On Being Socially Awkward

"Guys like this make me think that the best photographers are simply
socially retarded."

The above quote is a direct response that one of my friends gave me after he viewed this video which depicts photographer Mark Cohen in action.

Now, I'm fairly certain that I'm not one of the best photographer's ever, but I do beleive that I have being socially retarded down to a 'T'. So I'm half way there right?

Take the following scenario for example. On May 14th of this year I was an exhibiting artist during the third annual Shiprock Art Gala that takes place here in Duluth. The gala is becoming a pretty big party wheree somewhere around 500 people showed up for th event. The guest list to this event includes such local celebrities as Donnie Ness, our current mayor.

Now what did I do as all these hundreds of people poured through the gallery space? I managed to awkwardly linger around near my own works hoping to catch audible glimpses of compliments on the work I haad up for display. Did I actively engage in conversation with the people who seemed to be really interested in a piece in hopes of pushing a sale? Hell no! Instead I frequently made trips to the free beer stand for a refill and then returned to my bubble of socially awkward shyness as I watched more and more people that I didn't engage in conversation with wander past my prints.

After a few hours of wondering just how in the hell I never managed to develop proper social skills, I had decided that I needed to take action. No longer would I sit and quietly watch people look at my art while being too afraid to start up conversation. I readied the two cameras I had in my possession and dealt with the strangers the best way I know how—by aiming camera towards them and hitting the shutter.

The following image are my favorites from night of shooting at the event.