The venue was the Grote Markt, Ieper. The date was the 3rd June 2011. She was tall, slender, heart stopping beautiful in the manner of true, simple beauty. She was wearing a black top, grey/blue jeans, a green headband around her long, curling brown locks. She was half my age. She had sunglasses, but she could not decide if she needed them. She had a phone, which she messaged with of course, and she smoked with her left hand. She sat, not at the brasserie where I sat, the next bar along. Alone, sometimes reading a book Maya (or Mala?). She left before me, paying a call inside first. We passed on the street later as I made to take pictures at the Menin gate. I wanted to speak to her. To ask her if she wanted to be a model. To ask her if she wanted to be my mistress. To ask her if I could watch as she kissed another woman. There was a connection there - I did not photograph her although I could have sneaked a shot. But my heart would ache even more if i had. The moment is lost.
The Nikon D4 is almost upon us. A thing of beauty to be sure. Probably too rich for my blood for a while, but very likely to be in my kit bag by this time next year. Image is of Nikon non-functioning engineering model - ignore the shiny finish.