Meeting People Through Photography…

… It all starts with a hello or a head nod. Sometimes people will stop to talk and then you meet interesting people. In such an instance, I did just that. I had the great pleasure of visiting a small town not far from the Canadian border in the very top portion of Idaho called Bonners Ferry. Beautiful place! I was there to visit people who are near and dear to me, people I love and have been there for me when many weren't…

On Friday of last week my friends had commitments and I was free for a little while so I decided to walk around the quaint and beautiful downtown of this small town. That is where I ran into Don. He struck me with his salt of the Earth appearance. Suspenders and a coffee mug in his hand. I said hello and he replied with a lament about it being a beautiful day. I approached him and struck up some conversation.

I learned that he had been a tradesman for most of his life and had worked hard during every one of those years, that legacy was conveyed with one handshake to feel the strength and grit of his hands, it was very apparent this was a man who had always earned an honest living. Yet, there was a softness to him that would become apparent shortly into the conversation when he let me in on the fact that he was writing a poetry book intended to see publishing. He recited two amazing poems about childhood and I was immediately interested in obtaining a copy. I hope you get your work published, Don.

It is truly amazing how a simple walk with a camera can bring you into proximity of really amazing people. By the way, he let me take his portrait which is the image for this entry.

Don't hesitate to capture the world around you, we are all priceless and deserve to be seen.