The Photo-Me Booth

In NTU, there's this really cool antique. It's called Photo-Me. If I had a things-to-do list, taking a passport photo at a photo-me booth would be... number 26.

Anyway... i've finally gone and done it today. Taken a photograph at the photo-me booth, that is.

So here's a guide to anyone who wants to use the damn thing:

1. Make sure you have $6 in dollar coins. (Who carries around $6 in dollar coins?? so.. you have to make a trip to the canteen drinks stall first and change with the auntie there.)

2. Read the instructions. (If the notice says wait for 4 flashes, just sit there and smile like a moron till the flashlight blinds you four times. )

3. You can never be really mentally prepared for this, but try: Don't burst into uncontrollable sobs of laughter when the flashlight goes *pfft pfft pfft pfft. Teary-eyed, guffawing girls do not make good photograph subjects. I know it's tempting to make the Mr Bean expressions, but try to refrain from doing so... at least for the first 2 shots.)

4. Be patient. When the sign on the outside of the booth says you have to wait for 5 minutes for the photo to be developed, you jolly well wait for 5 minutes.

5. When 5 minutes elapses and nothing comes out... it's time to leave.

6. When two black pieces of half-developed (or were they never developed?) paper (?) drops out of the slot... do not try to peel the photograph thinking that your photograph might, by some miracle of nature, lie underneath the black mess that is supposed to be your face.

7. Should things come to this....call the service centre and demand compensation.

Now I know why they have neoprint machines.