Aliens

How to Take Pictures of Alpha Centauri Children

by Bruce McAllisterJanuary 11, 2018

l. Establish trust between yourself and the child. Let the child smell you.

2. Get down on the child's level, but not too close.

3. Bring with you something the child wants. A piece of kerlu jerky, or a simple toy.

4. Dangle what you've brought in front of the camera.

5. Mispronounce a word or two in the child's language or make other strange noises to elicit different facial expressions.

6. If the child's exoskeleton is really dark, underexpose.

7. Have patience. Every Tau Ceti child is different. Some are violent.

8. Don't wear anything you wouldn't want a talon or fang to go through.

9. Reward the child with what you've brought. Watch your fingers.

10. Practice, practice, practice.

11. Be up on your shots.

About Bruce McAllister

Over the past five decades Bruce McAllister's stories have appeared in major fantasy and science fiction magazines, literary quarterlies, college textbooks and "year's best" anthologies, including Best American Short Stories 2007. His short stories have been finalists for the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and Shirley Jackson awards. He is a full-time writer, writing coach, and book and screenplay consultant, and lives in southern California with his wife, choreographer Amelie Hunter.

All stories by Bruce McAllister →

More from Bruce McAllister