Here I Am

“Life doesn’t wave as it’s speeding by. Better grab on fast and hold on tight. And don’t ever forget to fight this good fight. Here I am.”

It’s a calling.

I make pictures for myself first, and then for everybody else. I’m there for myself but being there for everybody else comes in a close second.

I read something about a woman who was scheduled to get her first vaccination when she learned of a man scheduled for open heart surgery, but he needed to be vaccinated. Try as he might he could not find an appointment. So, she gave her appointment to him. A stranger.

After three miserable years and one horrific year, stories like this are starting to pop up. Don’t pass them by. Just know that’s it’s worth helping each other out.

Besides, what did the late Leon Russell say? Don’t pass by a stranger needing help. It just might be the prince of peace returning.

It’s the first meteorological day of spring. I’d say yippee, but we’ve spring-like weather for a few weeks with a hard freeze in between. The weather yesterday was in the upper 70s or lower 80s.

People were out and about.

Making this picture then and publishing it today seems like a good way to kick off my Jefferson Highway/Levee project.

This is the levee. At dusk during a very nice day. I’m lucky to have been there, sorta.

Opening text by Mary Chapin Carpenter.

This picture is the result of photographer’s luck and good driving. But, not by me.

My driver who says she must not be named, saw what I saw, turned the corner in second gear, double clutched into first gear, turned another corner and came to a stop right in front of the picture.

After that it was easy. Point the camera and press the button. Yes, a real camera. A Leica camera.

This is my yearlong project that started two months late. I can’t be messing around with smartphones and computational images. I want and need a big beefy file.

I have one more picture for tomorrow and then I’m out making pictures again. It feels sort of good after year on the sidelines.

Stay safe. Stay mighty. You know all the rest. Enjoy all the spring light and air.