Developing: Story Telling

Pushing outside my comfort zone to explore new photographic subjects

Last week I took part in the Exposure PDX competition. The competition was hosted by Dustin the owner of Briq Studio and prompted a group of photographers to explore Portland’s Old Town; better know as Chinatown.

This was my first time competing in a competition like this, but never-the-less I was excited to meet some new photographers from the area and explore Old Town with new intent.

The categories consisted of architecture, small-business, and people. My initial gut feeling was to attempt to capture photographs of people and submit to that category since I often shoot portraits of people. But I had this little voice telling me to attempt to photograph for the small-business prompt.

For some time now I’ve wanted to venture into more lifestyle and marketing photos for local businesses. The skill to take multiple images and have them weave a narrative both within and in-between the photographs is one I’ve since envied in many great photographers. This photographic story telling is seen in journalism, documentary, and marketing work often.

So I set off to challenge myself within a challenge set up by the competition; I love complicating things if you couldn’t tell.

In my minds eye I saw a series of 3 photographs; ONE a straight on portrait of a chef, TWO an intricate shot of the chef cookin’ up some deliciousness on a grill, and THREE a close up detail of the utensils used by the chef.

But often what we imagine is far from what we find ourselves chasing. (I will return to these imaginary images someday)

What I found… Who I found was a man name George.

While posted up on the corner of SW 3rd & Ash; I noticed him going car to car talking to the drivers and promptly moving along after a brief interaction. Out of curiosity I approached him and asked what he was doing.

“I owe my friend $5 so I’m washing windows to pay him back,” he replied.

During our interaction a car had pulled up in front of us. Out popped an older couple getting ready for a dinner at Mothers Bistro. George wasted no time approaching the lady getting out of the passenger side of the vehicle and asked if he could clean their windows. She politely gestured to her husband for the final verdict. At this point I couldn’t help but interject a little bit and urged them to let him clean their windows as he just needed a couple of bucks to pay his friend back. The man agreed to let him clean the windows. Giving him a few bucks and a pat on the back.

While cleaning the windows I began chatting with George and simultaneously began making photographs. It turns out he often will clean windows to make some extra money. In fact, I wasn’t even the first photographer to approach him and write an article about him; although I have searched and cannot find the article.

When finished with cleaning the windows of the car whose owner we entrapped into hiring his services, George packed up his cleaning materials to go on to look for more customers. While doing so I noticed something odd about his bucket.

And of course I got the photo.

Now I’m not entirely sure if the liquid he used to clean the cars was water or some Monster and Modelo concoction. Never-the-less I think the honest work of George should not go without notice and I hope he made the $5 to pay back his friend. I genuinely felt we made a connection and respected one another through the odd process of photographing and following around a complete stranger through the lens of curiosity.

Coming back to the Exposure PDX competition I submitted these three photos to the small-business category. I felt good about them because they feel raw, genuine, and personable. It conveys a one-man operation that has the spirit of a small business.

That being said I did not win my category, but realized that wasn’t my goal in the first place. I made some new connections with fellow photographers and ultimately I successfully learned new ways to interact with my subjects and weave a narrative between multiple photos.

I am grateful to have had this opportunity to grow my skills in new areas.

Thanks again to Briq Studio for hosting; and for ProPhoto sponsoring the event.

Here’s a few more photos from my time photographing Old Town.

Thank you for reading <3