No questions were asked.
Back in the do-dah days when I was traveling two hundred and fifty days a year on assignments, I always made time to donate my photography with orginizations like the United Way, The Salvation Army, The Red Cross, and others.
It was a win-win proposition for both sides. I got to shoot what I wanted and they got me at no charge.
I was helping the United Way with a brochure on their Houston facilities, and after I filled their immediate needs I asked if I could take a few portraits of some of the workers; of course that they could also use.
I was granted permission provided the people said it was ok with them. The people living there were severely challenged but had jobs, i.e., putting packs of sugar in boxes. It was good for them to be doing something meaningful and made them happy. It also gave the people that were more cognizant of the world around them some self-respect.
Walking around the tired old building was revealing several photo ops, but nothing was jumping out at me. Towards the end of a hallway I walked by this empty room and immediately stopped. I was taken in by the couch and wall, and I immediately conjoured up visions of Rothko’s paintings that began racing through my mind; I decided that this was where I needed to shoot.
As I walked around a man and a woman began following me. One of the women in charge talked to them and then to me. It seemed that these two really wanted their picture taken and since no one else seemed to be interested for one reason or another, I said that would be great.
An idea hit me and I asked each of them if they would bring to the room something that they wanted to be photographed with and there would be no questions asked.
This is along the lines of what I ask of my online students with the BPSOP and my fellow photographers that sign up for one of my “Stretching Your Frame of Mind” workshops I conduct all over the place. I always mention bringing some props/wardrobe with them when they go out shooting. It adds another Layer of Interest to their imagery.
In the above photo, what you see them holding is what each one decided to be photographed with. It was one of the most interesting and rewarding shoots I had ever done, and to this day I believe it still is.
Btw, I came back with prints I had made for them and to see them each holding their print and smiling made me smile…how could it not.
Visit my website at: www,joebaraban.com, and check out my 2018 workshop schedule at the top of this blog. Come shoot with me sometime. In conjunction with The Santa Fe Workshops, on October 2nd I’ll be leading a group in San Miguel de Allende. A beautiful oasis and artist colony, and the entire city is a UNESCO site.
JoeB
