A Fair Occasion

This is Ervin Waters. I had met him a few weeks back when I was downtown shooting pictures for one of my photography classes. For some reason these last couple weeks I couldn't get the curiosity out of my head wondering who he was and what he was all about. When we made eye contact at the fair, I instantly recognized him and I knew there was a story waiting to be told. 

Ervin graduated from Langston College just a few years back with an Organization Management degree. When I asked him what he does for a living he told me he is a writer. He lives in Oklahoma City, but hopes one day to move to Seattle to pursue a career with his writing. He is currently a writer for "The Curbside Chronicles." For those of you who don't know what that is, it is a magazine about homeless people telling their stories, and they sell them to help them make a little bit of money.

This was a true inspiration to me that he wants to pursue his writing so badly that he will do whatever it takes and take advantage of the opportunities he is given. I am so thankful that I was able to run into Ervin at the fair and get a chance to thank him for letting me take his pictures and to check up on how he is doing. 

The fact that he recognized me and thanked me for what I did for him makes me realize that this blog is more than just writing for you all to read. Its about the lives I get a chance to impact on the way, as well as they impact my life. I love that I get to share this wonderful journey with you.

What a Small World

As I set out this week to find someone I felt had a story to tell, I instantly thought of the State Fair. There are plenty of interesting people out there with very interesting stories. As I was trying to find the "perfect subject" I ran across a man that I kept making awkward eye contact with. 

I knew he looked familiar but I could not remember how I knew him. Then it clicked. As I was in a summer class I went out to downtown Oklahoma City and passed out sandwiches and water to homeless people, and in turn they would let me take their pictures. He was one of the people I had photographed so I went up and spoke to him and we remembered each other.

I found it so ironic that I ran into him at the fair and that we both recognized each other. I instantly knew that he would be my spotlight this week.

For You and Me

This blog sparked from my inspiration as you saw in my last post. It is something that I find that I am passionate about and think it is interesting. 

I can't help but wonder, if I don't tell these people's stories who will? If I don't take these photographs who will?

I plan to start by posting one blog a week to ease myself and my readers into this. As I get more comfortable I hope to start posting at least two a week so that it will give my readers something they want to follow and something they look forward to.

I would love feedback from my readers to hear what they enjoy reading about and seeing, because if it weren't for my readers this blog would just be empty words.

These stories have touched my life and made me view life differently, and if nothing else, I hope that is what my readers get out of this blog.

The Inspiration

Everyone needs an inspiration behind what they do, and this man was my inspiration behind my blog. His name is Mr. Blankenship and as I was walking out of the OKC Bombing Memorial I stopped to say hello, ask him how he was, and asked if he needed a water or a sandwich. As I asked him he first hesitated and thought I wasn't talking to him. Once he realized I was his face instantly lit up and he told me how happy he was I had taken the time to talk to him, because no one does.

As our conversation progressed he started sharing stories about himself and I learned that he had graduated from college with a bachelors degree, and had served 5 tours oversea. His life started going downhill after his divorce with his wife. He also told me that he loved poetry.  He then shared a touching poem about his life and all the struggles he has gone through. It brought tears to my eyes hearing some of the things he told me. He told me now he is just worthless and has nothing else to live for. I told him that was far from true and that there is a reason for everything in life we just have to find out what that is. 

After spending just 20 minutes with Mr. Blankenship it opened my eyes to the lives of the homeless and made me realize that there is always
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

Here's the Plan

Many people go through their daily lives passing by the homeless on the street and not even giving them a second look. This blog will be about telling the stories of the homeless. I plan on going out in the OKC metro area to begin with, and photographing the homeless in the area. When I photograph them I also plan on taking the time to speak to them and learn about their lives. I will be writing about my experiences with them, because I believe that the best stories are those that are untold.