Misuse of Light, Creative Response b.

Hi Mr. Gautreaux, thanks for coming today! Can you please summarize "Misuse of Light" for me?

"Misuse of Light" is about a man working in a camera store. He takes an interest in old film rolls left in used cameras and develops them at home. Through these old pictures he finds unique uses of light, shadow, and takes a peak into history. However, through the pictures he also intrudes into others lives. Mel, the main character, ends up severely damaging an innocent girls view of her grandfather.

Do you think Mel was being nosy? Should he not be looking at the film?

I think Mel was only interested in the photos. I did not think Mel knew he was being nosy or creepy, but instead wanted to look at the art of the photos. He found life and beauty in the pictures.

"The photo had meaning, but it was closed. The figures in the paper would not talk." How does this quote relate to Mel?

Mel's interest in the pictures was to find out what they would say if they could talk. What was really going on at the time of the picture? A photo is only two dimensional but it is what is in the picture that has meaning. 

Why does Mel try to make amends with the girl and her grandfather?

I think he realizes that in this situation Mel did go too far beyond the picture itself. In indulging in his own interests, he hurt someone else. He simply wanted to help the girl. However, in order to help her, he shows the girl how to look at the picture, really look at it, in order to find the truth.