“Does it work?”
Tyler popped open the film compartment. Empty, but the mechanisms looked intact. He pressed the power button and a red light blinked on.
“Battery still works. That’s something.” He handed it to Stella. “Need film though.”
“Where do you get film for something this old?”
“Good question. Maybe Camera Cave? They’re kind of specialty. Otherwise we’ll have to order online.”
Stella held the camera carefully, looking through the viewfinder. “This is actually pretty cool.”
“Want to bring it? See if we can find film after?”
“Yeah?” She tried to sound casual, but Tyler caught her smile.
“Get dressed. Sun waits for no one.”
Fifteen minutes later, they were in Tyler’s truck heading down PCH. Stella had the Polaroid in her lap and kept picking it up to frame shots through the window.
“Can’t waste film we don’t have yet,” Tyler said.
“I’m practicing.” She aimed at a donut shop. “Getting a feel for it.”
“Very professional.”
The sky was starting to lighten as they reached Salt Creek. Tyler grabbed his equipment while Stella wandered to the overlook, Polaroid in hand.
“Whoa,” she said.
The ocean stretched out before them, still dark but beginning to catch the first hints of light. A few surferswere already out, black silhouettes against the grey water.
“Nice, right?” Tyler started setting up his telephoto lens. “Best time of day out here.”
“It’s so quiet.”
“Wait till the sun actually rises. Changes everything.”
Stella pulled out her phone and started taking pictures. Tyler noticed her technique—how she waited for the surfers to hit certain positions, how she adjusted angles to catch the light.
“You’ve got a good eye,” he said.
“Margo said the same thing. About knowing what matters. What to keep.”
“She’s usually right about that stuff.”
They stood in comfortable silence, Tyler shooting with his professional setup while Stella used her phone. The sky began its show—deep purple to pink to orange to gold.
“Oh!” Stella grabbed his arm as a surfer caught a perfect wave just as the sun crested the horizon. “Did you get that?”
“Think so.” Tyler checked his display. “Yeah. That’ll be a good one.”
“How do they not freeze out there?”
“Wetsuits. Good ones. Plus you warm up once you’re moving.” He glanced at her. “You ever surf?”
“Yeah, I kept at it after you left.” Stella kept her eyes on the ocean. “Bondi’s brutal but good for learning.”
“You did?” Tyler couldn’t hide his surprise. “By yourself?”
