Men in Flour Mill, Jacmel, Haiti

I thought it only appropriate, given the terrible circumstances surrounding this overwhelmed, under appreciated, decimated country, that I spend this week talking about my experiences there as a young man.

I had the good fortune to live in Jacmel, Haiti for a number of months almost 30 years ago. Still till this day, it remains not as a source of dispair for me, but rather an experience of triumph and perseverance. I loved Haiti and its people. I did not go there to change the world (it was way beyond my means and my abilities), but rather selfishly to find strength. I did not feel pity for the Haitians, but rather felt admiration.

There are many stories of Haiti I may tell you as time goes on, but today I want to address a particular issue I mentioned last week. This takes me back to the U.S., particularly Chicago, about 15 years ago. I was in Chicago with my wife, who is a graphic designer in New York City, where she was the head judge for a competition. She asked me if I would photograph the judges for a small brochure they would produce for the winners of this competition. Basically, she was requesting simple, unenamored portraits, quickly done. I remember shooting these pictures in the hotel room with my Leica, with the window as a light source. There were no lights, no assistants, but done rather simply as I did at that time. It was simply the subject and me.

I think that there were 4 or 5 portraits, and when I arrived to photograph one of the judges, (the one filled with the most bravado), I remember his comment rather disdainfully, that anyone could do this, implying that there was nothing new or original to this work, and it was surprising that anyone would pay for my services. I remember wanting to punch him out, but instead of hitting him, I took the challenge…

I said to him as I photographed another judge, to stand right beside me and use my camera and take a picture immediately (within a few seconds), after I did. Unfortunately, I no longer have that roll of film, but I remember that if you looked at the contact sheet, you would immediately notice the few frames he shot. Although they were in the same spot, with the same camera and lens, taken just seconds apart from mine, they look nothing like my pictures. To me, they missed on every level.

Although he was correct, that these pictures were simple “head shots,” and were made very simply, the onus then is on the photographer, rather than the technique and the equipment. It’s as simple and toned down as possible. It is straight on, face-to-face. The ultimate question in this type of work is: How vulnerable are you willing to be? People expect a great deal from their subjects, you must be able to meet them straight on, with equal intensity and openness.

Rembrandt once said “Great portraiture is when two egos (modern term), collide.” This is my view as well. I do not think in Chicago, the subject or the camera was the problem for him, the porblem was in the selfishness of the person behind the lens.

Here are a few examples of some of my work in Haiti, where mankind’s strength and dignity is abundantly manifest.

Have a nice week, and please, please look into these peoples’ eyes, and help them, not because they ask for it, need it, or even want it, but rather because they deserve it.