Doylestown Memorial
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This picture is very precious to me. The first time I saw it on my laptop screen, it
occurred to me that perhaps I was a serious photographer. It is loaded with emotion and never ceases to evoke sadness and anger in me. Lots and lots of anger as I see the pain and suffering inflicted on others by those who peddle hate in this country, and those who promote gun violence.
Late one afternoon after visiting the Michener Art Museum in Doylestown Pennsylvania we strolled to the center of town looking for a restaurant. There, we encountered a gathering of a few hundred people with police cars, the press, and a small number of dignitaries. They were participating in a memorial service for the 49 slain in the Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando Florida. We decided to skip dinner, listened to the speeches, watched the candles being lit, and were very moved by the experience.
We street photographers are voyeurs. We photograph other people and their lives. Here I did not feel like a voyeur. We were participants and when I saw a young woman painfully grieving close by, I took the photograph. I did it openly as only one who is part of a shared experience can do. You can see her grieving openly. I was doing it inwardly. She, perhaps for someone she knew. I, for her and all those impacted by the murder.
About this photo: what I had in mind when taking this, were the photos of David Heath. His black and white photographs of human emotion are exquisite. He died recently but his photographs can be seen online. The actual prints are stunning. This photo is my homage to him.