Today I did something I have never done.
Over the past several years I’ve worked to get closer to my camera and taking meaningful photographs that tell a story. So much of what I do doesn’t involve other people although that’s generally where the story is.
I love taking pictures of the landscape. It’s a one sided story as I tell how things look from where I’m standing. The landscape doesn’t talk back or ask all kinds of questions about what I’m doing with my camera and getting all up in my grill because I want to take a photo. I’m learning that’s fairly normal when you ask others to take a picture.
The internet is a cool place where you can get all kinds of perspectives from others who either enjoy what you do as well or you are trying to pique an interest in what they do.
Today is Sunday. On any given Sunday I head out with my camera(s) to go see what I can find. Often I’m on my motorcycle or in my car and stop in places I enjoy and take pictures of the landscape. Rarely, and I mean very rarely, it involves other people outside of my friends or family. Today I decided that would change.
So I asked a total stranger if I could take his picture and took them at length with his permission. Here’s that story.
When I first saw him I was on the other side of the street while he was playing a flute which is something you don’t see every day. I only had my small camera in my hand but I thought if I’m going to do this I need to get my professional camera since I had it with me. Why I don’t carry it more is another long story.
By the time I got my camera someone has come up to him and started a long conversation. I didn’t want to intrude and, frankly, wanted some camera time alone with him. Then another guitar player came up, another total stranger, and started playing with him.
I asked him if he was from around here where he told me that no one was actually from Shepherdstown, West Virginia. He said he was there to minister to the young people that there is a life outside the blue glare of the various computer screens in their hands.
With his bible by his side I told him it may be easier to covert the children to be faithful than to pry the phone from their hand. We both laughed. I think we both knew it was true and that he had a long hard row ahead of him. You couldn’t tell it.
I shared lunch with strangers in a small restaurant in town. The restaurant serves the kinds of food you’d expect to have in a small, West Virginia town. To me the food is in the category of “comfort”. Iced tea, potatoes, green beans and hamburger steak smothered in brown gravy.
The owner’s daughter passed away recently. I do not know the details but I could tell everyone was upset over this current event.
Someone from DC came in to have a big meal and didn’t bring cash. All of the locals know this is not the restaurant you can do that. They let her write a check much to everyone’s amazement.
I’m always interested when I see someone write an actual check. Who carries a check book these days? Apparently people from DC do.
I’m also amazed at the kindness of people. All I had to do was ask. In order to publish anything related to an image of another person today I’d need their permission. He gave that to me.
It was that easy to do something new. In my 40+ years of photography I’ve never asked anyone if I could take their picture. Today I did.
To my family: xErlhaxA9wfcGx6VOI9ymZv2LKxJzdPcoZbJrU/aaFJj2OYIaW0C5w7J