This episode’s vocabulary
Shot
noun — a photograph.
Amateur
adj. — taking part in an activity for pleasure, not as a job.
To set up
phrasal verb — to prepare something for use, especially by putting the different parts of it together.
To capture
verb — to record or take a picture of something using a camera.
To memorialize
verb — to make people remember a person or event, or to show that you remember them.
To come out
phrasal verb — if a photo or part of a photo comes out, the picture can be seen clearly.
Presence
noun — the fact that someone or something is in a place.
Questions and answers
Rory, are you ready?
Yes, I am.
Give us your story.
Well, I really love my desktop photograph, which I've kept the same for the last eight years almost. Despite changing computers about four times in that period. It's a shot of myself and my old colleague Katie standing on the beach. It's a place called Tutuala, which is a community and I think the name of the same region or district in East Timor. You might not have heard of it. But it's a former Indonesian colony that gained independence at the turn of the century. Anyway, it shows the two of us standing watching the sunrise at dawn, and you can see the first rays of sunlight striking the clouds over Jacko Island. It's absolutely beautiful. And I remembered we woke up, actually naturally at a ridiculous hour to watch the sunrise. But we didn't realize that our other colleague Nick, who was an amateur photographer, and still is, to the best of my knowledge, was setting up his camera in the background to capture the moment. It's probably not one I'd have wanted memorialized, since I'd been living in the jungle for months at that point and my hair was massively out of control. But it came out rather well, actually. Being my desktop for two, it's something I see just about every day, whether I'm in the office or using my personal computer. Actually, I think I'd like to change it to my phone background too, to be honest. I absolutely love it. It's a reminder of how far I've been and how far I might still have to go, which is very motivating. Or it would be if I'd stop taking it for granted, like I have been of late. I think I need to live in the moment a bit more when it comes to seeing and appreciating it. That's with all the pictures in and off my life. If I didn't have this photo to talk about, I'd have had no idea what I would speak about, to be honest. It's been a constant presence in my life almost since I began teaching, and I don't think I would be without it for a moment.
And what about your friends? Do they like this photo?
The ones that have seen it really liked it.
Thank you, Rory, for your story!