I have to let you know that I’m well aware that the image I posted of “my metro man” looks pretty shoddy. The dodging is really overt and makes me frustrated, but I was tired and felt the need to post and in a moment of weakness chose to include that image. However despite my laziness in the digital darkroom the subject matter is important to me.
The man in the image hands out the Metro (free daily newspaper) at the Massachusetts Avenue T station every morning. He always smiles and shouts out “Good Morning!” as commuters pass by and their normally focused, disgruntled morning looks burst into gleaming teeth and upturned lips. Laughs and conversations break forth and I’ve seen people miss their trains to enjoy a conversation with this man.
I approached him on World Photo Day to ask for a photo op. Initially he declined, shaking his head, grinning and laughing, telling me he had on the wrong outfit and looked ridiculous handing out the paper. I prodded and pleaded that I needed to take his photograph on this special day. When he said “Why would you want a picture of my ugly mug?” A lump rolled into my throat and water crested my eyelids as I said “Because you make everyone smile”. He relented.
In my haste and embarassment I didn’t meter for the shadows and came out with a very backlit image. Wanting to share the brilliant smile of someone who makes life better just by having the right approach I have a technically poor image, but a perfect moment in my memory.
My next resolution is to ask him his name.
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