Best of the Accidental Lot

I am the worst judge of my photos. Even though I’m the one who espouses making photos from experiences that have expanded my understanding of community and my involvement in it. The experience is the most important part of any good photo.

Sometimes the photos I write off as too simple, or not very evocative, or lacking a proper use of my skill set are the ones that get the most praise. I’ve given up guessing and have to surrender my belief that a photo is really good and my disbelief that someone could be so effusive about a photo I think is ordinary.

When it came time to choose from the approximately 12,000 photos I gave the Westerville History Museum to create the exhibit that became Accidental History I knew that no matter the photos chosen I would have a different opinion than theirs.

I took my own advice and surrendered to their choices. Even to the point of recropping a couple of photos to get the less expensive standard-size prints made. I didn’t offer suggestions, themes, or styles for the exhibit.

I just surrendered to the process. After all, at some point in the far distant future, archivists at the History Museum will be looking through my archive making a series of choices that will probably be affected by the changing styles and mores of the future Westerville.

When the researchers make selections, I hope it includes this iPhone photo of children dressed as Star Wars characters at a Trunk or Trick event at Westerville Community Church.

Making a photo at trunk or treat is always difficult as the cars are usually spread out through the parking lot and kids with their parents straggle through the lot usually facing away from the camera. The best vantage point would be inside a trunk looking out and that is not a place that can easily get into or comfortably fit.

Didn’t take long for me to give up looking for an experience and the accompanying photos. I bid adieu and began my walk to the far edge of the parking lot where I’d parked to keep out of the way and not be mistaken for a car filled with candy.

That’s when I saw the Star Wars kids. I’ve begun to suggest that the three met my criteria for making a photo every day for more than 19 years. The trio were definitely new, different, and better.

My telephoto lens was in my car at the corner of the lot. Using a telephoto would have narrowed the perspective and made the depth of field much smaller for a blurred background.

Made the photo on the iPhone with the telephoto lens. Edited in Snapseed.

Of the 75 photos in Accidental History, this is my favorite, I like it the most. I don’t care what you think. Not really. I do care what you think but I’m happy with whatever that is. I care in a ted Lasso kind of way.

I’ll be revisiting Accidental History now and then telling information about individual photos.

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