Before Leaving the Coffee Shop

For a photographer like me, "haunting" (Martin's term) another photographer is strange. I admire Martin's work and I am interested in learning how he takes pictures, but it was boring until I decided to take pictures of everyone taking pictures and to take my own pictures of Martin and the camera crew and the subjects they were (and were not) taking pictures of.

The sound guy was stuck without the ability to take pictures. Only sound.

Is it me or does Martin's stance and especially his left hand look like he might draw a six-shooter out at any minute. Very Gary Cooper.

In the Coffee Shop

Lots of pictures were taken in the shop that morning. I watched Martin and the camera crew moving about the place shooting, patiently looking, shooting. I became distracted by this banana that seemed 'ripe for the picking' so to speak. I wondered would Martin see this lonely banana as something that could become "A MARTIN PARR" moment, frozen forever in time, worthy of museums, books, lectures, discussions, collectors and collections. Or would it be passed over. Passed over after all like most of the world -- even when Martin passes through with his camera and his great eye and heart for picturing. Everything can't be pictured.

I mentioned the banana to Martin. I said something lame like, "Hey, Martin, did you see that banana?" Martin responded cautiously, "Yes, maybe its a plant." I took that as a good sign. Maybe Martin thought the banana had potential but was too much like "A MARTIN PARR" moment for its own good. I consoled myself with the thought that had Martin and this banana met 30 years ago before "A MARTIN PARR" moment had come to stand for something, perhaps the banana could have had a role to play. I took the picture myself with my cell phone.