
After I took Gary’s picture with his sword, he brought me home to mom—while on the way stashing his weapon under a neighbor’s house. His tiny loft was high in the canopy and as we climbed the ladder I could hear Barbara playing her recorder. She was a single mom. I asked if I could make a photo of her and Gary. The light was beautiful.
Barbara didn’t have much to say and seemed self-conscious, so I spent longer than necessary setting up, figuring that watching me fumble around might set her at ease. Barbara was not yet at ease and seemed a bit distrustful when I asked her to look into the camera. Gary was zoned out.