Photographing the sunset at Campobello last week.
There are many kinds of friends: old friends and new, childhood friends, false friends, school friends and fast friends.
Last week my husband and I had the pleasure of making fast friends, or, more specifically, making friends fast. We spent only four days with a group of photography learners but by the end of that time, we were attached. The occasion was a four-day workshop in Northeast Maine with nature and landscape photographer John Slonina.
There were ten of us altogether: our leader John, who specializes in national park photo tours, my husband Bill and two other men, and five women including me. Most of us drove to upstate Maine; one woman flew from Florida. All except me were experienced photographers, well equipped but not overloaded with unnecessary equipment. They dressed appropriately for the changeable weather, did not complain, no matter how early or late the hour (NOTE: photography tours always include time shooting sunrises and sunsets), were patient and upbeat throughout the inevitable delays. In other words, this was an ideal collection of folks
I am a veteran of photo-centric trips. I approach these journeys warily but always hopefully. Some of the trips have been in large groups, others in small ones and all have been enjoyable and instructive, even one that was contaminated by a pathological liar (see my blog, (“Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire”). But the friends we made last week were special: there was no drama, lots of cooperation and consideration of others’ right to good vantage points for taking photos. The pleasure of finding a group that “clicks” is confirmation that there are good people everywhere. Whether they become lifelong pals or passing Fast Friends, they were a pleasure to be with. So thank you John, Stan, Allison, Mary, Tina, Betty and Harvey. We will remember our time together.
