Happy Birthday Guys!

Today is Brandon and Kit’s 28th birthday.  Happy Birthday Guys!  

You’ve given me a lot to be thankful for; I’d like to mention one of them now.

Back in 1987, a bit before your third birthday, I got back from the farm one afternoon after yet another effort at trying to find a job in the DC area.  I was tired, frustrated and most of all wanted to get away from my worries and people in general.  You two were playing around and I thought of a way to escape.  “Hey guys, want to go tromp around and take some pictures?”  “You gonna bring the big camera?”  “Sure.”

So off we went down the hill, me toting my 4x5 camera and big wooden tripod, you running ahead of me laughing and opening the gate for me, as we then walked across the fields towards the creek at the far end of the farm.  It was late afternoon and the sun was beginning to set, casting a nice glow on the trees at the far end.  So we tromped about as far away as we could until I decided I was where I wanted to be.

It was a routine we knew well - stay out from in front of the camera, and leave me alone until I’m done.  I took one set of photos, and then another, and I think a third.  Eventually you knew I was done and you asked to look.  So I opened the shutter and lifted you one by one to wrap the dark cloth around your heads to look at the ground glass.  Pretty much every time we did that one or both of you would make a comment about how strange it was to look at everything upside down.  

Then you asked me to take your picture.  I don’t know which one of you asked, but the other chimed in immediately.  All sorts of technical issues ran through my mind - basically, how do I get enough depth of field and a fast enough shutter speed to get the two of you in focus.  Kids don’t like to stay still very long, not in the least!  That and the sky was dimming quickly, the last of the golden glow across the fields, we were almost in shadow and everything was getting dark quick.  Then I hit me that really, just the act of doing it will be enough, who really cares about the result. I noticed a stump and figured if I could get you guys to lean on the stump, at least you’d stay stationary to where I could set up the camera and have a focus point.  Hopefully you’d stay still long enough to get something that looked like human beings on film.

I set up the camera quickly, got you guys in position, reached into my bag and . . . realized I had shot the last of my negatives.  All of my film holders were exposed.  I told you guys I was out of film and you were so disappointed.  I looked into my bag to get it ready to pack my camera and noticed something, “Wait a second guys, I’ve got some polaroid film!”  I opened the box and found had one sheet of 4x5 positive/negative polaroid film left.  One sheet, one chance, dying light, active boys and a 4x5.  Boy was this a shot in the dark! (pun intended).

I set everything up, told you to stay still, and when I pressed the cable release, Kit moved.  “Oh great!” I thought.  As I ran the film through the rollers and waved the film in the air, waiting for the second hand to make its way around the watch, I’m sure I kept saying, “Why did you have to move?”  I didn’t expect much.

I was wrong.

As I peeled the cover sheets back, I realized I had just made the best portrait I’ve ever taken.  Of the guys, of anyone.

I was suddenly facing a dilemma.  Here I was, in the middle of a field with a very fragile and perishable polaroid positive, and a 4x5 negative that needed to get washed and then soaked in fixer (yes, I had some fixer at the house . . . I think), and 35 pounds of camera gear.  How was I going to get back to the house and preserve the images?

Well I coated the print to protect it and waved it in the air to dry, knowing that it’d take quite a while to dry totally.  I separated the negative, coated with chemicals, from the backing paper trying not to let it stick on to anything.  I think I had you guys help lift the straps of my bag and tripod as I stuck my arms through them - negative in one hand, print in the other.  I stood up and started walking, you opening the gates and clearing the way for me.

Long story short, by the time we got to the house, the negative was coated in field grass; but the print suffered only a couple of finger prints (thank goodness for the coating), which you can see.  It sits at home today, still the best portrait I’ve ever taken.  Of anyone.

So guys, thank you for that day.  Thank you for that photograph.  And Kit, thanks for moving.

It’s just one of many things you’ve given me that I’m thankful for.

Happy Birthday!

Love,

Dad