I helped out on a little photo shoot today.
I always learn something new at these, which is great, but I always enjoy them just for the fun of their being an event: a photo shoot.
Photo shoots aren’t just an everyday nothing, really… usually, they are, to some degree, a little or big to do, an event that requires at least one someone’s best up-do, and then some.
Today’s, though a small shoot, was no different.
Those being photographed were clearly in their best getup for the occasion, make-up done to a T, and several costume changes at the ready.
It was, as I mentioned, an event.
Now, this was fun, of course…, especially some of the silly things that happened throughout the photo shoot.
However, the little nugget of surprise delight and God-granted satisfaction popped up when we had a few quick comments from the photographer to one of the models, who was the husband of someone there.
The photographer was giving a few specifics about how to do something, if that model was doing it, and then somewhat simultaneously asking the model to come throw something in the background of the photo.
Now, the husband of this model, in a moderate accent, said to the model, “Entiendes?”, which is Spanish for, ‘Do you understand?’
The husband then gave an iffy explanation, still in English, of what the photographer had been saying.
I could tell that neither one of them was getting what the photographer had said, not even the English-speaking husband…, and so I went ahead and, in a quick aside, verified with the photographer for myself when he had wanted communicated.
I then, while still standing atop a large ladder, broke into the conversation between the husbands, addressing the Spanish-speaking one pointedly.
I asked him a few questions in Spanish, told him the first the the photographer had said, and then communicated the answers to the photographer in English.
I then explained to the model, again in Spanish, the second topic the photographer had mentioned (i.e. throwing those objects), and asked if he could do it.
He asked for some clarity on specifics, and then readily agreed.
Problem was solved, and amazing photos ensued.
When that model was then in photos, I let him know to tell me if ever and whenever he did not understand… he agreed, and proceeded to check with me on just about everything that was said to him.
At the end of it all, it had become very clear that he was relieved to have had me there, and everyone was grateful for my surprise super-helpfulness in the form of Spanish, whipped out of my back pocket.
Might I point out that I am dirty blonde, pale, and blue-eyed, – obvious German heritage of which, one could imagine, Adolf would have been proud – an outer shell that does not boast a likelihood of speaking Spanish?
But it is situations just like these that send a delighted tickle to my core when they arise, because everyone is simultaneously flabbergasted and relieved that I have this oh-so-unexpected skill.
I love having my languages be of use.
When I went for that “Super” trip the other day, it felt like a relief and a blessing that the person selling turned out to be a German guy, with whom I was able to interact in German… it made things feel ever so slightly more ‘right’, like I was on the right path.
It really felt today that this same sort of thing was happening – the World, God, was making a sign to me that I was (and am) in the right place.
I want photography to be the right place, and it increasingly feels more and more like it is the right place for me to be and to be putting my efforts and my love and my passion right now…, so this whole Spanish thing today was like a super-blessing from God and the World.
So, yay!
Thank you, God.
Thank you, World.
Thank you, Universe.
Help me to continue on this beautiful path that is meant for me to create and travel, that I might share the beauty and the love I have to offer the World. 🙂
……..
In a separate note, I found myself wondering this evening: How can a couple be married, and not really be able to communicate in the same language?
From what I saw today, the one guy’s Spanish is super limited, and the other’s English is very questionable… so, how do they communicate?
Is it really more like the idea of mail-order brides that caught on back when I was little, than a naturally-occurring relationship?
But then, perhaps their language is presence, and words are in the works…
I know fully well that speaking the same language fully isn’t exactly a requirement for wanting to be with someone.
I even had a time (with one of the acrobats) in which I declared this guy and I could not date until we both spoke the same language fluently (though, I didn’t care what language that ended up being), and I, eventually, followed my declaration (after, of course, passively ignoring it, and, essentially, being in an informal but distinct relationship with him for about six weeks)…. (We had a great time, but too many problems began to arise due, mostly, to language issues, but also to cultural differences.)
So, they very well could be that way, where words are not the language of the now relationship, because they just absolutely hit it off without the words, but the words are in the plans for the future of the relationship.
I dunno… anything is possible, but I know that I, personally, need to speak the same language fluently as my partner in life, whatever language that may be.
Post-a-day 2019
hannah ananas 