Last week  I stopped to photograph Ronald Gardner, 60, of St. Louis sweeping grass cuttings from in front of the home of Alice Bryant a childhood friend. Gardner had cut the grass the day before, but the temperatures had been to hot for him to complete the cleanup. Finding heat features everyday can prove to be a challenge, there are so many elements that can hinder you. The main one being the words –no you can’t take my picture.

It is always nice when someone says –yes, sure you can take my picture.

What began as a simple picture of yard clean up became a short story about coping with life.
Bryant a single mother who lost her job last fall, has been striving to keep her house in order, despite her health problems. The family spends a lot of time together keeping cool with the one air conditioner, in the seven room house.

Bryant let me spend the day in her home with her after only having met me once and for less than 10 minutes I love the openness people can have. It is one of the things I love most about this job.
As photographers we take risk and chances everyday and, when the photo gods shine their golden light down upon us; our subjects will take them too.