LIGHT TRAFFIC

© Carolyne Weldon

Poring over ancient photo archives earlier today (sweet procrastination, when you hold me), I was reminded that my photographic obsession with barbershops wasn’t much of a novelty. I found a pile of pictures I’d taken at New York Cuts, up on Castelneau street, in my old Villeray neighborhood. The shots were for a photojournalism workshop I did, a few Septembers back, with Jacques Nadeau, Le Devoir’s award-winning photographer .

Of the many dozen things this skinny man with the cowboy boots taught me, two really stand out:

1- If the picture ain’t good enough, you ain’t close enough.

© Carolyne Weldon

2- Taking pictures of strangers is like saying hello to strangers. It’s always a little odd, but your attitude and approach can make things much easier, or much worse. You may greet, or photograph, a perfect stranger in a way that is relaxed, friendly and natural, without freaking anybody out. You may also be all shifty, conniving and downright creepy about it. Bottom line is: aim for more of the open and honest, and less of the creepy. You’ll be amazed by the people’s response: there won’t be any. People will let you take their picture in all impunity; they won’t even care.

Question: What is it about barbershops that their walls all have to be painted the brightest of yellows? It’s gotta be some sort of secret society conspiracy.