Based on a real studio which I know quite well. I did give a copy of the story to the photographer who didn't seem to mind my basing it on him and his ancestors. "Smile please," said Ben Veeres, waving a pink fluffy bunny above his head in a vain attempt to capture the attention of the six month old baby. He had spent the last half an hour trying everything he knew, every trick in the book, to get a few good shots of the little person who sat on his studio floor. Ben was not very keen on photographing children in the studio. Candid shots of them at play usually turned out better, but he had to please their doting mothers. He managed to get the last picture taken seconds before the baby's quivering lip finally gave way and his eyes screwed up into a red-faced grimace. These facial contortions were accompanied by a piercing howl. The baby's mother picked him up and cradled him in her arms, comforting him until the screams faded to a whimper. "I don't think he liked the flash," said the mother. Ben smiled agreement and said "The prints should be ready next week. If you would like to pop in some time after Tuesday I will show you some frames. The lady and child left, and Ben stood alone in the old-fashioned studio. In one corner stood the original camera which his great-grandfather had used when the studio first opened in 1858. There had been very little change in the studio in all these years. It was said to be the oldest commercial photographic studio in the country and it had belonged to Ben's family all this time. He had inherited the business on the death of his father ten years earlier. It was all Ben's, although the sign outside the shop said Edward Veeres Photographer Est. 1858. This was his great-grandfather's name and the original sign was still in position.
As Ben glanced around the studio he saw several portraits of his father, mother, grandfather and even one of himself as a child, his father had taken that one. But pride of place went to a magnificent life size portrait of Edward, his great-grandfather and the founder. He was an imposing man of some stature, his handsome face framed in the dark curls of a full beard. Ben wondered how Edward would have handled the fractious child of the afternoon sitting. Ben entered the old darkroom, now used to store one hundred-thousand negatives. This was every single photograph taken by the firm of Edward Veeres from its beginning to the present day. Many of these images were on glass plates and the total weight came to five tons. A unique collection. A new laboratory had been built at the rear to replace the old darkroom. Ben's labour of love was a system of indexing all of these negatives on a computer data bank, which would do away with the laborious method of handwriting entries into a large ledger type index. It was a labour of which Ben never tired, and he took the task seriously indeed. The pictures ranged from family portraits to the opening of the new railway station; and from shepherds at the Michelmas sheep fair to stiff collared Victorian weddings. There was even a glass plate negative of Colonel William (Buffalo Bill) Cody taken when his circus visited town. This was Ben's inheritance and he loved it. His reveries were interrupted by the arrival of Sonia, his wife for the last three years. The had met at the local college evening classes where Ben taught photography, and Sonia, pottery. "I am going upstairs to start dinner now Ben. It will be ready in about an hour," said Sonia. "Yes, O.K. darling, I shan't be late, I have just got some tidying up to do here," replied Ben.
Sonia left and Ben listened to her footsteps overhead as she climbed the old stairs to their flat above. He then turned his attention to his computer and busied himself with the index. An entry in the dusty book caught his eye. It was dated 1865 and was simply listed as 'Sonia'. Ben removed the old glass plate from its protective box and saw that it was a studio portrait of a young woman dressed in the costume of the period and posing in a door-way. It was difficult to make out the features on the negative so Ben, wondering at the coincidence, put it on one side. Later he would run a print off it out of curiosity. The sound of Sonia's tread on the stair brought Ben back to the present. He glanced at the clock and was surprised to see that an hour and a quarter had elapsed since Sonia left to prepare dinner. The door opened and Sonia stood there, saying, "Dinner is ready Ben. Could you bring a bottle of that Chateauneuf du Pape from the cellar please? It should go well with the steak au poivre." As she spoke a click came from the old camera in the corner. "What are you playing at Ben?" Sonia enquired. "Not guilty darling, it must be expansion or something." The meal was excellent, the wine so reminiscent of warm evenings spent in the Bouche de Rhone that they opened a second bottle. They had brought two cases of the wine back from Chateauneuf following their honeymoon in Provence. It came from the Chateau Fortia, home of the famous wines of Baron le Roy. "I was doing the books this morning darling and I notice a slight improvement in the profits since last month. The recession may finally be coming to an end," said Sonia. She continued, "Perhaps we could talk about starting a family." "I still don't think we could cope with the extra expense of a baby just yet," replied Ben. "But darling, we must do something about the fifth generation of photographers. We cannot allow the business just to die out and pass on to strangers, can we?" "Let's discuss it some other time Sonia. I am going to do a bit more work downstairs now. See you later." "I feel a bit squiffy after all that wine. I'll take a shower and have an early night. Don't be too late coming up, Ben." Ben descended to the studio.
