migration patterns

I’ve turned down basically all of my Leica-shooting friend’s invitations to Leica events because, Leica. But today was different. The photographer was a Black man (Brandon Ruffin) and his book’s content was about his family (and others’) migration to northern California, similar to my proposed focused for Op’s family history. It keeps nagging at me that I’ve got to get to St. Louis to record his archives.

Ruffin was gracious and in his presentation spoke in a compelling way about how he approached his mixture of environmental portraits/street/architectural. One interesting thing is that the title info is on the back of the book rather than the front, because he didn’t want it to create any expectation of the contents, or something like that. But isn’t that a big reason why someone would pick up a book in the first place? I don’t think I’d pick up a blank cover unless it was a bright color.

And because I’m acknowledging all the opportunities being put in my path, I told him I would soon be finishing a book as well. LOL. I of course couldn’t resist buying the book which was a hefty $65. Come on tax deduction.