K.G. MacGregor Photographs of Claudia

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an end to this childishness. A wedding is supposed to be a serious
occasion.
No, it isn t, Grandmother, the bride said with gentle
reproach. It s a celebration. Besides, Todd and I will have years
to be serious. We want everyone to have fun today.
The elder woman harrumphed with undisguised
condescension as the bridesmaids scooted from the suite like
children being scolded for their foray into frivolity.
Every wedding had a Marjorie Pettigrew, Leo thought,
someone for whom the event itself was far more important
than the occasion. Her attention to the festivities likely had
less to do with honoring the solemnity of her granddaughter s
vows of loving commitment than with putting on the most
ostentatious spectacle imaginable. From the looks of things, she
had succeeded.
42
Chapter 7
October 1986
The elderly gentleman took his wife s hand and looped it
through the crook of his elbow as he guided her into the studio.
Let s follow Miss Westcott so we can have our picture made.
Won t that be nice?
Do I look all right? Claire Compton anxiously looked first
for her husband s approval and then for Leo s, as she had done
twice already in the short time since they had arrived for their
appointment. It wasn t vanity that prompted her to repeatedly
seek assurance, Leo knew. Dementia had stolen Mrs. Compton s
discretion.
You look lovely, darling, Melvin Compton said patiently
for the third time, patting her hand with unbridled affection.
Their oldest son, Randall, had called Leo a week earlier to
schedule the portrait as a commemoration of his parents fiftieth
wedding anniversary. His voice had broken as he explained the
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importance of capturing their devotion on film one last time
before his mother s condition deteriorated further. Leo had
promised a photo he and his brothers would cherish.
Since Melvin towered over his wife, Leo seated him on a
padded stool and positioned Claire behind him with her hands
on his shoulders. As she framed the shot through her lens, she
recalled her parents similar pose in their last portrait together,
which she had taken just weeks before her father died. In that
instant, she felt Randall s heartbreak acutely.
How does this feel? Is it comfortable for both of you? she
asked.
Melvin gave her a wistful look. I think it s fitting. Claire s
been standing behind me all my life.
The woman s brow furrowed with confusion, a sure sign she
hadn t understood her husband s metaphor.
Leo s usual approach to taking portraits was to build a rapport
through casual conversation, whatever might distract from the
formality of the session. Her goal was to elicit candid expressions
that family and friends would recognize as genuine, and the only
way to do that was to get her subjects past their instinct to pose
for the camera. That proved difficult with the Comptons because
of Claire s anxiety about the unfamiliar setting. Her uncertainty
seemed to grow as Leo probed for information about her
hobbies and interests, anything that might help her relax. After
ten minutes, Leo had yet to coax an authentic expression.
Bear with me while I make a few adjustments, she said,
tilting one of the reflective umbrellas to cast more light onto
the scene. If she increased her shutter speed and took multiple
photos in a span of several seconds, she had a greater chance of
capturing a fleeting smile. I had a nice chat with Randall the
other day. He s very excited about seeing this portrait.
At the mention of her son s name, Claire s face lit up and Leo
realized she was onto something.
He told me he had two brothers, but I don t remember their
names.
Claire struggled for several seconds, her face contorting as
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her mind processed the question. Then she blurted her response.
Randall, Alan and Greg, she said by rote. Randall s the oldest,
then Alan. My Greg is the baby.
Some baby, Melvin added with a chuckle. He s taller than
any of us.
Goodness, he grew so fast. I couldn t keep that boy in
shoes.
Leo held up a finger next to the camera, cueing Melvin to
look her way. She already had Claire s attention. I bet holidays
are fun when they all come to visit. She snapped off two quick
photos of the now-smiling couple.
I always fix a big turkey, and to this day those boys fight over
the drumsticks. Greg used to say I needed to buy a three-legged
turkey.
That was the pose she wanted both of her subjects
looking directly into her lens, grinning broadly as they recalled [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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