The Phoenix Session

I was at a gathering of my tribe recently, and since I am so photo-centric at this time, I made several offers to do impromptu photo sessions with a handful of people. They got photos to use as they wished, and I got the fun of exploring new subjects in new locations. Everybody wins.



A funny conversation led up to this particular session. This beautiful young woman wondered aloud to me that she was bemused by the positive attention she was getting at the gathering. Not men specifically, but from pretty much everyone. She ventured that there was nothing special about her.



My first response was to ask her if she owned a mirror.



But as I pondered the question - because it was sincere, not a coquettish play for compliments - I realized that in addition to being attractive at a physical level, she was also bright and vivacious, and instinctually friendly. I observed her willingness to participate in activities and tasks of service to the tribe, again always with a smile that was quick to appear. So to go with her looks she had a sunny charisma too.



I think I captured some of that in these photographs. She is no model, and was initially uncomfortable in front of the camera. We were in generally public space, and passers-by were free to stop and observe. One fellow who knew her lingered and chatted with her for a good 10 minutes. How fortuitous, as that went a long way in relaxing her.



By the time we were heading to the creek to cool off (it was Hot and Humid), she was unselfconscious and happy to be doing what we were doing. At the creek, there were dozens of people around, and we got in a great conversation with a couple who were sitting on lounge chairs in the creek keeping cool.



I hope these photos (she is in possession of the whole set - maybe 150 photos) give her a bit of clarity about why she receives favorable attention. In addition she gets to share them with her husband, who was not at the gathering, and hopefully he enjoys them too. And why not?



I should note that there are artifacts in these photos that are part of the moment and the gathering. Thus I made no effort to hide the wrist band, or use Photoshop to remove the remains of the henna tattoo on her arm. These are a reflection of her in that space at that time. As such they become a reminder, an anchor, to where she was then.

My thanks to Phoenix for her time and willingness to let me try to reflect back to her what I was seeing.