Just about every career and every job comes with the line “…and you get to meet and interact with interesting people!”
Now, “interesting” is an extremely relative term: you’ll, by far, have a different sort of “interesting” taking orders at McDonald’s than you will taking orders from business-class passengers as a flight attendant…
Whatever you wanna call it, there is likely none that can best the photojournalist… meet more diverse people with more interesting stories to tell in more places in more situations. We’re sent out to interact with someone whom they – on the average day – would have practically no reason to ever meet.
Well, today, I took off my photojournalist hat for a moment and just went with “photographer.”
But more importantly, and the focus of this story: today, I met Peggy.
And definitely sweetheart of the week. She was really amazing and fun to work with.
I sometimes take my subjects out to this abandoned bridge outside town because it is truly a playground for the photographee and photographer, alike.
Every person is different for a multitude of reasons. But one is the difference in the speed at which someone gets comfortable with me. I mean, you can only shove a camera in someone’s face and say smile so many times…
Somehow, though, thing never stay awkward for too long…
…and before long, those expressive eyes get comfortable enough and come out.
So, as much as I would NEVER claim myself a portrait photographer – I only can because its part of that bag of tricks every photojournalist needs to carry around with them – I truly enjoy the interaction.
For the rest of you, never limit yourself to one thing. “I am a landscape photographer” or “I am a photojournalist” will only get you as far as the end of the job you won’t get. Know what you’re good at, but learn everything else, too.
But, to Peggy, thank you again for coming and playing with me yesterday. It was truly a pleasure working with you.
Stay tuned…
-Noah D.
