A Flickering Light by Jane Kirkpatrick

Author:Jane Kirkpatrick
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780307459299
Publisher: The Doubleday Religious Publishing Group
Published: 2009-08-29T22:00:00+00:00

In September, two events surprised Jessie. Mr. Bauer’s double exposure was written up in the St. Paul paper in an article submitted by someone attending the congress. Later the Winona papers ran it too. The exposure was touted as a unique contribution to the photographic field. His model, of course, was not mentioned, but Mr. Bauer had done something innovative. Perhaps there’d be increased interest in his techniques and Jessie would be a part of whatever exciting changes might come from that. She could imagine people choosing a double-exposed portrait to be framed or that others might come to learn how he’d posed and developed the print. She had helped him in the darkroom, had washed the plates and worked the solutions as he tried over and over to make sure that the double exposure was clear and that each of the two images of her appeared as he wished. He’d used the smaller glass plate, but it was still a dramatic photograph, and she was pleased for him and pleased for herself.

“You’re a fine model, Jessie,” he told her.

She beamed at his praise but made sure she never stood close enough that he could pat her back or that she could smell the scent of baby powder on his shirts.

The second surprise came the following day, when Jessie came to the front of the studio, where a few people had gathered. She pushed her way past them. Lilly was in the crowd.

Jessie gasped.

Mr. Bauer had framed the print of his double exposure and placed it in the window. Jessie told herself there was nothing to be alarmed about. She was simply a model, an employee. But she hadn’t cleared it with her mother, and her mother didn’t like surprises. Worse, here in this setting, away from the technicalities of the developing room, she could see the portrait for its nuances. He’d once again made her look wistful, reflective, and even pretty. He’d taken a photograph that showed her to be more than what she was. And very likely, Mrs. Bauer too would see things in the print that were better left unexposed. She never should have agreed. But it was too late now.

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