Facundity
100 Strangers | 96: Steve
On September 11, the 14th Annual OFFCenter Folk Art Festival was held in Robinson Park {at 8th + Central} in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico. This was my first contact with the OFFCenter Community Arts Project. The mission of this non-profit is to promote positive self-identity and resilience through art making in a safe environment designed for creative social interaction.
The time was approaching for the folk art parade to begin; an end-of-summer celebration to encircle the park several times. People were finding their places in the parade queue, and making final decisions about costumes to wear. The OFFCenter organization provided an ample supply of imaginative papier-mâché masks, headpieces and costumes made out of recycled materials for anyone who wanted to dress up and join the fun-spirited parade.
It was at this point that I noticed a fellow trying on an intriguing headpiece from an enormous pile of zany and imaginative items created by OFFCenter. The backside of the papier-mâché object was rounded where it rested on the man’s shoulders. It had a long neck, and looked like a sitar. I walked closer for a better view.
I observed the man watching the swirl of costumed people, some who were dancing to music, others were finding their places in the parade line. He decided on where to stand in the parade line. Finally when I was close enough to speak, I complimented his choice of a mask-hat.
Here we meet Steve, my stranger 96/100. He is wearing an anthropomorphic papier-mâché folk guitar mask. I’ve searched through the 100 Strangers group archives to discover if a subject has been photographed with his head inside a guitar. I feel confident about being “semi-exact” (to quote The Donald) that I’ve crossed the finish line first on this one.
We shook hands at our mutual introduction. I explained the thrust of the 100 Strangers project and invited him to participate. Steve replied with a critical, “OK – YES!” He had a very strong desire to be photographed for a portrait with this costume. He very much wanted me to email my images of him in but a few short days.
“I didn’t make this [headpiece]. It amuses me, though,” said Steve. “When I tried it on, it was comfortable. I’m going to wear it for the parade.”
I used my reflector to brighten the parts of his face revealed through the guitar cavity, as well as the literal face of the guitar. After my first shot, Steve offered to remove his eyeglasses. He told me that he had been an optician for more than twenty years. Then he made a startling confession.
“Not long ago, I had a breakdown. I withdrew from people.” He said. “I’ve made a lot of progress. It’s not easy for me to be here, around this crowd. Writing has been my most effective form of therapy….I go to weekly OFFCenter writing workshops. They are helping me overcome my social phobia. I’m comfortable there, and the groups are small. I thought today might be a good next step for me.”
While Steve and I were becoming acquainted and I was photographing him, a woman joined us in a way that I would characterize as hovering. About her, Steve said, “I’m with her, but not with her.” He didn’t reveal their precise relation to each other. Quite possibly, she was a member of a support group with the same phobias, or perhaps his personal therapist. She had little to say other than declining my request for helping to hold my reflector, which would have allowed me full use of two hands on my camera while making Steve’s portraits.
From what I have read, people living with social anxiety disorders typically experience significant emotional distress in situations where they may be: introduced to other people, teased or criticized, the center of attention, watched while doing something, engaged in social encounters especially with strangers. Physiological manifestations that accompany social anxiety may include feelings of intense fear, heart racing, blushing or turning red, sweating excessively, experiencing dry throat and mouth, trembling, swallowing with difficulty, and twitching muscles. Constant, intense anxiety that does not go away is the most common feature.
I congratulated Steve for participating in the noisy, stimulating event; for speaking with me, a stranger; for letting me photograph him. Stating the obvious, I pointed out that he had chosen an appealing, fun-looking costume. I asked if he would be able to enjoy spectators staring at and enjoying him in the costume as he walks the parade route.
“Right now, I’m not feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated. I don’t feel like people are judging me. I know they are enjoying this curiosity on my head!”
We shared a few more moments remarking on the buoyancy of the festival-goers around us. Before parting, Steve revealed one last thing to me. Underneath the guitar headpiece he is completely bald.
My sequential catalogue of 100 Strangers is here: flic.kr/s/aHsk9s8ZQb
Project participants share their strangers in the group pool here: flic.kr/g/42zLY
This is my 24th submission to the Human Family Group, flic.kr/g/rvfDx, an ongoing Flickr project for photographers who enjoy meeting and photographing strangers, any time, any place, with explicit permission, and a Joie de vivre.
To enjoy my whole album from this fun-spirited event, visit this: flic.kr/s/aHskJGByJG.
