[Tiger] Claire

[Tiger]

Claire [H/A/F] hands Lance [H/A/M] an object.
Lance hands an envelope to Claire.
Claire opens the envelope and bursts into tears.
Why?

Sidenote: This might be a classic. I can't remember if a friend told me this one or not, but I cannot find it in the 'Classics' section of the old forum.

[Jenny]

Does the envelope inform her that her husband died?

[Tiger]

Does the envelope inform her that her husband died? No.

[Jenny]

Was her confession rejected?

[Tiger]

Was her confession rejected? No.

[Konnie]

Relevant what was actually in the envelope? A letter? Photo? Drawing? Object? Several objects?

Did she cry as an emotional reaction? Or a physical one? Like the envelope contained onion shavings?

[Tiger]

Relevant what was actually in the envelope?
A letter?
Photo? Yes - Photos.
Drawing?
Object?
Several objects?

Did she cry as an emotional reaction? This.
Or a physical one? Like the envelope contained onion shavings? No, but I love that idea.

[Doriana]

Do Claire and Lance know eachother? If so, are they married? in a relationship? relatives? friends? co-workers? acquaintances? student and teacher? service provider and customer/client?
Are their professions relevant? Is Lance a private investigator?

Do the photos show Claire? Lance? Someone Claire knows? Someone Lance knwos? inanimate objects?
Are the photos recent? old?
Had Claire taken the photos? Lance? someone else?

Does she cry out of sadness? anger? disappointment? happiness?

Could the object be considered a payment for the envelope?

[Tiger]

Do Claire and Lance know each other? No.
If so, are they married? in a relationship? relatives? friends? co-workers? acquaintances? student and teacher? service provider and customer/client? So no to all of these.
Are their professions relevant? Yes, Claire's is.
Is Lance a private investigator? No.

Do the photos show Claire? Lance? Someone Claire knows? Someone Lance knows? inanimate objects? This.
Are the photos recent? This. old?
Had Claire taken the photos? Yes, Claire took them. Lance? someone else?

Does she cry out of sadness? This. anger? disappointment? happiness?

Could the object be considered a payment for the envelope? No.

[Lynne]

So Claire took the photos originally, that are now in the envelope that Lance has given her? How much earlier had she taken them - hours, days, week, months, more?

[Tiger]

So Claire took the photos originally, that are now in the envelope that Lance has given her? Correct.
How much earlier had she taken them - hours This., days, week, months, more?

[bodo]

Film photos then? Did Lance work for the place where they were developed? Is his occupation relevant beyond that? Did the photos reveal something she hadn't been able to see when she took them? Or confirm something she hadn't noticed at the time she took them? Is a single photo relevant? Several photos?

[Tiger]

Film photos then? Yes.
Did Lance work for the place where they were developed? Yes.
Is his occupation relevant beyond that? No, you got it.
Did the photos reveal something she hadn't been able to see when she took them? No.
Or confirm something she hadn't noticed at the time she took them? Yope-ish.
Is a single photo relevant? Yes.
Several photos? It could also be this but for simplicity's sake let's just go with one.

[bodo]

Just to confirm, it was standard film (vs. infrared, for example)?

That which made her cry was something depicted in the photo? A clock? Something with a date? Something that was moving at the time she snapped it? A person? People?

Tiny purple reindeer? Wait, never mind that one, different puzzle altogether.

[Tiger]

Just to confirm, it was standard film (vs. infrared, for example)? Correct.

That which made her cry was something depicted in the photo? Yes.
A clock?
Something with a date?
Something that was moving at the time she snapped it?
A person?
People?
But none of these.

Tiny purple reindeer? Wait, never mind that one, different puzzle altogether.
I think I'd cry too if I found tiny purple reindeer in my photos.

[bodo]

Did she have a specific intended purpose for the photo (other than the usual keepsake-type-thing)? If so, was it useful for that purpose? Would it be possible to re-create the photo such that the result wouldn't make her cry?

[Tiger]

Did she have a specific intended purpose for the photo (other than the usual keepsake-type-thing)?
She's a photographer.
If so, was it useful for that purpose?
Yes.
Would it be possible to re-create the photo such that the result wouldn't make her cry?
I'm not sure how to answer this one, but I'm gonna go with no. If the subjects/objects of the photo were the same, she would have the same reaction.

[Nomophobe]

When receiving the photo, did she have any expectation that the photo might be upsetting? (And as such, seeing the photo merely confirmed her suspicions?) Or did it come as a complete surprise to her?

Was there anything extra in the photo that she didn't want to be there? Something missing that she wanted to be there?

