Story / Episode 01

The Photos I Almost Deleted

I almost deleted this one because of the tourist group.

The main hall sits in the middle of a vast courtyard in all its grandeur. I wanted the clean shot: the hall, the open ground, nobody in the frame. Then a group of tourists walked in and started posing for each other, right when I pressed down on the shutter.

I thought I had the shot before they came into frame. While reviewing my shots that day though, my first move was the crop tool. Or the bin. Either would have left me with the picture I thought I came for.

I kept it. Left them in.

The strangers caught mid-pose are the part I trust most now. The courtyard wasn't empty that day. Someone was always there, shuffling into position, waiting for their turn to pose. A postcard of the empty yard would have been me pretending the place was mine alone, when really it was full of people passing through.

The photo I nearly threw away is the one I'd miss.