It Really is A Small World | Adirondacks, NY

September 01, 2010

So a few weeks ago we headed to the Adirondacks to go camping for our friend’s 30th birthday. It was about a 4 hour drive and I was pleasantly surprised that over 20 of us made the trip. I was also surprised to find out we weren’t just camping…we were truly “camping”. Camping to me is pitching a tent on someone’s lawn and having access to bathroom facilities and a refrigerator. Nope. I experienced the joy of cooking hot dogs on a stick, bathing in a lake, and sleeping on the bare hard ground. My body didn’t appreciate the hard ground part, but we did have a blast.

The Adirondacks are comprised of many small towns and on this particular day, the closest one was having a parade. We decided to venture to the festivities and while looking for a place to park, I noticed this patriotic woman sitting by herself waving her flag and waiting for the commotion to begin. I screamed with glee when I saw her and told my companions in the car my wish to capture her portrait, but we were on a mission to find our party. Of course we lost our caravan and ended up walking the streets looking for our friends. A few minutes later, Billy pointed out my previous captivation. “Hey look, there’s the woman you saw in the car, now you can take her picture!”

My stomach fell. I’d never approached a stranger before and asked to take their portrait, but I really wanted to photograph her. Really really bad. Of course when you have 3 people staring at you and expecting you to march right up to the subject, you grow some nerve quite quickly.

Charlotte was wearing a straw sunhat and a name tag. Oh my gosh was she darling. I asked her if I could take her portrait for my personal collection and her face lit up instantly. She had never been asked to be photographed before and she quickly started chattering. At one point she questioned how I was going to take a good photo if she was in the picture, but I knew she was immensely delighted that I had asked her.

The photos weren’t award winning, but that’s not what it was about. I simply wanted her portrait and I turned my camera to show her the results. She was thrilled but I was again embarrassed. I wanted to share the images with Charlotte for her kindness, but I didn’t have a business card in my pocket. Should I ask her for her email? Ummm….how about her mailing address…..well that would be awkward. So I just thanked her and left, but I felt really guilty for taking a photo she adored then walking away.

Hours later we finally found our friends. We shared stories of our adventures down the street of this small town when I told them of the adorable Charlotte. As I passed my camera around to share the images, my friend’s father exclaimed, “She’s our neighbor!”. YAY! Of the ten houses on their rural road, my one and only portrait subject of the day was their friendly neighbor who they agreed to give her prints I would send by mail.

I was thrilled to not only have concurred my fear of photographing strangers but also to bring a little joy to a sweet woman named Charlotte.

Posted In: The Deelicious Life

Add a Comment