A Photographer Walks Into A Bar…
This past winter was brutal. It snowed, a lot. It was cold. Then it snowed more and got colder, and the clouds did an award winning job of keeping the sun away. I spent most of the winter on the couch hanging out with my dog while, which was great, while my cameras collected dust. When spring finally started to push the winter away I knew I needed to end my hibernation, get creative, and connect with people.
I made arrangements to set up a backdrop and lights during happy hour at my favorite bar, Forest City Brewery. I posted about the event on social media, sent texts to some friends and promised myself that I'd let the night be whatever it would be - I had no expectations. Whether one person or ten people showed up, I wasn't worried about it...I just wanted to make photographs and interact with people.
Over a roughly three hour period 44 people showed up, 16 of whom I had never met before. It felt like the kitchen in an Italian home (minus the smell of sauce). At one point while I was making photographs I stopped to look around the room. I saw friends, old and new. I saw people I had just met that night. Some people knew each other. Some people only knew me. Some people didn't know anyone in the room, but I could hear all kinds of conversations...and laughter.
When I look at the portraits of my friends I realize how fortunate I am that they are in my life and I'm thankful for their love and support. When I look at the portraits of the people I met that night I’m honored, thankful and impressed that they showed up and shared a little bit of themselves with me.
Driving home after the event I felt a lightness that has been absent in my life for far too long. It was there the next morning when I woke up and I have been working to keep this feeling at the front of my thoughts.
