…and I’m sick and cranky, so what do I do? I decide I need to take another whack at how Nikola Tamindzic (so very, very unsafe for work! Mom, just don’t go; Trust me.) gets those interesting shots. (Let’s hear it for Noodle! My uncomplaining model.) And the verdict is: I’m getting closer. Close enough that I think I’ll give it another try tomorrow night when I shoot Raleigh’s First Night.

I was asked this afternoon and I’ve been trying to come up with an angle since. I’ve only committed to the afternoon stuff and the early acorn drop (it’s a Raleigh thing) because of my cold. Knowing myself though, I expect this will probably turn into a full day’s shoot with me rolling all the way up to midnight. Bio Ritmo is the featured evening performer, and while I’ve never seen them before, I’ve got their CD “Rumba, Baby, Rumba!” and I really dig it. I imagine they’ll be great in person. And, I did get some really good info on shooting concerts today…

Right. So. The “angle”. What should it be? The afternoon is all family activities and I’m hopeful I’ll be able to shoot a bunch of natural light stuff. As this was a last minute thing all around, I’m rolling in without credentials (well, I do have my employee badge). Not a huge deal, but I get a little worried when I start pointing cameras at kids. Yes, I have a right to shoot. Yes, it is a news event in public spaces. Yes, I ask all parents permission before I shoot or, if I can’t, before I publish the image. Thing is, I know how tweaky some parents can be and the last thing I want to do is make anyone uncomfortable. Anyway…none of that’s “the angle”, but it is related.

I decided on the way home that I’m going to be looking for joy. The pure, unadulterated joy of children (and those willing to join them) at a happening. I’ve never been to First Night (it’s booze free, and I’m more of a shot-and-a-beer-happy-new-year-you-sexy-dame kinda guy), but I hear that it holds much enjoyment for families. So that’s my self assignment: capture the joy. Secondary assignment: get some stuff that doesn’t suck and that can go up on the web as a chronicle of the evening.

Yours sincerely,
Sean “P.J. when you’re in a pinch” Birdsell

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