SERENDIPITY

Not liking my assigned bulkhead seat, I made a last-minute change to an aisle seat further back.

Returning from a three-day photo conference my photo assignment results felt inadequate. There were a few selects to show, but nothing notable.

Sinking into the seat, I glanced at a large man next to me in bib overalls cradling a gorgeous home screen sepia portrait on his phone. My conclusions were instant: sweetheart, 50+ years passed, high school, wedding, loss, heartache, overriding love.

Closing my eyes, reflecting on my own losses, I wondered whether to intrude into his. Finally introduced myself as a photographer, on a failed photo mission. His screen caught my eye. Could I ask about it? - maybe take a photo?

He shared more details than I assumed he might: the most poignant of losses, followed by another, now returning from a memorial.  He was open to a photo. The hand and phone closeup already pre-visualized was uninspired. The second shot had potential. Only after I thanked him did he ask what I might do with the photo.  Told him of the photo conference group that would publish a book of best photos by participants and his photo might be in that.

On downloading, a quick confirmation the closeup shot didn’t work, while feeling the hand/face shot had potential. But it lacked something.  Actually, realized it had too much as there was not enough attention to the striking sepia sentiment.  Kept that color with B&W elsewhere. Let it settle on the screen before realizing the reflection in his glasses deserved its hue.

As promised, sent him prints. By now he’s received them and wonder what he thought then, or when he looked again at his phone.

Fellow passenger shares his past.