Good morning campers, I’m going to go out on a limb here and have a little ramble, so bear with me if you can (no pun intended).
One of the questions I frequently get asked from people is “Why do you photograph strangers?” well to answer this, I need to take a step backward.
As a photographer one of the biggest questions you have to ask yourself (after you learn how to operate your camera) is…
“What should I point my camera at?”
Now, this reason is different for everyone and I’m glad it is. Because some people get their rocks off by photographing rocks and others like photographing babies. You get the picture… Now, I like to photograph people that would not usually have a voice. Many notable and famous people will be photographed many times and they also have the income to get portraits done. Likewise corporate and editorial photography would have a budget to have professional images made and you get your message out into the world. These people already have a huge voice.
My point is, as a creative in society I believe we must champion the unsung heroes that we meet in our local communities. Give them a voice and celebrate them as important humans beings. Not everyone you approach will want to be photographed and that’s ok, but you will be very surprised just how many people say yes when you ask. I’ve had people say to me that this is the only photograph they have of themselves and relatives, loving the fact that someone has taken genuine time to make a good portrait of Old Uncle Bill or Aunt Muriel. I have also met some of the most interesting people photographing people like this, not to mention making new friends in the process.
This is one of those times when I had to ask. I ended up chatting for a while with “The Bear”, who was spending the summer with his missus in the bus up at the top of the campground. He told me folks call him “The Bear” grinning and smiling he chuckled and asked me “why do they call me The Bear?” , I don’t know exactly what his reply was but I remember him pointing to his missus in the bus and saying that Bears like honey and his wife brings him, honey. Enough said. Camp wardens Roy (Bear) and Dorita went out of their way to make our stay at the DOC Moke Lake Campsite a memorable one. Thanks, guys, we will see you again and yes Bear I will send a print in summer.
His instructions: “Just send me a print if you ever get famous man. Send it to: “The Bear. Moke Lake Campground. outside Queenstown. might work…”
