Laura was just about to leave the office when Alan Carter, the managing editor of Close Up, called her into his office. "Have you anything important on tonight?" he asked. Laura looked at him puzzled. Was he about to ask her out? He saw the expression on her face. "No, I'm not asking you out," he said with a smile. "It's just that I have these two tickets for the opening of a new photographic exhibition that features some of Jim Lisle's work and I was wondering if you could use them."
Jim Lisle was one of Laura's favorite photographers. She loved his pictures. She nodded at Alan. "No, I have nothing important on, and yes, I would love to use them."
"Should be a good do," Alan said. "I hear it's an exceptional collection, and there's always plenty of free champagne flowing at these do's." Laura looked at the tickets he handed to her. She saw that as well as the other photographers exhibiting, Jim Lisle himself was going to be there in person. Interesting, maybe she could get a story.
Laura was one of the feature editors of the magazine Close Up, a new magazine that dedicated itself to the up and coming as well as the better known photographers. She made her way down to the parking lot and before she got in her car, she rang her friend Andria and asked her if she fancied a night out. Andria, never one to refuse a free night out, told her she would love to go and Laura arranged to pick her up at eight.
The street around the gallery was well parked up with cars when the girls arrived but they managed to find a spot not too far away. As they entered the exhibition, an attractive young lady handed them a program while another offered them a glass of champagne.
The gallery itself was quite full with people and it was not easy to get near some of the exhibits. Jim Lisle's work always attracted the crowds. He was one of the countries leading photographers. His main subjects were classic nudes photographed in unusual locations, mainly in or around well known public buildings and busy city streets.
As usual at these do's when the food was served, it was easier to see the pictures as everyone was feeding their faces. Adrian had wandered off to get some food for them both while Laura walked around looking at the pictures. She was standing looking at a wonderful picture of a totally naked woman taken in a busy fruit market. The contrast of the naked woman and the colorful fruit made it an excellent picture, but what interested Laura was the fact that there were people all around her, although none of them seemed to be noticing the naked girl.
Looking at the picture Laura felt a sudden realization. This was the fantasy that had invaded her thoughts on many lonely nights when she was alone in her bed: being totally naked in a very public place.
"Do you like that one?" A voice behind her made her turn quickly. A tall strikingly handsome young guy in a denim jacket and jeans was smiling at her.
Laura nodded. "Yes, I think it's exceptional," she said. It was then it suddenly struck her who she was speaking to. "You're Jim Lisle," she stated.
The guy smiled and nodded. "And you are?" Laura gave him her name and passed him a business card. He nodded. "I've seen Close Up," he said. "You do some good work."
Just then Andria came back with a plate filled with food. Jim smiled. "Are you that hungry?" he asked, looking at the plate.
Andria nodded as she munched on a filled roll. "Starving."
He smiled at Laura. "It's been nice meeting you both," he said. "Get your food and I will catch you later." He smiled again in Laura's direction as he walked over to talk to some other guests.
Andria watched him go, then turned to Laura. "I think he fancies you," she said with a grin.
Laura and Andria hung around as the crowd started to leave. Laura knew it would do her no harm if she were to get an interview with Jim Lisle for the magazine. They were at the bar refilling their glasses when Jim came up to them. "You two still here?" he inquired with a cheeky grin.
Laura smiled. "Well, you can't let all this free drink go to waste, can you?"
Jim nodded. "Just help yourselves, girls, it's all paid for."
"I was hoping you might do an interview for Close Up," Laura said.
Jim smiled. "I can't see why not," he said. "It's a bit busy tonight, so why don't you come over to the studio tomorrow and we can work out something." Laura thanked him and said she would ring him the following day.
When the following morning Laura informed him of the proposed interview, Alan was impressed. "Good for you," he said. "Jim Lisle will make a good article. Let me know how it's going. We might find a position for it in the next issue."
Laura was pleased with Alan's compliments and she rang Jim up to make an appointment. "Come over any time this afternoon," he said. "I've nothing spoiling."
Laura was excited that afternoon when she took a cab over to Jim's studio. She knew this could be a big break for her. She pressed the buzzer on the door next to his name plate and a voice told her to come up. There was a buzz as the lock was opened. The studio was larger than she had expected. It was in what used to be a large warehouse or factory, and had much worn wooden floors and lots of light that came in from windows all along one side. Scattered around the floor were a multitude of objects from a grand piano, odd items of machinery, parts of cars and other items too numerous to mention.
Jim came over and greeted her with a smile. "Yes, it looks a little untidy," he said looking around, "but I like it that way." He offered her a glass of red wine from an open bottle and they sat down to chat about his work. The first question she asked him was why was it he predominantly photographed nudes? Jim looked at her and smiled. "That's because I like to see a woman with her clothes off." Laura felt a little uncomfortable as he looked her up and down. "There is nothing as beautiful as a naked woman," he said. She then asked him about his work and his on going theme of picturing his nudes in very public locations.
"I like to show a contrast between the naked body and its surroundings. Many photographers shoot their models in beautiful locations. This is fine but then you have two beautiful things in the picture. By photographing them in urban surroundings it intrigues the person looking at the picture and also contrasts sharply with the model.
The interview went very well. Laura seem to get on with Jim. She could see where he was coming from. He showed her pictures from his early days, and she noted that he had always concentrated on the same theme, putting the model against or in some location or with an object that strongly contrasted with her naked beauty. Between them they finished the first bottle of wine and started on a second. Laura quickly realized she was beginning to feel the effect, but she wanted to keep things sweet by not being negative and refusing.