rebecca . 26 years old / denver . colorado
i considered throwing in the towel today. the thought was fleeting, but still, it was there. you are about to experience a tantrum, so consider yourself warned.
i made my way down to 16th street again today. i really dislike shooting down there because the street is too busy and very long and there are only a few alleys i can use for backdrops. unfortunately these alleys tend to be near street musicians, or greenpeace workers, or people selling the "denver voice", so people are already tired of people pitching things to them.
as an aside, i'd like to take this opportunity to express my building frustration for greenpeace spokespersons. i pass by them every day and every day i have to explain why i don't want to sign up to pay them money every month. yes, i care about polar bears. yes, i love the earth. yes, i do look like someone who cares about the environment. no, i don't have money. maybe i should start photographing greenpeace workers.
ok. so, i went down to 16th street so that i could print a picture for marsha. i took marsha's picture on february 7th and promised her a photograph. she is the only person of the 199 (and counting) that did not use the internet, so i needed to print one and mail it to her. these kinds of things take me a long time, but i've been worrying about it for so long that it is turning into an ulcer. i needed to take care of it today.
i had about an hour while my photo was printing, so i continued my search for today's stranger. i was determined to shoot an older woman today. i was on the lookout, very alert, ready - scoping out locations and unsuspecting women. i just needed someone in an older age group - not necessarily old, just old-er than me.
i saw a woman in a fancy hat and big sunglasses. maybe she was 55 years old. i went up to her with all the confidence of a stag in mating season and she shot me down. not directly, though. she drilled me with questions. she wanted to see my identification. she wanted to look at my website on her blackberry. she wanted to know where i went to school. she wanted to know why i was in denver. she said no at one point, but i protested, so she stuck around. i told her i'd spent more time with her than most of the other people, so i needed to photograph her. she laughed and said she was so skeptical because she was from new york. she eventually agreed to be photographed, but refused to take off her sunglasses. my heart sank... i pleaded... i begged... she wasn't having it. so, i had to let her go. i need eyes.
i saw another woman, 40 maybe, short curly hair, a nice tan. i went up to her and gave her the spiel. she didn't stop walking, so i walked with her. she eventually said no, in an accent, british maybe, on account of her husband being part of a sports conference and her wishing to remain anonymous. what?
i saw a black woman with outrageous hair and a gold get-up. who has outrageous hair and a gold get-up except for someone who wants attention? well... this lady. i said, "excuse me, ma'am." she kept walking. i walked beside her and said, "excuse me, i am a photographer." nothing. she looked scared to death. middle of the day, sun shining all over the place, people everywhere, i'm clean-shaven as a baby's bottom and looking more presentable than ever and she's scared of me. insert curses here _________ !
frustration is setting in at this point. big time.
another older-than-i-am woman walks by. she looked very friendly. i told her about the project and she giggled a bit. i took that as a good sign so i kept on with the pitch. she put some money in the street musicians glass and told me no, she didn't think so. i asked if she would tell me why and this is what she said - i swear - "because i don't know you." ha. i am photographing s-t-r-a-n-g-e-r-s and her reason for saying no is because i am one. that is rich.
so, i leave my post. i've been there for so long that the sun has moved and ruined the spot i was waiting for anyway. it is the best place on the street, so now i am not only going on no confidence, but i'll have to use a mediocre background.
i make my way up the street and see a younger girl who i had seen earlier. she had a great jacket on and looked like she was probably sweet, so i waited until she hung up her phone and then gave her the blah blah blah. she looked at me like i had already photoshopped her clothes off and said "no". a very cold no. that brought the 'turned-down this many times' count to five. 5! the new record.
now i am feeling really lousy. as soon as "i'm too cool for your project" girl scampers off, i see rebecca. she comes to stand almost beside me to look at an advertisement. i look at her. she looked young. and i was embarrassed to ask her because someone else had just said no right in front of her, but i figure i have absolutely nothing to lose anymore, so i go for it.
i told her about the project and asked if her if she'd be a part of it. "yes." surprised, i told her how i had just been through the gauntlet and could hardly believe my ears that she said yes. she told me she was an art major so she understood that you need people for such things.
we traded names and i asked her how old she was. 26. you know, there is a lot to be said for my generation... i'll leave it at that.
we were not in great light or surrounded by great backgrounds, but we made do. she said she wasn't photogenic, but she looks it to me.
while we were talking, she kept looking at my hair, which made me self-conscious. i asked if something was wrong with it and she said no, but then she kept looking at it, so i didn't believe her.
anyway, i took a bunch of pictures and then we chatted some more. she is from charleston, south carolina, but is currently teaching english in washington d.c. she's here in denver for a TESOL (teaching english to speakers of other languages) conference. that gave us a bit to chat about as i had a short career of english teaching in south korea a few years ago.
she was great. just great! today took a lot out of me, but rebecca regenerated some of my life. thanks, rebecca.
