photograph taken by Alliza Andal
written by Jelou Galang
written by Jelou Galang
You may be her friend for what seemed like forever, her ‘that special someone’, or someone vaguely in between—whatever it is, let me mutter this to you (as a reference you'll soon be needing):
If she loves to take photographs, let her feel that her passion reciprocates her, because she’ll possibly thank you so much for it (squeals from her are expected), and without doubt, she deserves to feel it. When she captures bundles of photos in a peculiar variety of angles, spill the beans about what you think in each of her creations, and after you muse your sincere onslaught of opinions, tell her that all in all, the snapshots are something to-astonish-for, because you know how much effort she has managed to pour out just to give justice to the craft. Every step, delete, scroll, click and view—each and each matter to her, and I hope it will be the same to you. Don’t permit her in giving up on it.
If she loves to take photographs, treat her—yet not in the sense that you’ll splurge on some ritzy piece of clothing or any seemingly superficial material thing. Instead, the best, I tell you, will be a get-away ticket to somewhere. They can be whereabouts filled with glistening leaves, calm lakes, or imperfect sun-kissed paths—chances are, she’ll capture images of the idiosyncratic bees and butterflies and Mr. Sun’s rays embracing her being and falling flowers creeping out in almost every edge of the surrounding. It can also be indoors, like an old museum with slightly-lit lights and a handful of regular visitors. And if you want a plus: take a picture of her this time. She’s the type of person who’s insanely glued to the lenses that she forgets to capture a good portrait of herself, so it’s your turn to become a shutterbug. Remember, this is for her. Always.
If she loves to take photographs—well then, you have every right to consider yourself lucky to be with someone who sees the tiniest detail in a room full of gargantuan things, who notices the barely noticeable thingamajig in a crowd that is just always in search for the obvious, who appreciates the beautiful enigma hidden in the movements of strangers strolling along the urban route, who is in love with every color that passes through her pupils, and who mostly craves for time, time, time so that she can delight more with the majesty of the world.
I bet there’s something in you that genuinely lights up whenever she smiles after a long period of dealing with shutters, exposures, apertures and other photography whatnot—and that’s just fine; normal, even. Show her that smile of yours—probably brighter than her camera flash—for it will come a long, long way. It may even come longer than the depth of her being drowned in her lenses. She is the appreciative lass, never forget. She’s your photography.
