I love this newspaper and the community i serve.
I don't say that lightly.
I believe a journalist is a public servant in so many ways. I never felt i worked so much for The Meadville Tribune as an organization or our parent company, instead i felt i represented them as i worked for the people of Crawford County. Telling stories and documenting history is a monumentally important roll. I take it very serious and its because of this, that even the little moments i witness become huge enough to become note worthy.
This past Friday and Saturday I had been in a little bit of a daze (for reasons I'll explain later in this post,) but i have also been very focussed on what i want to achieve with my life with a camera. I made two pictures that exemplify what it is that i think community journalism is all about.
Beyond the big stories we must pay attention to the little moments that happen every single day that, for the most part go unnoticed, but without, the fabric of our society wouldn't have its wonderful texture.
What an extraordinarily beautiful thing for me to stumble upon and witness. It was a gift---not a gift because it provided content for the newspaper, but a gift because it is why we must still have faith in humanity and why we must seek out and find these wonderful stories to tell. And this happened whether i was there to record it or not. This will run in our newspaper because we care, because the community is a rich and wonderful one.
At least it can be.
The following night i was at the regional wrestling championships at Sharon High School. We have a pretty solid group of wrestlers in Crawford County this year and I know a few of these wrestlers have the potential of making wrestling history. One of these wrestlers, Dylan Reynolds, is undefeated with a record of 46-0 this year. When i think of this I'm dumbfounded. So young and so focussed!
Earlier this year i had the pleasure of making his senior portraits which enabled me to chat with him on a more personal basis. I just like this guy, he is funny, he has a great out look and his dedication to his sport is unmatched. Other than the muscles he reminds me of myself (in determination--not physically, he could break me in half with one arm and both legs tied behind his back!)
But knowing him a little and covering him for the last few years I was able to pay attention to some details.
Photographically this isn't much of a picture(neither of them are award winners), but this is heart and soul what life is and being able to witness it is extraordinary. It is what i live for!
So in 1997 i came to this community fresh faced and eager to make documents of history. almost 18 years later i feel i know the importance of this more than ever. And i love this community and the fact they have embraced me and let me into their lives.
Thats what makes this so hard to say and do. Friday afternoon I accepted a job at the Oil City Derrick just down the road a piece. I had decided i needed to have stability in my life and work full-time doing what I believe i do best, making documents of our time and place. A few years ago i decided to go part-time at the Tribune and work on a photo business. It was the right thing to do and I'm glad i did it!
But i am not a good businessman, i want to give away my work to those who appreciate it and just be able to live. Making pictures is important to me, making profits is not. I just don't want to owe any one anything and be able to buy a beer once in awhile.
I look forward to forging ahead, but not without profound sadness too. I truly love this community and feel i have barely scratched the surface of documenting its richness. Oil City and its surrounds will offer similar people and situations and i will build wonderful relationships there as well i hope. The goal will remain the same for me--just different landscape and different people with similar stories to tell.
I was looking back at a lot of old photographs to use in this blog post tonight thinking i should show some award winners or my best photos from the trib, but when it comes down to why I'm here and doing what I do, its because of what is now, and not what was and worked well back when. (That's why i posted these two images with this post.)
I have great memories of people growing up and documenting their various stages, of characters who have gone from this life and of moments in time where i was lucky enough to snap my finger to the shutter and make something unlike any other moment in time. But its the next story that interests me most--its the next person who touches me that is what really gets me out of bed in the morning. Those are the pictures that really mean something to me.
I am planning for the time being to continue to live here, at least until this horrific winter decides to loosen its grip and allows me to see if my house is still in one piece. And i plan to continue to make pictures for this paper the best way i can over the next couple weeks.
I am a Rhode Islander by birth, but i have to say i have never felt i was home more than i have here! Thank you for letting me be a part of this great fabric of a community.