Thanks for inviting us.

When you have to leave, there are some things you can say. Read these example sentences:

I hate to interrupt but we have to get going"

It's getting late and we have to go"

Now read this next conversation:

Michael: Jan, would you be my　model?
Jan: What for?
Michael: I need to make a portfolio to show companies that want to hire me as a photographer.
Jan: All right, how do I pose?
Michael: Just look natural and smile.
Jan: Hurry! Start shooting! I'm getting tired of keeping this pose.

A portfolio can have several meanings. In this case, it means a representatives of one's work. All kinds of artists (designers, architects, landscapers, photographers) use portfolios to show this to companies who want to hire them or just to get their work displayed. In the conversation above, you may have noticed the word "pose." To strike a pose means to stay in a certain position while someone takes a picture of you. Read this example sentence:

"Strike a pose for me"

It's fun to look at pictures. You can ask a lot of questions while looking at your friend's pictures. A common thing that happens when you take a picture in the sun is that you may squint or close your eyes.   Why don't we practice using the word "squint". Read these example sentences:

"Why are you squinting in the picture?"

"Try not to squint in the picture"

A portrait is a picture of somebody's face, not body.

Michiko: Isn't a portrait the same as a picture?
Michael: Yes, but it is a picture especially of the face.

Read these example sentences:

"Is it a portrait or a full length?"

"That's a beautiful portrait of you"

Now, let's read this conversation between a grandmother and her grandson in the attic of an old house:

Grandson: Wow grandma, you have lots of neat stuff up here.
Grandma: Yes, let me show you these photographs.
Grandson: How come they're faded?
Grandma: They've been stored in this attic for many years.
Grandson: Is that you grandma?
Grandma: Yes, that's me when I was just a little girl.
Grandson: You look very young and beautiful!

Most Americans keep old things up in their attics. In time, old photographs become faded if they aren't stored properly. Let's use this word to describe some pictures. For example:

"Why are these photographs faded?"

If a picture is not stored in the proper container, it can get eaten by moths. We say moth-eaten. Older people often like to talk about their pictures and what happened when they were young.



Read this conversation as these two senior citizens talk:

Michael: Do you remember the good old days Marge?
Marge: I sure do, except some things are hazy for me.
Michael: Let me jog your memory. Think about the smell of a salty ocean, a soft breeze on your face, the warm sunshine.
Marge: Ohh! Our honeymoon trip to Hawaii!
Michael: I'm glad you could remember that!
Marge: Well, I get nostalgic once in a while.
Michael: Me too. It's nice to reminisce together.

When some older people talk about their past, they might use the term "good old days" To remember those days, they might have to see, hear, taste or feel something.   This will jog their memory.   Read these example sentences:

"Do you remember the good old days?"

"Let me jog your memory"

Freaky means the same thing is unusual. Lots of young people use this word. Read this last conversation between two sightseers:

Michael: Oh, my goodness! Look at the seascape!
Michiko: I didn't know this place would be so picturesque!
Michael: Yes, let's take some pictures together.
Michiko: I'll set the camera up on the tripod.
Michael: O.k., smile!
Michiko: I hope that one comes out!

A beautiful ocean scene is called a seascape. A beautiful land scene is called a landscape. When something would make a good picture, we would say it's picturesque.    Read these example sentences:

"Do you prefer a picture of the landscape or the seascape?"

"This place is so picturesque!"