Did the thing that she photographed hold sentimental value to her, that she wanted to record for posterity with a photograph? Is it still possible for her to recreate the scene, and retake the photo, in such a way that will not be upsetting? Or has the "damage been done" already?

Is she crying simply because the picture (and the moment she was trying to capture) has, in her eyes, been ruined? Or does (not) seeing something in the photo change her entire perspective on the objects in the photo? The events surrounding the taking of the photo? Her life in general?

If we saw the photo, without any prior knowledge of the relevant circumstances, would it be immediately obvious why she is crying? With full knowledge of the circumstances, would everyone likely agree that her reaction is a reasonable one? Does she have any specialist knowledge (e.g. of photo development, or medical knowledge to diagnose illnesses) that, combined with the photo, leads to her becoming upset?

Have any relevant crimes been committed? Anyone relevant died? About to die, e..g. through terminal illness?

[Nomophobe]

Some more questions...

Do we need to explore further what this object was that Claire gave Lance? Is it a ticket that proves to Lance which photos he should give to Claire? Her ticket because she's next in line to be served?

Is Claire professionally employed as a photographer? Does she think that she's going to lose her job / not get paid by the client because of this photo? If so, is this a reasonable / correct belief?

Was Claire photographing a wedding ceremony? Wedding reception? Funeral? Graduation ceremony?

[Tiger]

When receiving the photo, did she have any expectation that the photo might be upsetting? (And as such, seeing the photo merely confirmed her suspicions?)
No.
Or did it come as a complete surprise to her?
Yes.

Was there anything extra in the photo that she didn't want to be there? Something missing that she wanted to be there?
Neither of these.

Did the thing that she photographed hold sentimental value to her, that she wanted to record for posterity with a photograph?
No.
Is it still possible for her to recreate the scene, and retake the photo, in such a way that will not be upsetting?
Probably not.
Or has the "damage been done" already?
This.

Is she crying simply because the picture (and the moment she was trying to capture) has, in her eyes, been ruined?
No.
Or does (not) seeing something in the photo change her entire perspective on the objects in the photo?
The events surrounding the taking of the photo?
Her life in general?
This is the closest.

If we saw the photo, without any prior knowledge of the relevant circumstances, would it be immediately obvious why she is crying?
Probably not.
With full knowledge of the circumstances, would everyone likely agree that her reaction is a reasonable one?
Yes.
Does she have any specialist knowledge (e.g. of photo development, or medical knowledge to diagnose illnesses) that, combined with the photo, leads to her becoming upset?
No.

Have any relevant crimes been committed? Anyone relevant died? About to die, e..g. through terminal illness?
No to all of these but OTRT.

Do we need to explore further what this object was that Claire gave Lance? Is it a ticket that proves to Lance which photos he should give to Claire? Her ticket because she's next in line to be served?
Nope - it was a roll of film.

Is Claire professionally employed as a photographer? Does she think that she's going to lose her job / not get paid by the client because of this photo? If so, is this a reasonable / correct belief?
She is self-employed.

Was Claire photographing a wedding ceremony? Wedding reception? Funeral? Graduation ceremony?
None of these.

Great questions, Nomophobe. Here's a recap:.

***RECAP***
Claire, a photographer, gives Lance a roll of film to develop. He gives her an envelope filled with the photographs that she had taken. When she looks at one of the photographs that she had taken a few hours earlier, she comes to a realization that makes her cry out in sadness.

[Nomophobe]

Has anyone relevant committed infidelity? Betrayed someone's trust? Lied?

Does Claire realise something about herself? A family member? (If so, insert LTPF list of relatives here.) A friend of hers? A boyfriend / husband / lover? Are any of the above people relevant to this puzzle in some other way?

[Tiger]

Has anyone relevant committed infidelity? Betrayed someone's trust? Lied?

Does Claire realise something about herself? A family member? (If so, insert LTPF list of relatives here.) A friend of hers? A boyfriend / husband / lover? Are any of the above people relevant to this puzzle in some other way?
No to all of these. Perhaps the "OTRT" answer to the crime being committed was a bit misleading.

[bodo]

Was there a relevant event which took place between when she took the photo and when she received the developed version (e. g. she was hanging around the Dakota hotel on December 8, 1980 or Dallas on November 22, 1963)?

[Tiger]

Was there a relevant event which took place between when she took the photo and when she received the developed version (e. g. she was hanging around the Dakota hotel on December 8, 1980 or Dallas on November 22, 1963)?
Ugh, those are WAY better answers than what I have in mind.
To answer your question: yes, but the relevant event is not well-known or historical and is rather personal to Claire.

[bodo]

So my thought was that someone or something depicted in the photo was killed or destroyed between when she snapped it and when it was developed? And that made her sad?

