Shots on the Street
Most Sunday's my beautiful wife loves to sleep in, she says this allows her to catch up on some rest but to also give me just some me time. This time is usually spent with an early rise, this morning it was 4:30 am when the clock went off. I quickly arose and began getting ready. You know the usual things bathroom, coffee, and getting dressed. Days like these I always take most of my gear because who knows where I will end up or be shooting.
This morning, I was drawn to New Bern, not sure why other than there were some things I wanted to try out. 1st was I wanted to try a few bracketed shots at night. Now if you are not sure what bracketing is, it is a series of shots taken in a row. These shots are usually sets of 3 or 5 photos and are stepped up and stepped down in order to get the correct exposures on the light and the dark areas producing a photo that is called an HDR. Things learned this morning was this process for me worked better as the morning lightened up and the night started to fade away. I was not pleased with the results as I know the results of my typical nighttime photos, and these did not live up to my expectations. Now, this does not mean that I won't try again because I most certainly will simply because I don't like to fail.
Once I was done in New Bern, I traveled to Oriental, to refill my cup of coffee which had been depleted for some time now. The depletion of coffee also led to needing to relieve said coffee from my system. Oriental was alive with dog walkers, early morning sailors setting sail in the early morning sun. The local church was setting up at the waterfront for their morning service. The Bean, our local coffee shop, is where we usually end up on any given day out and about. They were usually busy as they are most weekend mornings.
I was finally able to move to my favorite table that gives me favorable views inside and out. this is when I usually sit and listen. Have you ever just quietly sat and listened to your surroundings and the conversations about you? It quite possibly is better than any TV or radio channel. As I sat there a little blonde heading girl, maybe 3-5 years old walked in with her dad. You could tell she was quite taken with him as she hung to his every word.
She was carrying a small bouquet of freshly picked flowers, and I could only assume that they were for mom possibly awaiting her return. There is a sweet innocence of a child. At that age they don't know hate or pain. Well, they shouldn't know these things although some do unfortunately. We won't go there because I keep this and most all my tales positive. She was full of conversation and looking around at her surroundings. As I sat there drinking my coffee, I readied my camera, actually my cellphone. I have noticed it is much easier to sneak a photo with it. I quickly did a quick edited as photos like these need to be raw and real so that they are able to unleash the inner story they hold.
I printed it off put my sticker on the back in hopes they visit my website. It is one of the unique ways that I have found to engage with people in a most positive way. I got up to pay for a refill of coffee behind her and her dad and got dads attention and presented him with the photo. He looked bewildered as most people do when I do this lol. I told him it was my way of presenting my business and most importantly to place a smile upon someone's day.
As I continued to sit there just listening, I couldn't help but observe this gentleman on his laptop by the window. He seemed to be very engaged in what he was doing. He had his coffee and what looked like to be some notes. I didn't see him hardly look up. I guess at some point maybe he felt me looking and looked over at me, I smiled, and he returned one as well. I can't help but think that maybe sometimes we get to wrapped up in things to take a moment and just smile. Maybe the smile helped his day, maybe my observing him made him uncomfortable, who knows really. It wasn't long after that, I noticed him close his computer and gather his notes. He made a neat stack, threw away he plate from a morning bagel. He looked over once again and smile and nodded his head as a lot of gentlemen will do in acknowledgement of another. We're simple like that, we can hold entire conversations with just a head nod and a few hand gestures. Unfortunately, I was unable to get his picture printed in time before he left. I will hold onto it, maybe I shall see him again.
I typically don't do three Shots in the Street, usually 1-2 for the simple fact that it's hard to remember everything about each of them. I like to get certain details to at least give me a base to write from. This couple were just two totally fascinating people. I could not help but hear their conversation as the tables were so close that it was like we were all at the same table. Their interactions with each other were funny, serious, and quite interesting. It seems as if they were on a journey on their sailboat, and Oriental was just a stop along their way. Once I printed the picture and handed it to them it kind of broke the ice. It derailed them leaving in amazement. She of course thought wow am I really that serious, as the part of the conversation that was happening when I took this was that he might be the captain on this venture, but she was the first mate and could hold her own. Gentlemen we all know at the end of the day who is in charge, we are of course.......with their permission most of the time. As I watched them leave, I could tell their conversation was about the picture and they were full of smiles, and they held the picture close and continued to look at it. With that we shall come to a close.......remember share a smile......it just might be the best part of someone's day!
