Last weekend I brought prints to the Drop In Centre. But none of the people I’d photographed were there, so I brought them again today. I showed Terry’s pictures to him. His first response was, “There’s a hard-looking man.”

“Really?” I asked. “I don’t think so.”

“Yeah,” he said. “He looks like maybe he’s depressed about something.”

He flipped through them, commenting on each one. When he got to the one with his hand to his forehead, he said, “There’s a man with a migraine.”

I always worry when I show my prints to the people in them. I suspect for many of them it’s been a very long time since they’ve seen a photo of themselves, and it’s always a little shocking to be confronted with yourself as others see you. So far, everyone’s been happy with them, once they get over any shock, and they’ve been very pleased to be given copies. Today, Terry asked if they were for sale, and I said no, thinking he meant to other people. But I soon realized he was actually asking if he could buy the prints. “These are for you!” I said, and he was surprised and happy. I’m so flattered he would have paid money for them.

* * *

My workplace is having a photo contest as a fundraiser for United Way. I’m considering entering some, since the Drop In Centre receives funding from the United Way. So I asked John, who I photographed back in July, if he would mind if I submitted a photo of him. He replied that it was fine and he was flattered that I would even want to. These conversations are helping me feel more confident with my project. I’m ready to keep moving forward.