As he entered, he remembered the old camera making a noise. He went across to check it and discovered a glass plate inside it. "Strange, I don't recall that being in there before," mused Ben. He removed the plate and took it to his darkroom. Under the red safelight he removed the light-proof cover from the plate and saw that it had not been developed. Using chemicals which were already mixed he proceeded to develop the plate. As the chemical reaction between the hypo and the fine silver coating took place, it revealed a young lady framed in a doorway. "That is the portrait of Sonia 1865," said an amazed Ben to himself. He went to the place where he had left the 1865 plate only to find that it had gone, the dark red protective box was empty. He decided to print the negative at once and set to work with his enlarger, paper and chemicals. A little later Ben couldn't believe his eyes when he stared at a ten by eight portrait of a young Victorian lady with the face of Sonia, his wife. The picture was, to Ben's trained eye, a genuine old one and not a modern reproduction, the girl was dressed in the style of a Victorian middle-class young lady. Without question, the face was Sonia's. Ben took the picture into the studio and sank into a deep armchair whilst he pondered over this strange experience. The more he thought about it the more confused he became. As his eyes wandered around the studio he spotted a light patch on the wall, it was where the portrait of his great-grandfather should have been. Ben assumed that Sonia had taken it down for cleaning.
The dim studio lights and the warmth created by two bottles of rather strong wine had a soporific effect on Ben as he sank deeper into the armchair and closed his eyes. A shaft of early morning summer sunlight fell onto Ben's face. He stirred and glanced at the clock. "Hell's Bells, six-thirty in the morning and I haven't even been to bed yet," he said under his breath. As he opened the door to go upstairs he almost tripped over his great-grandfathers portrait. "Hello Ed! What are you doing here?" he said light-heartedly, picking up the picture and returning it to the wall. As Ben went upstairs he noticed that the bedroom door was open. He saw Sonia sleeping in a mess of tangled sheets. Rather than disturb her, Ben decided to take a shower. The tingling needle sharp jets of hot water brought him back from the brink of a hangover to feel more like a human being again. As he went into the bedroom to dress Sonia turned and sat up in bed. "Good morning darling. You are up early today," she said. Realising that she had not noticed his absence from the bed all night, Ben decided not to enlighten her. He said, "Yes, I have a wedding at ten o clock. I need to get all the preparation work done in advance." Sonia held her arms out to Ben, inviting a good morning kiss. As he held her she whispered to him, "You were absolutely fantastic last night, my love. It can't have been just the wine. I haven't felt like it since our honeymoon." In his puzzlement Ben didn't answer. Sonia went on, "Something tells me that we shall be parents in the New Year. I just have a sort of feeling. What made you change your mind, Ben?" "I don't really know," said Ben. "Let's just put it down to a 'change of spirit."
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Written by Phil (6838 comments posted) 4th April 2007 | Cliff: I'm going to bed now. Not read this yet. I think you might do well to break it up and change the font to make it easier to read. I'll have a look tomorrow.
Phil. | Single Lens Reflex
Written by CliffBowes (176 comments posted) 5th April 2007 | As always Phil, I appreciate your comments - what font do you reccomend. I usually use this Verdana as I find it very easy to read. Hope you slept well.
Cliff |
Written by Phil (6838 comments posted) 5th April 2007 | Slept and rested.
I can't remember the font now, but this is very readable now - so what ever you've done is fine. If you haven't done anything, I must have been really tired last night.
I enjoyed this story. A little like one of Roald Dahl's adult short stories. It built well and the ending had a nice twist. I have to say, he took it rather well didn't he. To be cuckolded by your own great-grandfather!
A good write. Bits of the dialogue seemed overly formal. Could be me.
Enjoyed,
Phil |
Written by Phil (6838 comments posted) 5th April 2007 | | Incidently, about breaking the text up. It's normal to start a new line for speech and each subsequent new speaker - easy on the eye and easier to follow. | Single Lens Reflex
Written by CliffBowes (176 comments posted) 6th April 2007 | Many thanks Phil, I will take on board your suggestions. May the good godess Eastre smile on you this weekend.
Cliff |
Written by anorwegianwood (278 comments posted) 6th April 2007 | Enjoyed this. I especially liked "The tingling needle sharp jets of hot water brought him back from the brink of a hangover to feel more like a human being again." One crit: I felt that Sonia called Ben by his name more often than natural, sometimes making her dialogue seem stilted.
~Claire |
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