rasa

I got up at five-forty-five today. By seven I was at work. From eleven am until six pm I was on a video shoot. By seven pm I was packing my bags from the first portrait session. I left feeling uneasy, like I hadn’t done the people justice. And so at eight pm I leave the apartment, once again, and set out in search of another image. By nine pm I photographed a skater with face tattoos who and the heart of a lion who I really enjoyed talking to. But still. I felt like I could have done better for that person, like I didn’t manage to put all the pieces together in that moment. On my way home I think to myself, this is madness, and I just need to be pragmatic if I’m going to last a whole year. Meanwhile, I notice that my body has changed directions; it is luring me towards the doors of a little convenience store that’s open late.

Rasa thinks I’m trying to sell him something at first. I would be too. Even though we don’t understand each other all that well I manage to get the point across that I’m not looking for cash. A bit disarmed but still skeptical, Rasa agrees to be photographed. We are the only ones in the store. After setting up the lights I ask him to temporarily remove the plexiglass barrier and his mask. I shoot about five frames and show him one. He likes it.

Rasa is from Sri Lanka. He talked about the civil war and troubles that can arise from disagreements around religion. I learn that he enjoys biking but has a chronic knee injury which has prevented him from exercising as much as he would like. Even though I only understand about forty percent of what he’s saying I’m really enjoying the conversation and he seems to be too. As I’m leaving Rasa reaches into the fridge and hands me a vitamin water and smiles.

[14] Wednesday, May 26, 2021