[Tiger]

So my thought was that someone or something depicted in the photo was killed or destroyed between when she snapped it and when it was developed? And that made her sad?

I see where you're going. That isn't quite it. It isn't so much that she saw something which reminded her of something sad. It was something in the photograph that made her come to some realization, which made her cry out in sadness. Her reaction is logical.

Hint: the relevant event happens between Claire taking the photos and getting them developed. She had taken them a few hours prior.

[bodo]

Were the photos taken as part of a gig (i. e. official photographying job)?

If not, please ignore the following.

Wedding? Company event? Graduation? Dance? Anniversary? Grand opening? Grand re-opening? Ribbon-cutting ceremony? Release to the wild of an injured platypus (or insert canonical list of aminals) post-rehabilitation? School picture day? Event related to [canonical list of organizations]?

She had been photographing a wedding, and between finishing that gig and getting the developed photos back learned that the groom was someone she had been having a passionate anonymous affair with over the interwebs - sight unseen - and...no? Close?

[Tiger]

Were the photos taken as part of a gig (i. e. official photographying job)?
No.

If not, please ignore the following.

Wedding? Company event? Graduation? Dance? Anniversary? Grand opening? Grand re-opening? Ribbon-cutting ceremony? Release to the wild of an injured platypus (or insert canonical list of aminals) post-rehabilitation? School picture day? Event related to [canonical list of organizations]?

She had been photographing a wedding, and between finishing that gig and getting the developed photos back learned that the groom was someone she had been having a passionate anonymous affair with over the interwebs - sight unseen - and...no? Close?
Not really. :\
The realization that she comes to is NOT "She lives her life thinking A" and then once she sees the photo, she realizes "Oh it's not A, it's B!"
When she sees the picture, she understands that something has happened (the relevant event) in the hours that she went to get the photos developed, which she has probably never even had a thought about. It is something she realizes in a matter of seconds while looking at the photo.
I apologize for the way I worded this but I don't want to to give anything away.

[Tiger]

Recap + Hints:
Claire, a photographer, gets a roll of film developed. These are photographs that she had taken hours earlier in her own home. When she opens the envelope to look at the photographs, she notices something in one of them. The thing that she notices makes her realize that something tragic has happened while she was out, which makes her cry from sadness.

[Sundowner]

Were there people in the relevant photograph? animals?
Was Claire herself in the photograph? maybe a reflection of her in a mirror?
Did the tragical thing happen in her house?
Would anybody be able to spot the relevant part in the photograph? and to conclude what has happened?
(like: there's an open gas valve visible, or a glowing wire, a starting fire, a child playing near the open window, something the like ..)
Did something else happen (to Claire or involving Claire) in the meanwhile? which she gave a different interpretation before she saw the photograph?

[Tiger]

Were there people in the relevant photograph? animals? No to both.
Was Claire herself in the photograph? maybe a reflection of her in a mirror? No to both.
Did the tragical thing happen in her house? Yes!
Would anybody be able to spot the relevant part in the photograph? Yes. and to conclude what has happened? Perhaps not.
(like: there's an open gas valve visible, or a glowing wire, a starting fire This is quite close. , a child playing near the open window, something the like ..)
Did something else happen (to Claire or involving Claire) in the meanwhile? No. which she gave a different interpretation before she saw the photograph? No.

[Mimino]

Did Claire's house get destroyed? by a fire? did something valuable inside the house get destroyed?
Did people die? get injured?
Is there a relevant reason why Claire took pictures of her own house? Did she plan to sell it?
Did whatever happened reveal evidence that Claire was involved in a crime? or destroy evidence that she was not?
Inheritance relevant?

[Tiger]

Did Claire's house get destroyed? Yes. by a fire? Yes. did something valuable inside the house get destroyed? Presumably, yes.
Did people die? get injured?
Is there a relevant reason why Claire took pictures of her own house? Did she plan to sell it?
Did whatever happened reveal evidence that Claire was involved in a crime? or destroy evidence that she was not?
Inheritance relevant?

**********
SPOILER
**********
Claire, a photographer, takes some still-life photos of objects in her own home, including in her kitchen. She opens the envelope and sees a picture in which she left the stove on under a kettle of water or pot of soup or something. Since she had left to run errands for a few hours, she realizes that her home has probably burned down due to her forgetfulness.

Inspired by one of my mother's worst anxieties. I once got a call when I was in school and had to rush home (70 minute trip) to check if the stoves were off because she was at work and was not sure. They were off, as they always are.

[Solong]

I actually did do that once - more than 30 years ago, so I can't blame it on age. House did not burn down, but the roast was ruined. It's good to be paranoid sometimes!