Henry

From time to time I will probably post some “b-side” images… These are images that I particularly enjoy, but perhaps don’t exactly fit into my portfolio, per se.  Usually it is that there is some story that surrounds the image that tricks my mind into thinking that it is “better” than it really is…that really it is probably more blog image than portfolio image.  Determining blog vs. portfolio vs. trash has to be the most difficult part of self-editing.  As the image-maker, I was there.  I know the back-story, the context, the things happening outside of the frame.  It is all to easy for me to add in this context and intimate knowledge when I view the image.  The trick is figuring out if it is actually there. Because for me, photography is as much about creating an impression as it is capturing a literal moment.  It is how I judge a “successful” image and in my opinion, probably hints at the purpose of still image making.  Can we, as photographers, impregnate a single moment, a single frame, with all of the swirling context/life/mess that is going on around us.  The best images tend to give you a sense of a person or place or event without making any claims to have all the answers. A good still image, in particular, makes room for imagination… 

Anyways, I digress.  

So, a “tour story.”

I was traveling with a band when the van broke down (bound to happen) in very classic “on the road” fashion.  Essentially it goes like this:  Van breaks down and coasts to a stop in a slightly shady part of an unfamiliar town.  All repair shops are either closed (!) or cannot look at the van for several hours.  The band has a gig in 8 hours in a town that is a little under 7 hours away.  The gig is one that really cannot be cancelled without some serious issues (including legal ones).  Other than cracking the hood and tinkering, there just aren’t really any options.  Recipe for something interesting to happen, right?  Absolutely.  Henry rolled up in a cherry red 1970’s Cadillac smoking two cigarettes.  One in his hand and one in his mouth so that he could always have one ready to go… Well turns out Henry has “repaired a few cars in my day” and offers to help diagnose and solve the van trouble.  He literally looked under the hood (without touching anything or trying to get the engine to turn over) and said, “alternator. let’s go.”  He walks back to his Cadillac and says over his shoulder, “i know a guy.”  He invites the lead singer into the car to accompany him to visit the “guy” to get a new (used) alternator.  Being the tour photographer, I absolutely had to get in that car as well…  Well, long story short, about 45 minutes and two or three stops later (including one for gas station fried chicken and one for a case of cigarettes) Henry had the alternator and the guys were fast friends.  Henry even used to “gig for james brown…” Back at the van, Henry made the other band guys do all the grunt labor while he stood in the back chain smoking and laughing at how badly the guys were doing… Well it turns out Henry had fixed a few cars in his day…once the new (used) alternator was in place the van came back online and we were off.  Henry asked to be paid in Chinese food from across the street… They gave him a little more than that… Amazingly the band made it to the gig with a few minutes to spare, a new friend, and a great story…