The ongoing pursuit of personal work continues with another #PeopleFocus Project entry! I've been so busy with client work lately that I haven't had much time to work on and release projects from my travels or from what I capture in my hometown. I'm learning the balance of working on and creating personal work amidst the ongoing grind, as well as making sure that the work you do make for other people is work you love, believe in, and are passionate about. You have to love what you do.
In last few months I've refocused on the people and relationships my life. I've met new people and built new relationships, reestablished old friendships, repaired broken ones, and am making an effort to maintain all of it. Spending time with friends and family and remembering what's it's like to just enjoy a person and spending time with people you highly value and who value you, it reminds you that you have to look outward more.
In the last year, I've gotten to know a lot of different kinds of people - broken people, accomplished people, quirky people, spiritual strong and established people - and in light of everything happening in our country, I'm placing higher priority on spending time with, getting to know, and helping the people in my life. There's much to be learned and understood from the human beings we see day to day. I want to take more time enjoying those people and celebrating who they are. Because we never know; tomorrow that person might not be there.
"Seamless Style"
I really loved this girl's style, so naturally I asked her for a photo. She was with her family at the time, and when I asked for her photo, one of her siblings said, "Dang...what is it with people asking for your photo today?" Honestly, I don't blame them! When you see someone with awesome style, you can't pass that up! I told her she could even have her dog in the photo. It took a few shots to get him to face the right direction. "Yeah, it's kinda hard to get him to cooperate."
"The Soldier"
I saw this guy with his dog sitting in front of a door in downtown Charleston. He was a disabled war veteran trying to raise money for his family to get out of a hole. They had just moved, he couldn't work and had just had a daughter. After I got his photo I just sat and talked with him for a while. He told me about his tours while he served and about all the places he's been able to see, live in, and all the different types of people he's interacted with. But the thing that got me in my conversation with him was his observation of humanity: about how messed up it was to see so many people not helping one another, so self-focused that they treat the people around them like crap. "As if the world isn't enough of a s*** hole..." he said.
"The Juggler"
I saw this guy juggling as he was walking down the sidewalk in downtown Charleston. He was on his way to perform in a different part of the city. We tried to get a solid shot of one of the pins in midair. I feel like we nailed it!
"Springtime Street Duo"
These kids were playing on the streets of downtown Columbia. They were trying to raise money to go to camp for the summer. They were both pretty shy, so I asked if they could play something for me to help them relax a little bit. I'm not sure if it worked....
"Dedication to the Craft"
The first things I noticed about this woman were her glasses and her earrings. I thought, "You HAVE to be a interesting person to be able to pull those off." When I asked her for her photo, she herself was taking photos of jewelry that she sells. She said, "I'm out here every day, under this tree, at the same time taking pictures of my jewelry. It's the only time and spot where the light is perfect."
"Salt and Red Pepper"
I just really loved this guy's pepper apron! That's probably the main reason I asked for this shot (haha)! He was on break from his booth, where he and his wife were selling salsa (if I remember correctly).
"Quiet Jubilance"
I saw this guy playing in downtown Charlotte. He was playing with a drum machine. In the way he played you could tell that music was personal to him and that it brought him a special kind of peace. That focus was present when he played, but as I got to talking to him a little bit, he revealed a fun goofiness about him! I noticed there was a wasp on his collar and I shooed it away. He asked, "What was that?" "It was a wasp," I said. "I didn't want it to sting you." "Really?! There was a wasp?! Just sittin' there? What was it doing there?" "I don't know, man. It's that time of year, though." "Man...well thank you!"