“Man, its hot” he said softly wiping his forehead with a
paper towel.
It may be fun to travel and take pictures at
special events and places and not seem like work to his friends, but
you can’t tell Edward he doesn’t work hard. He hustles on every
assignment. On days like this hot, sticky 4th of July in
Washington
D.C.
, lugging around 20 lbs of camera equipment and other implements of
destruction and tools of the trade wears him out faster than the tires
on his misaligned car.
He smiled thinking, “It really is fun and exciting, today.”
He spent past 4th of July's in terrific places from
Boston
, to Philly, to
New York
, to
St. Louis
. Never in DC, though, and he busted at the thrill.
“Can you believe they’re actually paying me to be here”,
he thought smiling while perusing the crowd for the still untaken
perfect holiday picture his editors needed.
Edward hoisted his camera bag up onto the wall. He marked the
roll he shot, indexed it against his notes. “I better cut back”,
he thought gazing in his bag to see only a couple rolls left.
It never fails. Edward always shoots too much film. It makes
him angry. 90% of the shots are of no use to his editors, or anyone
else for that matter. Now
he couldn’t over indulge in shooting. No film.
The bands, balloons, school kids, and floats passed -- None of
it special -- None of it ‘picture perfect.’
Edward gave out a tired sigh, mentioning to a Post
photographer, “Man, I better get something soon.”
“Come on”, the Post guy said with a flippant and cavalier
tone. “It’s the same – generic city.” Just shoot and get the
hell otta here.”
Edward
smiled knowing as cynical as it sounded, the guy was probably right.
He found an open spot on the curb, dropped his bag and sat
down. He looked at his watch as the parade passed by.
“Where is it”, he whispered to himself.
Deadline approached.
Then, his heart began to race. He saw it developing.
Across the street a father negotiated a high place for his
2-year-old son to sit.
Edward changed lenses.
The father lifted his son on the wall.
Edward checked the light - set the controls.
The boy put his cap on.
Focus.
The father gave his son an American Flag.
The boy smiled.
The proud dad smiled.
Click.
End
