My Naughty Love Affair...
Nikon Coolpix 2500 by Nikon
By Jane Wynn
15 March 2007
I have been having an affair with a tiny machine for the past five years and I am in love. I picked out my little muse, a Nikon CoolPix 2500, in the spring of 2002. I was getting ready to go out and teach classes at an art retreat in Washington State and decided that I wanted to find a simple digital camera that I could take with me and document photos of my student's artwork. Back in 2002, cameras were not as small and compact as they are today since technology is advancing at such a quick speed. My husband is a medical photographer and has been a 'Nikon Man' for many years, so I took a cue from him and went with this sweet little dumpling of a digital camera.
Honestly, I don't know much about photography, I only take snap-shots. My background is in studio art and I received my Masters in Fine Art in 2000. I build small box-like shrines, make jewelry, and draw and paint when I have the time. With this much variety, I tend to make a mess when I work. The sounds of drills and jigsaws can always be heard late into the night in my studio. So when I went looking for a camera, I knew that I wanted something that I could risk damaging. I can be very hard on my tools and I was very apprehensive to even invest in something like a digital camera for myself. I thought that I was terribly irresponsible when it came to things that cost more than $100.00 for some reason. I have this thing about the amount of responsibility that goes with owning something that is valuable. The thought of me dropping it or having it stolen makes me weak in the knees! I quickly learned that I was not going to luck out without paying some cold hard cash for this tool.
So on a cold day in February, I went out to search for a camera. I browsed over one shiny camera after another. I picked them up as best as I could, even though they were tethered to the shelf by a springy cord. I turned them over, checked them up and down, totally unaware of what I was really looking for. (Remember? I told you I am not a camera girl!) I know what I like in a photo, but as far as the sophistication of knowing about a camera's stats and figures- forget it. I know what I know, and I think my ignorance at this point, is just fine.
I found my destiny, sitting at the end of the row, in all of its blue and silver glory. I liked it from the start. It was manageable in size, measuring about 4 inches long. (Who would have thought that I could enjoy something which was only 4 inches?) It was simple to use and the best, most important feature was the swivel lenses. It allows me to take a photo of what is directly in front of me as well as myself. Could you imagine how excited I was to know that I could take my own photo at anytime! And after all- what could be better than having a really expensive machine to check my lipstick from time to time?
I bought it, and from the moment I took it out of the box, it has been with me everyday. It has traveled around the country and has seen all the things that I have seen. In the past five years; just as internet blog's have gained so much attention, I have managed to use my camera to document my daily life and then some!
After about a year into living with this little love machine, I became very familiar with the settings and began to use it as a tool to motivate myself to be more creative everyday. I decided out of the blue one evening, to take it with me into bathroom and take a photo of myself. What happened next for me was the beginning of a four-year documentation of my bathroom adventures! I understand that it must seem quite odd to some people, to document yourself in bathrooms. I never saw it as weird; rather I view it as the one place that I knew I would have a few minutes everyday to myself to slow down and think. So whenever I would go out shopping, to dinner, to Starbucks for Coffee, or to family's house for Holiday dinners, I would take my trusty little camera with me and record myself. I never let on about what I was doing. I kept it quite simple and private. After a while I would post a couple innocent images on my blog for fun. In the early days, it never occurred to me to share the actual "business" at hand. I mean, I actually do have my limits. I was more interested in my surroundings. I love a great painted bathroom with an interesting color scheme. I love a variety of lighting. Some bathrooms have spotlights which blaze down on you and make things seems so clinical and over the top! Others are busy with lots of people coming in and out and smell like hell. Sometimes, I will take photos in bathrooms with accessories like plastic flowers, fancy tissues boxes, or a plunger ready for you to fix any accident you might create. Some of the best bathrooms are the ones that are "unexpected" like port-a-potty's with their glowing blue plastic walls. It casts a rather optimistic azure huge across my bare legs as I force myself to hold onto my camera for dear life, while struggling to hover above the disgraceful wet seat. Somehow I managed to get a photo of myself with a calm look on my face as if it is something I do everyday. Hardly!
As this series has progressed over the last four years and after taking hundreds of photos, they have truly evolved. I now find myself buying underwear for the soul purpose of color. In my mind, I will match a specific bathroom to a pair of panties I am wearing. I say, "I know that these purple panties will look great in that blue bathroom at Sears!" and I will make an effort to arrange for a visit to the Sears bathroom just for that reason of taking a photo. I certainly go to the gym and work out more knowing that I have photos to take! I have been known to bring props into a bathroom when I am feeling the need to be a little ironic or silly. I even have been known to share the stall with on occasional friend. One of my favorite photos was with my girlfriend on her wedding night. She asked me to take one of "My" photos so we snuck away from the reception for ten minutes to get a photo together in the bathroom- all while in her wedding dress!
Lately I have been allowing myself to get more carefree with my poses and have looked for unusual ways to push the envelope for bathroom etiquette. Sometimes, I refuse to sit the correct way, facing forward. I instead will turn around and ride the porcelain bowl like a horse! Indeed there are some rare times that I will go out of my way to remove all of my clothes to get a very naughty shot. (However; I refuse to post the ones where I have shown too much skin. I mean, I have my "Victorian side" and enjoy showing just enough to excite the imagination instead of giving it all away.) When I am taking these little reveling shots, I have to be quite fast and make sure I don't scare anyone else using the facilities. The last thing I want is to get caught being weird. Well, weirder...
After four long years of taking these bathroom photos, what will be next? More photos! I mean, love taking these. I think I have not really touched the surface when it comes to the Loo. I need to travel more and find more odd and unusual bathrooms. I know they are out there! I have thought about asking other photographers to take photos of me to see how they see me, if I could find the courage to share such an intimate moment. Maybe more visitors and more fancy underwear! I always need a reason to buy more girly things.
In the end, perhaps I will be taking these photos forever. It is very hard to put this project down. It truly has become a part of my daily life; way beyond my other daily photos that I take and "Blog" about. I definitely will look for a way to share them one day, whether it is a grand gallery show, or as a Bathroom Book, I will find a way to organize them and share my private world. In the mean time, my little love affair with my camera continues. It keeps me company and sees way more of me than most people do!
More My Precious Stories
Thanks for letting us know!
Thanks for voicing your concerns. Rest assured, we take it seriously. We'll look into it and take any appropriate action.
