Mark and me on his boat enroute to a breached levee near Winfield.

Covering natural disasters always have a way of teaching me life lessons. During these times I am reminded of the depth of humanity. While photographing the flood over the last couple of days, I have been treated with respect and generosity by flood-stricken residents who live along the river. They are exhausted–they have spent days moving out of their homes– days and nights sandbagging, protecting their livelihood while still being threatened. And yet whatever they could to make my job easier, they simply did it. ” Do you want a ride on my boat?” Would you like a cup of coffee?

They seem to be impervious to this inconvenience called a flood, and for certain incapable of being rude.

A shout-out to Winfield resident Mark for the boat ride yesterday. Just one of many mentors.