It flipped the switch

We were at a friend’s daughter’s 5th birthday party last month. It was a beautiful hot day, in a beautiful setting. I hadn’t brought my camera but thought I’d take a few photos with my iPhone, like everyone else. It was a relaxing afternoon and then just before the cake was going to come out, the birthday girl’s mom asked if I could take photos.

That’s the click.

It flipped the switch, turned on the photographer in me. Not to compare myself to a dog, but it reminded me of a service dog who is happy to be doing his job. And it’s almost as if I see through different eyes afterwards. My story-teller switch is ON.

There’s something of a relief, like an open flowing of the natural energy of my role in the world. My goal becomes capturing the soul of that gathering of humans, the feeling of their relationships, the humorous interactions and reactions, the fun, the light, the fabric of it. It’s one of my main raisons d’être.