And The Band Played On

“We have to cancel. We have someone who tested positive for Covid.”

“Sorry to hear that.” I replied. “Hope everyone recovers soon.”

I’ve been back at work for a few months and I’ve had at least one cancellation and as many as three cancellations each and every week. To be honest, I continue to be surprised that we are working at all. It has been mostly the same, which is odd, but there have been a few changes.

One of the options for those who want to take portraits and are worried about, you know, dying-is to take the portraits outdoors. This seems to be a safer method of doing my kind of work. Of course, the photo equipment I use is not designed for outdoor use. This means that if the sun is too bright or hot, if it’s too windy or too cold, or if it’s raining or snowing, then there are problems. This is mainly a problem for the women I photograph. The men could care less about Covid-19.

Travel is part of my job. Major cities and small cities, any place that might have a college where I can take portraits. One of the fringe benefits of being a traveling photographer is the opportunity to see tourist attractions and eat the local food. This has not been a normal year, as we all know. Moving from state to state I’ve seen all kinds of rules and the flaunting of those rules. Some places allow dine in eating, other only allow take out, and others allow you to enter and order, but it still has be to go.

Tourist attractions have been crowded. Rest stops along the freeways have been crowded. Walmarts and other stores are crowded. Most people wear masks, but there are always a few who don’t. It’s little wonder the numbers keep going up.

The people I photograph do what I tell them for the time it takes me to take their portraits. Most of the time. Very few of them have any interest in listening to me, or any of the other photographers, when it comes to anything else. Many of them are annoyed that we are there at all. A hallmark of Assembly Line Portraits that has never changed is we rarely have subjects who want us to take their portrait.

So I’ve done what I can when it comes to safety. I wear a mask at all times. I have hand sanitizer available. I try to keep six feet away and ask the people to keep social distance as well. Of course, they don’t. They are all friends, some of whom haven’t seen each other in a while, so they all crowd together. Some of them never do any social distancing or wear a mask anyway.

We’re all in this together, or so everyone likes to say. But it isn’t easy. We all need money. Everyone works and gets to say they are ‘essential’ workers. This doesn’t mean they are essential. People who put up aluminum siding and spray for roaches are not essential, but they get to say they are and keep working. Taking portraits falls in the same general category. Making money is the essential part.

Back in Texas I saw a lot more numbskulls not wearing masks. All the back road gas stations and restaurants were filled with good old boys standing around chewing the fat and leaning toward each other. Even when they are dying, they can’t believe this is happening. It’s still a hoax. Traveling is part of the job, a part that I like, but these are more dangerous times.

In my travels, I didn’t see anyone who was sick. I didn’t become ill myself. But I don’t see that as proof that Covid-19 is a hoax, it proves to me that masks and social distancing work. It was interesting to hear the statistics in many states where the number of sick and dying was less than the number of sick and dying in Dallas County.

Taking portraits is second nature to me, I can take four or five shots in a couple of minutes. That’s the assembly line portrait way. It’s still a job that takes a bit of time and effort. It’s easy for me because I’ve been doing it for thirty years or so. Composite photos are more straightforward than fashion photography or family portraits. You have one subject, turn this way, turn that way, smile. The difference between the four shots is minimal. The turn of the face, the angle of the shoulders, a smile or no smile. They are very much like professional Headshots. It’s a skill, like any other. During Covid it’s a little slower, there’s more liberal use of hand sanitizer, and a little less touching people to adjust clothes and poses.

Long nights in motel rooms and long drives across the country are par for the course. So is catching a cold at least once a year from some client that is not well. But that didn’t happen this time out. The masks and the hand sanitizer kept the common cold at bay as well Covid-19. Now I’m wondering if we should keep wearing masks.