I met a co-worker, Vince, at a tavern tonight to discuss some upcoming projects. I was completely distracted by this man over in the corner madly typing away on his laptop. I was trying to figure out what he was thinking about. He wasn't a very attractive man. He was balding well before his time and this made him look much older than he likely was. He didn't smile or socialize with anyone in the bar. He never looked up to enjoy the environment around him. Why did he come to the bar? Why not stay home? Does he not have beer and wireless in his apartment? Could it have been the beer on tap that dragged him out into the outside world? Was he avoiding someone? Did he still live with his mother and needed to be away from her nagging words? Was he writing a blog? Maybe one about people minding their own business? How did he have such hyper focus?
As a thousand scenarios ran through my head, I realized my perspective would never match his. Even if I came up with the correct answer about who he really was and what he was really doing, I would never know if I was right. Two people can be within a few feet of each other at the same time & place and have two totally different perspectives.
Photography is fascinating because it allows for the prolonged stare. Once the exposure is made the viewer has permission to dissect the subject with his eyes. Tonight my perspective frozen in time. And the subject's perspective? Transient thoughts.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.