Runner Up by Leah Banicki

hours to take
pictures and another hour to print out the best three pictures. There will be photo printers available in the lobby,
and people there to help you." Randall ended and escaped the attention while the scurry of women took its full
affect.
I had an instant smile when I heard it was a photo contest. I had a small suspicion this was just an
advertising stunt for the camera brand, but I would go with it.
I looked over the camera specs and started plotting out where I wanted to go.
The lagoon to the south of the resort looked promising. I was plotting out some shots of foliage; maybe I
can get lucky with an animal or bird near the beach.
"Hannah, I think this contest is tailor-made for you. I am technically challenged... seriously unfair." Janette
had an attractive pout. The Brazilian sun had given her a slight sunburn and her cute freckles were out in force.
"You got some sun." I said with a grin.
"Sun burn really... They don't plan out these events with fair redheads in mind, I must admit. I am starting to
think of this less as a romantic opportunity and more an interesting vacation. My group date two days ago was
without a hint of romance. Well, he did grab me for a moment. After I was pelted in the face with a volleyball, lost
my balance and face planted. He helped me up while I was spitting sand out of my mouth, I kid-you-not!" Janette's
voice rose with the intensity of her story. Her timing was impeccable, like a comedian.
I couldn't help but laugh. She was such a great story-teller.
"At least let me help you with your camera, come sit." I gestured to two chairs nearby and we opened our
cameras. There were batteries in the box thankfully and I got them both working in a minute and took a few test
shots then showed her how to use the camera. I showed her how to use the screen and where the delete key
was. It was a basic point and shoot with an auto-focus feature that would be pretty simple for just about anyone to
use for decent pictures. Once I showed Janette around the camera’s features, I started searching through the menu
for extra features to play with. This was going to be fun. I wanted that dinner with Anthony and I had no excuse
for not earning it today.
Four hours later I had a memory card full, a few bug bites, and two splinters from a gnarly-looking tree, I
leaned on while trying to get an angled shot of a bird sitting on a high branch. It was such a great day, I had hopes it
would earn me a great night.
I sat in the lobby and scrolled through my pictures on the view screen. I had at least ten I wanted to print
and went up the front desk to ask a few questions.
"Hi, can I print more than three pictures before I choose the three I want to enter in the contest?" I asked
the show producer, holding the clipboard. His face held a bored look that probably lasted the entire day until my
question woke him up!
"Why yes, you may, but please keep the number under fifteen pictures so everyone has a chance to print
some." He smiled and I thanked him sincerely.
I printed eleven shots, mulled over the choices, and listened to others doing the same. I peeked around to
see if anyone was close to my competition in this round, but so far there were lots of snapshots of the ocean and
palm trees, not a lot of creativity. I felt a pang of guilt for being a photography snob, but it didn’t last long, “I know
what I know!” I am not sorry for being a professional. I needed to be humble and remember that there could be
a contest that was not my specialty in the future, if I remained in the competition.
I picked three photos finally, printed, and signed my name to the back of each one. I handed them to the
show producer and walked back to my room to wait it out. I was hungry from skipping lunch and running up and
down the beach for hours. I was happy about my tan, though. I hadn't had a good tan since I went to Florida a few
years ago with my parents and my cousin, Chrissy. We had laid out every day and got tan on that