summary of Stephen Leacock's "With The Photographer"

            Stephen Leacock is a modern English prose writer.  He has written many prose pieces.  All his prose pieces are known for their subtle humour.  They talk about real life situation.  With The Photographer is a short prose that describes the Leacock’s experience with a photographer.  Leacock, as is the regular case, gets a bitter experience.

Leacock goes to a photographer to get himself photographed.  He waits for an hour and he is called into the inner room.  The photographer is a grave man.  The photographer is not satisfied with the Leacock’s face.  He says that Leacock looks ugly.  He then concludes that he would shoot three quarter view of Leacock.  Leacock acknowledges this and starts reasoning about the decision but the photographer do not respond or care for what Leacock is talking. 

The photographer hides himself behind the camera and comes out of it.  He comes close to Leacock.  Leacock thinks that the photographer is going to kiss him but he turns Leacock’s face that would be good for a pose.  The photographer gives a series of instructions like close mouth, droop ears, roll eyes, turn face, expand lungs, etc., to Leacock.  Leacock is confused and he is frightened.  Leacock becomes impatient, he scolds the photographer, and the photographer clicks a shot.  Leacock is shocked.

The photographer asks Leacock to check the proof on Saturday and the photograph would be delivered by Sunday.  On Saturday Leacock is further shocked on seeing the proof.  The photographer says that he has edited the eyebrows and the mouth.  He also plans to edit his ears.  Leacock shouts at the photographer asking for a photograph that would resemble him.  He says that he loves his original face than the altered one.  He leaves the photo studio with tears.