I think we all have experienced an unfortunate wrongful accusation at some point in our lives, and if not, realistically thinking, it might be wise to say, not yet!
However, we can choose to let the accusation define us, or we can use the accusation as a lesson and rise above the situation (or cover-up, as in this case).
I once heard a "rumour" about me that shocked me out of my wits, but I thought it was best to ignore it.
The rumour was not a nice one, but I understood immediately that the rumour was based on the mindset and perspective of the person who might have unintendedly started what became that said rumour.
I was living with my mum temporarily while I was awaiting an acceptance letter to college. Being in the small village where my mum lives, I had exploited all my favourite activities for personal entertainment, and I decided to venture on a different creative path to alleviate boredom.
My long distance partner and I agreed to take some "photographic body art", (aka, selfie body photoshoot), and send the images to each other.
That challenge was an easy one for me because I was home alone in the daytime, and my mum had a big digital camera that was sturdy and perfect for taking self-images.
I am not the most tech-savvy on the planet, and at the time although I had mastered the art of using analog cameras, digital cameras were quite a novelty and I didn't grasp the concept of a memory card.
The coast was clear
Mum and dad had gone for the day, and I was home alone in my bedroom with my creative juices flowing.
I am quite a meticulous person, so I took my assigned task seriously. I had broken down my tasks into stages like a checklist, to achieve accuracy and precision efficiently.
- Close curtains ✅
- Full body shave ✅
excluding my eyebrows, eyelashes, and the hair on my head. - Apply full-body oil ✅
- Gather a few props ✅
- Stabilise camera ✅
- Set camera timer ✅
- Adjust lighting ✅
- Test Shot ✅
- Practice Pose ✅
My exercise turned into a creative nude acrobatic photoshoot with some vivid closeup shots. I was so pleased with the images because they looked professionally done, and I was thrilled that my mum was technology adept, with a top-of-the-line advanced digital camera.
So, my post-production images were perfected and submitted to my partner. In return, I had received low effort images that lacked creativity, which was disappointing ( that was a lesson in itself...be specific with objectives and expectations ).
Anyway, finishing up my exercise:
- Delete images from camera ✅
- Clean mommy's camera and leave it exactly how I found it ✅ Mommy is a meticulous woman, who will know instantly if her camera was moved.
A few days went by and I was eagerly awaiting a reply from the college. I was back to doing normal activities and making myself useful around the house.
My phone rings and I see an unknown number and I reckoned that it was the college calling me. Alas, it was my sister from the UK.
Answering the phone, all I heard was my sister laughing uncontrollably on the line:
She manages to get these words out.
Sister: "🤣Hahaha! Mommy saw your photos, hahaha 🤣"
Me: "Which photos?" My creative exercise was done and over with, and I had already forgotten about them.
Sister: Hahahaha, your nude photos that you took using mommy's camera. Hahahaha"
Me: [With my heart pounding, and wanting the earth to open and swallow me because I was sure I had deleted them]...still I managed to ask: "So did mommy like them?"
Sister: Camille, it's not a joke. Mommy was so shocked. She went to work at her Internet Cafe and while she was setting up early morning, she put her memory card on the big screen... only to see those photos of you.
"She was so happy that she was alone in her shop."
(I thought to myself; Whew! That's the silver lining).
Me: So how come Mommy has not said anything to me?
Sister: You and mommy can work that out, I just want you to know that Mommy said you are creating pornography."
Now that was an accidental accusation on my mum's part. However, I thought it would have been impossible to convince her otherwise, so I ignored the accusation and pretended nothing happened.
Pertinent Task was omitted by ignorance:
- Clear Memory Card ❌
Thinking on the spot, this came to mind Shaggy: It wasn’t me, but no one knows someone's face and body like a mother does, right?
So, I went on my ps and qs and came up with a quick plan.
When mommy and daddy came home, dinner was ready and waiting. Of course, I ate before and decided that I was having an early night locked in my bedroom. Bright and early the next morning I went to stay with my girlfriend for a few days.
To this day, my mum has not confronted me.
Still, that will forever be one of my most embarrassing moments.
I learned the repercussions of my actions.
Imagine if someone else was that lucky to have found those images?
Maybe one day I'll pick the right moment, to apologise to my mum. Maybe she has forgotten about it, but I hope that we will be able to laugh about it one day.
My takeaway is, do not fall victim to such activity...
Never use someone else's camera.
Photos are mine
Taken by me
With my own camera😉