No Passport Needed

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Worldwide | Friday, October 15, 2010 | 5 photos

This is a story about not needing a passport to find something of particular interest in our own back yards. Nomads wonder the world searching for a picture that captures the simplicity of the human spirit and every weekend I witness that in my own backyard of Walnut Creek, California at the Farmer’s Market.
The market place is always intriguing with vendor’s tempting shoppers to buy their fruit, but one voice always stands out to me, I don’t know his name, but I know his voice, it sings.
We never exchange words, this vendor and I. I don’t speak his language and he doesn’t speak mine, yet on some level communication is established.
His hands tell a story of hard work, eyes red and tired, thin and wrinkled. He makes your day by adding extra treats to your purchases. He is uplifting and I always seek him out. I wanted to capture his indomitable spirit and hard life.
I asked permission to take the shots and I felt humbled and needed to snap quickly. After all, he was giving his time and I needed to be respectful.
I want to be better, I really, really want to learn and work very hard.
Growing up I would watch Wild Kingdom on Sundays. I would travel with them to places I could only dream of and return home after the show.
I have a profound passion for the simplicity of hardworking people. I want to be with someone who wants to teach their skill. I want to learn to take the shot the world is in awe, to show fantasy, to give the gift of longing to be there, to show the world through my pictures so people will love it as much as I do. That would be my greatest payback.