As I write this I am sitting next to my flashlight in a completely darkened house. Care of a tremendous flash storm and possible tornado that blew through Doylestown. I seriously think the electric grid here may be surpassed by anything else anywhere.  My neighbors on either side of our house have built in generators, but despite another round of !#$%@#$^# from my wife, I can’t bring myself to spend the eight grand to have one installed. Sort of like paying more money every month to the cable company. There aren’t too many things you can get done without power, so thanks to my ancient laptop’s fully charged battery I am writing this entry!

So while I was brushing my teeth by candlelight a thought came through my head. I’ve touched upon it several times before. There is so much more for me than just going out and making the photograph. It’s the entire experience … the journey itself.  Even if you don’t get any keepers when you’re out there, or don’t even make a single exposure.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about my participation in the first Annual Photo Arts Xchange (PaX).  As I said, it was truly a wonderful experience. But now it has become much more. That’s because about a week or so ago I started calling a number of participants I met during the event. Now that I’ve spoken to almost all them I’m hoping to develop some lasting friendships with some great people that also happen to be fine photographers. That they’re wonderful photographers is a fat juicy bonus!

I enjoyed our conversations at PaX, but liked the follow-up calls just as much. And just the other day a received a very nice post card from one of my newly found friends.  That’s right … a real live hand written post card delivered to me by mail! That really says something to me!  I mean, I can’t remember the last time I received a hand written note from anyone other than a holiday card or the letters I get from one of my older relatives who doesn’t own a computer.

These people are all dedicated photographers – dedicated to their vision and to their craft – but they also are great people. I am hoping to stay in touch with them and perhaps even get together sometime to photograph.  A couple hours drive each way is a small price to pay for something that could be worthwhile and lasting.

When I worked in Washington, DC the saying went “If you want a friend get a dog”.  Well I had three dogs while living in the DC area and to be honest they were much better friends than most that I came across in my working and social life. I am always looking to meet good people. If they love photography as much as I do so much the better!  It really helps in today’s toxic environment.  But I know they’re out there … because I have just met some!