100 Strangers | 96: Steve
On September 11, the 14th Annual OFFCenter Folk Art Festival was held in Robinson Park {at 8th + Central} in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico. This was my first contact with the OFFCenter Community Arts Project. The mission of this non-profit is to promote positive self-identity and resilience through art making in a safe environment designed for creative social interaction.
The time was approaching for the folk art parade to begin; an end-of-summer celebration to encircle the park several times. People were finding their places in the parade queue, and making final decisions about costumes to wear. The OFFCenter organization provided an ample supply of imaginative papier-mâché masks, headpieces and costumes made out of recycled materials for anyone who wanted to dress up and join the fun-spirited parade.
It was at this point that I noticed a fellow trying on an intriguing headpiece from an enormous pile of zany and imaginative items created by OFFCenter. The backside of the papier-mâché object was rounded where it rested on the man’s shoulders. It had a long neck, and looked like a sitar. I walked closer for a better view.
I observed the man watching the swirl of costumed people, some who were dancing to music, others were finding their places in the parade line. He decided on where to stand in the parade line. Finally when I was close enough to speak, I complimented his choice of a mask-hat.
Here we meet Steve, my stranger 96/100. He is wearing an anthropomorphic papier-mâché folk guitar mask. I’ve searched through the 100 Strangers group archives to discover if a subject has been photographed with his head inside a guitar. I feel confident about being “semi-exact” (to quote The Donald) that I’ve crossed the finish line first on this one.
We shook hands at our mutual introduction. I explained the thrust of the 100 Strangers project and invited him to participate. Steve replied with a critical, “OK – YES!” He had a very strong desire to be photographed for a portrait with this costume. He very much wanted me to email my images of him in but a few short days.
“I didn’t make this [headpiece]. It amuses me, though,” said Steve. “When I tried it on, it was comfortable. I’m going to wear it for the parade.”
I used my reflector to brighten the parts of his face revealed through the guitar cavity, as well as the literal face of the guitar. After my first shot, Steve offered to remove his eyeglasses. He told me that he had been an optician for more than twenty years. Then he made a startling confession.
“Not long ago, I had a breakdown. I withdrew from people.” He said. “I’ve made a lot of progress. It’s not easy for me to be here, around this crowd. Writing has been my most effective form of therapy….I go to weekly OFFCenter writing workshops. They are helping me overcome my social phobia. I’m comfortable there, and the groups are small. I thought today might be a good next step for me.”
While Steve and I were becoming acquainted and I was photographing him, a woman joined us in a way that I would characterize as hovering. About her, Steve said, “I’m with her, but not with her.” He didn’t reveal their precise relation to each other. Quite possibly, she was a member of a support group with the same phobias, or perhaps his personal therapist. She had little to say other than declining my request for helping to hold my reflector, which would have allowed me full use of two hands on my camera while making Steve’s portraits.
From what I have read, people living with social anxiety disorders typically experience significant emotional distress in situations where they may be: introduced to other people, teased or criticized, the center of attention, watched while doing something, engaged in social encounters especially with strangers. Physiological manifestations that accompany social anxiety may include feelings of intense fear, heart racing, blushing or turning red, sweating excessively, experiencing dry throat and mouth, trembling, swallowing with difficulty, and twitching muscles. Constant, intense anxiety that does not go away is the most common feature.
I congratulated Steve for participating in the noisy, stimulating event; for speaking with me, a stranger; for letting me photograph him. Stating the obvious, I pointed out that he had chosen an appealing, fun-looking costume. I asked if he would be able to enjoy spectators staring at and enjoying him in the costume as he walks the parade route.
“Right now, I’m not feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated. I don’t feel like people are judging me. I know they are enjoying this curiosity on my head!”
We shared a few more moments remarking on the buoyancy of the festival-goers around us. Before parting, Steve revealed one last thing to me. Underneath the guitar headpiece he is completely bald.
My sequential catalogue of 100 Strangers is here: flic.kr/s/aHsk9s8ZQb
Project participants share their strangers in the group pool here: flic.kr/g/42zLY
This is my 24th submission to the Human Family Group, flic.kr/g/rvfDx, an ongoing Flickr project for photographers who enjoy meeting and photographing strangers, any time, any place, with explicit permission, and a Joie de vivre.
To enjoy my whole album from this fun-spirited event, visit this: flic.kr/s/aHskJGByJG.