Its better to just not assume things, because nobody likes to be wrong.
Did I assume I would be having lunch at the top of the World Trade Center in Dallas, TX, today?
Then again, could I have assumed that?
As a freelance photojournalist, sometimes you get jobs like this: come photograph the “red carpet” premier of an independent film. Then, somehow in the mix, you get swept 15 stories into the air and…
…yeah.
Assume that your significant other loves you. Assume that your cat will curl up on your lap when you sit down to watch TV tonight. Assume that there are good people in the world. Just don’t assume you’ll know where you’ll be when you decide to live an artist’s life.
I say this without any pretentiousness: I love my job. But because I love it, I try my hardest to do my best in everything that I do relating to it. I mean, I was a horrible student: made pretty regular B’s, an A every now and then, but definitely a few C’s in there. But that’s because it grieved my spirit to be sitting in a classroom like that.
Its not the famous people to meet or the extraordinary places or whatever… above all, I genuinely believe this job serves a greater good. Even as simple as a “red carpet” premier. I’m serving a level above myself, but in doing so it is fulfilling.
And moreso, if the images never see the light of day, its all about the people with which I interact on a daily basis. Could I have some positive affect on them? Today, is it the president of the company that owns the building in which the WTC is housed? Is it the girl serving us lunch?
Everybody everywhere is our teacher and wherever you go, people are just people.
Stay tuned, my friends…
-Noah D.
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PS: Anyways… I really did shoot the premier. Just not relevant to my thoughts at the moment. But here’s what it looked like, at least.
