I haven't blogged in quite a bit, so here I am, yet again. Whats new? Well, I graduated from Central Michigan University in December. I started back at Bay Bread, Co. this summer and I am registered to take Visual Comm classes at Northwestern Michigan College, starting in the fall. I have also been helping a good friend shoot weddings, as her assistant. It has been a great experience and I am very thankful for this opportunity.
Yesterday, I few of Traverse City's "bums" were hanging around the bakery, as usual. I don't like using that word, bum, but I don't know what else to call them. Every time I see them they are drunk and walking around in a haze. Any who, one of them was really intoxiated and ended up passing out and crashing on some of the plastic chairs and table outside the bakery. Literally crashed. He scattered the table and chairs and was passed out on the sidewalk. What do you do? His friends eventually picked him up and he was having a heck of a time walking. The journalist in me wanted to go out to my car and snap some photos. The other side of me was maybe a little scared that his drunk posse would beat me up? After work, I was driving by the bay and what did appear before my wandering eyes? The bunch of them, fast asleep underneath the trees by the bay. What a photo. But I was scared. When do we as journalist tear down that barrier of sympathy?
You can call them hobos. Personally, I would only go looking for trouble if I knew the outcome would benefit society somehow. Sometimes though you might just surprise yourself. Everyone thought I was going to get my ass kicked or killed when I drove down to hang out with the Michigan Militia during a training day, but they turned out to be pretty friendly and didn't mind me being there. I would bet most of the time people are just misunderstood and wouldn't mind you being there to set others straight... at least that's my thought on it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Josh! I do try to think of the benefits of the action before committing it... If I had gone ahead and shot them, maybe it could be used to bring more awareness to the homeless situation that is swept under the rug in TC... How are you doing with your photojournalism journey?!
ReplyDeleteMy photojournalism journey is pretty much just a hobby at this point. I'm about to start work at Walmart... so yeah, I would say it's not going to well haha. I think that I would rather bust into the action sports scene than work for newspapers. So hopefully after this winter and a few workshops I can build my portfolio for that. I'm just kind of sick of the depressing news scene. Hope you are doing better off than I am.
ReplyDeleteI can't say that I am but I am going to make a more thorough effort for things to change in that direction! haha
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