High 3 · Reading series
Lesson 50 · The Photograph I Did Not Publish
Audio track 50
Listen first
Listen once before opening the English passage.
Open the English passage and hover for word help
During the school festival, I photographed a student sitting alone after an argument with friends. The light was beautiful, and the image showed a feeling many people would recognize. I considered submitting it to our club exhibition.
When I showed the photograph to the student, she said she did not want that moment displayed. I deleted the exhibition copy and kept only the original file long enough to discuss what to do with it; then I followed her request to remove it. I chose another photograph of the empty courtyard after the festival, which carried a quieter version of the mood without showing her face.
Some club members argued that a powerful image should be shared. I understood the artistic point, but power for viewers did not erase the effect on the person pictured. We discussed a clearer process for asking permission before future exhibitions.
The photograph I did not publish still changed my work. It taught me to ask whose story an image tells and who bears the cost when I decide to tell it.
Sentence practice
Play any sentence in Dicvo’s Jenny English voice. Before playing all, choose how many times each sentence plays. A practice pause about as long as the sentence follows each play, including before the next sentence. The complete reading remains above.
Choose a sentence to begin.
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During the school festival, I photographed a student sitting alone after an argument with friends.
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The light was beautiful, and the image showed a feeling many people would recognize.
-
I considered submitting it to our club exhibition.
-
When I showed the photograph to the student, she said she did not want that moment displayed.
-
I deleted the exhibition copy and kept only the original file long enough to discuss what to do with it; then I followed her request to remove it.
-
I chose another photograph of the empty courtyard after the festival, which carried a quieter version of the mood without showing her face.
-
Some club members argued that a powerful image should be shared.
-
I understood the artistic point, but power for viewers did not erase the effect on the person pictured.
-
We discussed a clearer process for asking permission before future exhibitions.
-
The photograph I did not publish still changed my work.
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It taught me to ask whose story an image tells and who bears the cost when I decide to tell it.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
学校节日里，我拍到一名学生与朋友争执后独自坐着。光线很美，照片呈现一种许多人能理解的情绪。我想把它交给社团展出。
我把照片给那位学生看，她说不想让那一刻被展示。我删掉展览用的副本，原始文件暂时留下，只为商量怎么处理；随后也依她的要求删除。我另选了节日后的空院子照片，它不露出她的脸，仍带着一种更安静的情绪。
有社团成员认为有力的图像就应该分享。我理解艺术上的看法，但观众得到的力量，不能抹去被摄者承受的影响。我们讨论今后展出前怎样更清楚地征得许可。
那张未发表的照片依然改变了我的创作。它教我追问：图像讲述谁的故事？当我决定讲述，代价又由谁承担？
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- photographed
- 拍摄；捕捉到私人的一刻。
- argument
- 争执；被摄者刚与朋友闹矛盾。
- recognize
- 理解；情绪容易引起共鸣。
- submitting
- 提交；原想参加展览。
- displayed
- 展示；当事人明确拒绝。
- original file
- 原始文件；后来也按要求删除。
- courtyard
- 院子；改选无人照片。
- permission
- 许可；今后展出前先问。
- powerful
- 有力的；艺术效果不消除影响。
- bears the cost
- 承担代价；被摄者也受决定影响。
Background notes (Chinese)
照片有艺术表现力，但当事人不愿公开；学生遵从请求删除文件，并讨论更清楚的展览许可流程。