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title: 3.7 Seconds
description: An article about losing yourself to interpretation and perspective instead of holding on to reality by SW Hammond.
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        ![A cinematic keyframe in close-up, side profile, of a beautifully discontent woman set against the dramatic black and white backdrop of the LA skyline. She wears a crisp white tank top, her messy black hair falling in loose strands, one of which gently crosses over her eye. Her skin has a rich, sun-kissed glow. Though her eyes are closed, as if lost in thought or gazing downward at her shoes, her posture exudes confidence, with shoulders back, cheeks lifted, and lips set in a determined line. Her head may be heavy, but her spirit remains unbroken. The image is shot with a shallow depth of field, incorporating a vignette and bokeh effect, evoking the feel of Kodak Porta 400 and Cinestill 800 film, captured through the lens of a Leica M10, with cinematic color grading and lighting that accentuates the depth of her emotions.](https://articles.swhammond.com/images/memoirs/punk_nothing_but_a_poser/3_seconds/la_woman_5.jpg) 

 Written by Sean William Hammond on 03 April 2008.

#  3.7 Seconds 

I have a picture hanging on my bedroom wall of a beautifully discontent woman. The LA skyline is in the background, black and white. The woman’s tank top is white and her hair is black, rich sun-kissed skin glowing. Her eyes are closed but if she were to open them she’d be looking at her shoes. Her posture, however, is what ties this picture together. She’s confident. Her shoulders, cheeks and lips have not been defeated. Her head is heavy but her spirit is on fire.

I find myself thinking about her, usually before I fall asleep. I lie there and wonder what went through her mind 3.7 seconds before the picture was taken. 3.7 seconds is the amount of time I’ve decided it would take to position herself in such a way once this particular thought crossed her mind. People rarely carry themselves with this subtle indestructible confidence- and then her head lowers. It’s like she filled her lungs with that smog soaked air and is about to take the first step into her newfound realization.

I have the timing down but I can’t figure out what’s running through her mind. I’m afraid if I did, the picture would become meaningless to me. The mystery and my interpretation is all that matters. The truth would shatter that along with the 3.7 seconds of perfection leading up to the click of the shutter. Is that what I want though, the bliss of my imagination?

As the last few paragraphs have proven, I have the ability to build things up beyond their straightforward impressions. Given the right circumstances I can completely disconnect from reality altogether. That somewhat worries me. How many times have I been wrong? I’ve stepped back for several seconds, taken a breath of sweet mountain air and marched on into my perception- possibly not reality at all.

I’ve found it hard to stay grounded lately, especially when I’m left alone with my thoughts….