Polaroid Documentation

I wondered what you'd think of me if I'd documented and showed to you my day in just photographs. You, perhaps a distant acquaintance, trying to piece together my existence from a stack of off-colored polaroids. The imagery from Sia's music video comes to mind, but it wouldn't be anything like that; I have only a budget for maybe ten or so.

The first one would probably be of me and Ryan waking up. I'd have set the timer and jumped back into bed with him. Just our messy heads would poke out from under the fluffy, white comforter of our bed. Indistinguishable lumps under it would form our bodies, and the walls would be painted grayish green. Maybe we'd be kissing, but maybe not. We'd look in love, though, because we are.

The next one would definitely show Ryan drinking his tea. The red mug he'd hold, he'd rinsed out from the morning before, and the morning before that. The blue tag of his English breakfast would be grasped tightly between the thumb and middle finger of his very articulate hand. His gray-blue eyes would look at me through the lens of the camera, and he'd be smiling appreciatively. You wouldn't know this from the picture, but he's an amazing artist. Even just his hands have taught me so much.

The photo after that would probably be one of me at my workstation. I'd be in profile, sitting at my Mac with the mobile pressed to my ear. The desk I was sitting at would be pretty messy with toys, papers, and art supplies. To you it'd probably look like I was surfing the net in a tshirt and boxers, but really I am hard at work. That is the beauty of graphic design, and what affords Ryan and I some frivolous pleasures. I'd have taken this one with the timer again because Ryan's usually gone to work after tea.

Next you would see me in transit and I'd have headphones and my book bag on. I'd most likely have a carrot or an apple because I enjoy the crunch as I'm walking along. This one would be over-exposed, probably at an awkward angle, with my head fuzzy, and the spikey palm trees in the background in focus. The days here are beautiful so I get out from behind my computer as often as I can.

After that you'd see me with someone who you thought was me, but he'd be wearing different clothes. He'd probably be silly and lean against me awkwardly, with his tongue stuck out at the lens. You'd probably guess by this point we were twins. It'd be indistinguishable from the shot, but I was born first, and he's a little bit shorter than me.

Moving on to what would surely look like midday, Ty and I would be sitting outside. You'd see his hands motion blurred in midair as I took a bite of the pita and hummus on the table. I'd have a glass of tea, and Ty would have a mug of coffee. There'd inevitably be someone in the background gawking towards us like they'd never seen two people communicate in sign.

The next one would show Ryan and me walking the beach; maybe with our arms around each other. The sea-foam from waves would be at our bare feet from the ocean and our pants would be rolled up knee high. The sun would be setting and it would look to you maybe like an advertisement except for, of course, we're both guys. My hair would probably be all over my face, and he'd look out over the water. We'd look amused and content because the beach is where we go to feel most alive.

Next would be Ryan, Ty, Shelby, and me around the table for dinner. There would be lots of sushi before us, and we'd probably each have a glass of wine too. We'd smile from the image happily because none of us can eat enough sushi. The Japanese waiter would be in the shot too. We'd have convinced him to give us a smile.

The last one you'd probably be confused because you could only make out a blue couch against darkness. The movie we'd just put in would be casting eerie shadows, and it'd be just enough to realize we were back home. In this one you'd see two people on the couch at a distance, and if you squint you could tell it was Ryan and me. We'd be laying together on the couch in the blue glow; arms around each other sleepily.