As I often do now, I was driving through and around parts of Atlanta a couple of days before Christmas… it might’ve even been Christmas eve. I was starting to get into a Southeastern part of Atlanta that is undergoing gentrification; it was becoming a nice area, but not completely transitioned. And I came upon this wall that said “WAKE UP” right next to a business that might or might not have been operational; either way, it was closed at the time.

I didn’t really even notice the guy sitting by the door to the business as I walked up to take the photo of the wall. He walked up and asked something about me being a photographer and what I was shooting for. I mentioned that the wall was really interesting, and off-handedly asked if he would want to be in a picture. At first he objected, but he changed his tune after I agreed to give him some change.

He posed initially, striking what could really be described best as a presidential book cover portrait… you know the one. Looking off into the distance at something above the horizon for no real reason. Though I composed him against the wall, the shot wasn’t meant to tie directly to it. So that first shot didn’t work. Then we took this one. It was at the moment that he turned face-front to me, I got my focus and what I guess was the owner of the building drove by in the background. I shot it as he was driving into the frame, and I don’t even think I saw him until afterward.

The sun was setting, and it was getting cold so I offered him whatever he wanted to eat and drink at the gas station across the street. I had so little in change, it was the least I could do for a quick photo shoot. We got him a footlong sub and a Cherry Coke and I finally got his name: Low. We wished each other the best, and we parted ways.

I love taking photos of people, especially in situations where I wouldn’t be able to predict who I would shoot. But there’s always that hesitation in my gut… I’m nervous every single time until I say the first word. Then it’s all gravy, even if they say no. I met a couple on the street downtown the other day, and the guy was kind of joking around about me taking pictures and goofing off in front of the camera. At first I went along with it as a joke… “ha ha… yeah, I’m a photographer”… but then I remembered, I love taking pictures of people.

“I’d be more than happy to take a picture of you guys… you interested?”

“Yeah!” he said.

A resounding “NO” from his girlfriend.

No big deal. I even encountered them a few more times, and we stirred up some more conversation about what I was doing. I offered another time or two, but she stood firm. Can’t win ‘em all.

This entry was posted Saturday, December 30th, 2006 at 6:06 am and is filed under Hasselblad 500CM. Both comments and pings are currently closed.