To fully understand this post, I strongly recommend that you watch/listen to this four minute TED talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/steven_addis_a_father_daughter_bond_one_photo_at_a_time.html
Steven Addis, a photographer, tells of his 15 most favorite images, mostly taken by strangers. These 15 images document his visit to New York the same time every year with his daughter since she was a one-year-old. In the four minute talk, Addis mentions that he relied on the kindness of strangers to snap the image. He gives a challenge too, to document our special moments.
While in Paris, ( inspired by Addis' address), I have had the most heartfelt moments when I have offered to take the photo of strangers. Twice now I have walked up to the photographer and offered to take the photo so he or she may be in the photo with his/her loved one. In this smallest of gestures I have felt that heart-warmth that comes from engagement with a stranger when lending a hand.
The first couple was French and the second couple was from Moscow Russia. In each instance the borders, the politics, the differences, shrunk in a matter of seconds.
The Russian man asked where I was from in his limited English. I told him Salt Lake City. He mentioned "Mormons." Yes, I responded with delight. I am a Mormon. "Well, then congratulations because Mormon is interesting." Indeed it is I responded. There were a few more pleasant exchanges and then we parted. But it was a chance, a very small opportunity to witness the joy I have from my "interesting" religion!
Today on the terrace of the Musee D'Orsay, there was an older couple taking individual photos of each other. The moment was right. She had flaming orangish reddish hair --she looked more like a punk than an old lady. I offered to take their photo. They were happy. When done, the man asked me where I was from. United States I answered and he gestured like it was obvious and wanted to know the state. "Salt Lake City." Oh, they knew Salt Lake and had been there and visited the tabernacle. They were from Israel. The conversation continued and I was able to ask them how long they'd been in Israel. Since she was 1and a 1/2 and he was 4. Her mother had escaped the Holocaust posing as a Catholic in Poland. As she told me their stories, her lips quivered and she got tears in her eyes and I couldn't help but tear up too. Her generation was the one that built up Israel. They don't have earthquakes or mudslides but they have terrorists. At the end of our conversation we hugged and I was blessed for the encounter.
Today on the terrace of the Musee D'Orsay, there was an older couple taking individual photos of each other. The moment was right. She had flaming orangish reddish hair --she looked more like a punk than an old lady. I offered to take their photo. They were happy. When done, the man asked me where I was from. United States I answered and he gestured like it was obvious and wanted to know the state. "Salt Lake City." Oh, they knew Salt Lake and had been there and visited the tabernacle. They were from Israel. The conversation continued and I was able to ask them how long they'd been in Israel. Since she was 1and a 1/2 and he was 4. Her mother had escaped the Holocaust posing as a Catholic in Poland. As she told me their stories, her lips quivered and she got tears in her eyes and I couldn't help but tear up too. Her generation was the one that built up Israel. They don't have earthquakes or mudslides but they have terrorists. At the end of our conversation we hugged and I was blessed for the encounter.
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