English

Literature
Story: With
The
Photographer
 Name : Subham Kumar Meena
Class : X Section : A
Stephen Leacock, born in England in 1869, immigrated to
Ontario, Canada, at a young age. He became a prominent
figure in Canadian literature, renowned for his sharp wit and
humorous observations of early 20th-century Canadian life.
His most famous work, "Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town,"
is a collection of interconnected stories set in the fictional
town of Mariposa, offering a charming yet satirical glimpse
into small-town Canada.

Beyond his literary pursuits, Leacock was also a respected

economist and academic. He taught political economy at
McGill University in Montreal, where he gained recognition
for his scholarly contributions. However, writing remained
his true passion, and he continued to publish humorous
essays and stories alongside his academic work.

Although he passed away in 1944, Stephen Leacock's legacy

as a master of humour endures, influencing generations of
writers and entertainers. His contributions to Canadian
literature and his unique brand of humour continue to bring
joy to readers worldwide.

SUMMARY

The author, Stephen is forty years old at the time of this

incident. He wants to get a photograph of him, to be given
to his friends, as a memory to remember him after his
death. With this aim, he visits a photographer. The dull,
stooping man asks the author to wait and he is kept
waiting for an hour. He reads various magazines in the
meantime.
On being called, he is asked to sit on a stool. The
photographer pulls a huge camera and gets inside it. He is
not satisfied with what he sees so he comes out and
removes all the curtains with a rod, perhaps to get more
light and air inside the room.
He goes back into the machine and stays for some time
and the author thinks that perhaps he is praying to God to
get a good photo.
He exits the machine with a serious expression and
comments that the author’s face is wrong and it would be
better if it were chubby. The author gets hurt by such
words, agrees with the man and adds that even the
photographer’s face would look better if it were more
chubby. He adds that many faces are such that they will
look better if they are wider, larger and huge. The
photographer holds the author’s face in his hands as if to
kiss him, he then twists it as far as he can and says that
the head is not appreciable. He goes inside the machine
and asks the author to open his mouth and then close it.
Then he comments that the ears are bad too. He makes the
author droop the ears, roll the eyes, bend the neck,
squeeze the stomach, etc. to make the face fuller but is not
satisfied.
As the narrator is about to rise from the stool, a photo is
clicked and the photographer says that he has barely
managed to capture the right expressions on the author’s
face. However, the author revolts by saying that it is his
face that God has made and he is aware of its appearance
not being attractive. However, he accepts it as it is.
Now, as the man has clicked a photo, the author wants to
have a look but is asked to return on Saturday because the
photographer has to develop the negative and make a
proof. On the designated day, the photographer shows
him proof of his photograph which does not resemble the
author.
On being asked, the photographer reveals that he has used
his drawing calibre and a few techniques to improve the
photo so that it looks better. The author is disheartened
because all he wanted was a photo that looked like him.
He says that the photograph was a masterpiece of the
photographer’s skills and he must keep it to show to his
family and friends. As for the author, it is a worthless
thing. With this, he leaves the studio, teary-eyed.
CONCLUSION

"With the Photographer" is a story that revolves around a

photographer who, in his pursuit of capturing perfect
images, loses sight of the genuine beauty around him.
Initially consumed by the desire to capture the perfect
shot, he ignores life's simple joys and wonders. However,
through a series of encounters with a young girl and an
old man, he begins to realize the true essence of
photography lies not in technical perfection but in
capturing the fleeting moments of authenticity and
connection. The story concludes with the photographer
experiencing a shift in perspective, finding inspiration in
the genuine moments of everyday life rather than chasing
elusive perfection.
The story's moral lies in the importance of embracing
simplicity and authenticity in our pursuits. It highlights
how obsession with perfection can blind us to the true
beauty that surrounds us. By focusing solely on technical
mastery, the photographer initially misses the profound
moments of human connection and natural beauty.
However, as he learns to appreciate the simplicity and
authenticity of life, he discovers that true fulfilment lies in
capturing genuine moments rather than pursuing an
unattainable ideal.

REFERENCE

 www.successcds.net
 en.wikipedia.org
 englishsummary.com