Shoot From The Hip

My day off, today, was a little different than my usual low key days. Usually I spend them wrapped up in the blankets of my bed or out window shopping downtown or just hanging out with Wayne or a friend having coffee or roaming around Barnes and Noble. I am not too adventurous (sad but true) and outside of my personal writing and shopping I don’t have many other passions. Occupying my time is simple, just put me in the corner of a room with a pad and pencil and I can totally entertain myself.

Today however I was invited to do a photo shoot for a friend of mine who is getting in to photography. We were to meet at the Dripolator in Black Mountain (a really good coffee shop in a picturesque little town near wear Wayne and I live). My friend’s name is Nick and our past has been…well…turbulent as of the past year. He’s Wayne’s ex boyfriend and for the most part we have gotten along but for a while there was a period of time when i didn’t want Nick to talk with me; he had offended me greatly and I had returned the favor if you know what I mean. Up until a week ago we hadn’t spoken at all then a week or so ago he had sent Wayne an e-mail asking if we would be willing to do a shoot for him. Nick was wanting to take some “couples” shots and Wayne and I thought it would be fun so we agreed.

Today was the first day that I had laid eyes on Nick in forever. I didn’t know when I arrived at our rendez-vous point if things would be tense between Nick and me. Fortunately there was no issue and Nick and I got along just as we did back in the old days. The shoot was an experiment for Nick, to give him exposure dealing with diffrent types of models and I think it went over quite well. However, when they say the camera adds 10lbs they mean it. Between shots at different locations Nick would show us how some of the pictures would look and I have to say I was a little bit surprised with myself. I have gained so much weight, I look like a freaking potato. Back in the day when I would do photo shoots for other people I was skinny, thin, flat stomached, tan and had a hair line that wasn’t as far back as it is today. I hadn’t thought about my self image much but after seeing myself in a few shots today I am going to lay off the Paula Deen cook book and start trying to do something with myself. Its all about age-ing gracefully and so far I haven’t done the best job with that. I hadn’t cared at all and I didn’t realize I had a reason to care…until today.

Anyway despite all of that we had fun. Wayne and I aren’t an affectionate couple at all. We don’t look at one another with stares of endless love (well unless one of us is drunk). We don’t believe in Public Displays of Affection and we are not excitable people in the least. We are not the image of a sterotypical gay couple by any means. We are mean, negative people that wear black a lot. But today, for the shoot, we had to involve a lot of P.D.A that we wouldn’t normally do. Luckily most of the shoot took place in downtown Asheville a very tolerant and gay friendly town. I was amazed at how little attention we drew to ourselves. Hugging, holding hands as we walked down the street. Kissing on street corners and no one seemed to be offended or even care. We did draw attention for the simple reason people could tell we were getting our photos taken, but as far as the whole “gay” issue no one cared. It was a nice feeling to know that if Wayne and I decided to do something like that on our own that in we could. I had always read that Asheville was very gay friendly but since I don’t share my romantic life with the rest of the world, today was the first day that I saw that it was true.

Anyway I am exhausted and I need to eat something. My brain is starting to shut down. And as soon as I get copies I will post pics… Until next time…

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~ by stevanilla on June 16, 2009.