i considered throwing in the towel today. the thought was fleeting, but still, it was there. you are about to experience a tantrum, so consider yourself warned.
i made my way down to 16th street again today. i really dislike shooting down there because the street is too busy and very long and there are only a few alleys i can use for backdrops. unfortunately these alleys tend to be near street musicians, or greenpeace workers, or people selling the "denver voice", so people are already tired of people pitching things to them.
as an aside, i'd like to take this opportunity to express my building frustration for greenpeace spokespersons. i pass by them every day and every day i have to explain why i don't want to sign up to pay them money every month. yes, i care about polar bears. yes, i love the earth. yes, i do look like someone who cares about the environment. no, i don't have money. maybe i should start photographing greenpeace workers.
ok. so, i went down to 16th street so that i could print a picture for marsha. i took marsha's picture on february 7th and promised her a photograph. she is the only person of the 199 (and counting) that did not use the internet, so i needed to print one and mail it to her. these kinds of things take me a long time, but i've been worrying about it for so long that it is turning into an ulcer. i needed to take care of it today.
i had about an hour while my photo was printing, so i continued my search for today's stranger. i was determined to shoot an older woman today. i was on the lookout, very alert, ready - scoping out locations and unsuspecting women. i just needed someone in an older age group - not necessarily old, just old-er than me.
i saw a woman in a fancy hat and big sunglasses. maybe she was 55 years old. i went up to her with all the confidence of a stag in mating season and she shot me down. not directly, though. she drilled me with questions. she wanted to see my identification. she wanted to look at my website on her blackberry. she wanted to know where i went to school. she wanted to know why i was in denver. she said no at one point, but i protested, so she stuck around. i told her i'd spent more time with her than most of the other people, so i needed to photograph her. she laughed and said she was so skeptical because she was from new york. she eventually agreed to be photographed, but refused to take off her sunglasses. my heart sank... i pleaded... i begged... she wasn't having it. so, i had to let her go. i need eyes.
i saw another woman, 40 maybe, short curly hair, a nice tan. i went up to her and gave her the spiel. she didn't stop walking, so i walked with her. she eventually said no, in an accent, british maybe, on account of her husband being part of a sports conference and her wishing to remain anonymous. what?
i saw a black woman with outrageous hair and a gold get-up. who has outrageous hair and a gold get-up except for someone who wants attention? well... this lady. i said, "excuse me, ma'am." she kept walking. i walked beside her and said, "excuse me, i am a photographer." nothing. she looked scared to death. middle of the day, sun shining all over the place, people everywhere, i'm clean-shaven as a baby's bottom and looking more presentable than ever and she's scared of me. insert curses here _________ !
frustration is setting in at this point. big time.
another older-than-i-am woman walks by. she looked very friendly. i told her about the project and she giggled a bit. i took that as a good sign so i kept on with the pitch. she put some money in the street musicians glass and told me no, she didn't think so. i asked if she would tell me why and this is what she said - i swear - "because i don't know you." ha. i am photographing s-t-r-a-n-g-e-r-s and her reason for saying no is because i am one. that is rich.
so, i leave my post. i've been there for so long that the sun has moved and ruined the spot i was waiting for anyway. it is the best place on the street, so now i am not only going on no confidence, but i'll have to use a mediocre background.
i make my way up the street and see a younger girl who i had seen earlier. she had a great jacket on and looked like she was probably sweet, so i waited until she hung up her phone and then gave her the blah blah blah. she looked at me like i had already photoshopped her clothes off and said "no". a very cold no. that brought the 'turned-down this many times' count to five. 5! the new record.
now i am feeling really lousy. as soon as "i'm too cool for your project" girl scampers off, i see rebecca. she comes to stand almost beside me to look at an advertisement. i look at her. she looked young. and i was embarrassed to ask her because someone else had just said no right in front of her, but i figure i have absolutely nothing to lose anymore, so i go for it.
i told her about the project and asked if her if she'd be a part of it. "yes." surprised, i told her how i had just been through the gauntlet and could hardly believe my ears that she said yes. she told me she was an art major so she understood that you need people for such things.
we traded names and i asked her how old she was. 26. you know, there is a lot to be said for my generation... i'll leave it at that.
we were not in great light or surrounded by great backgrounds, but we made do. she said she wasn't photogenic, but she looks it to me.
while we were talking, she kept looking at my hair, which made me self-conscious. i asked if something was wrong with it and she said no, but then she kept looking at it, so i didn't believe her.
anyway, i took a bunch of pictures and then we chatted some more. she is from charleston, south carolina, but is currently teaching english in washington d.c. she's here in denver for a TESOL (teaching english to speakers of other languages) conference. that gave us a bit to chat about as i had a short career of english teaching in south korea a few years ago.
she was great. just great! today took a lot out of me, but rebecca regenerated some of my life. thanks, rebecca.
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