I love to photograph children. And these pictures do not come from a white wash background while wearing a bright hat and a clown nose. No... these photos come from a world unrecognized by the subject, merely the adults observing. The beauty is locked in the innocence that they will one day regret letting go of. When I put my lens towards an adult they will shy away or change their natural stature. When I point a camera at a kid- they do nothing and everything all at the same time. Preserving self confidence, their actions continue with a sense of spotlight. The kids on the swings kick higher, the boy with the ice cream cone increases the chocolate circumference around his mouth, and the girl with five teeth grins from ear to ear.
Each day I pass a school yard in North Beach. It is caged in by old fencing and overdue of a fresh paint coat. The benches that surround the courts serve as the lunch tables for the kids. I couldn't help but notice two boys, maybe eight years old, bargaining. This was not the typical deal of dollar figures and ownership. Rather one boy wanted to trade his "Go-Gurt" for the other boy's Cheetos. There was no paperwork, interest rate, or grudges of past affairs. Just simple word for word business done on the play ground.
Three things I learned...
1. We can learn from those who follow behind us, regardless of credentials or experience.
2. Innocence is a photograph holding onto.
3. God bless "Go-Gurts."
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