Mike Ritter Photo

My friend Joyce got a new job and needed a new head shot. We ran the gamut with little visual hints to her many varied jobs and roles over the years:

1). A classic, work anywhere Swiss Army knife light set up fitting for her work as a public servant.
2). Let some shadows creep in for something a little more edgy just because she's got personality to spare.
3). Break out the Nanlite RGB LEDs to throw some color into the mix (once again, personality).
4). Optical snoot for the spot light effect fitting for her work in the music industry.

Mercy the dog came along for the ride and was very well behaved. I appreciate that Joyce humored my request to lug some of her favorite books to the studio fitting for her work in libraries. A revelation for me was how nice the Nanlite purple and blue portrait looked in black and white.

Side note for any photographer at any point in their career: get out there. I met Joyce back in '07 at a Dorchester Arts Collaborative breakfast. I was late and was trying to talk myself out of going. I went anyway and met one of the most consequential people to my now 21 year career.

The Americans by Robert Frank, a Jewish-Swiss immigrant, is the most famous photography book of all time. Published in 1958, Frank wanted it to show what was "invisible to others." As an immigrant, he could observe America without familiarity, sentimentality, or mythology clouding his lens. He saw segregation, loneliness, isolation and sadness all in a country near its supposed post WWII zenith. Despite the book also depicting beauty, it was received as "ugly." Now, it's known as "honest, humanistic, and groundbreaking."

I bring this up because I don't think an American could have made this book because an American doesn't have the fresh perspective on America an immigrant does. I do not believe throwing immigrants out of this country or shutting out potential immigrants make this country stronger. I would argue they and their viewpoints are needed to create a flourishing society. The marginalized understand society better than those in power do because they have no choice. Because of that, they more clearly understand what would truly make society better.

Not everyone in or this post is an immigrant. But, the immigrants I have photographed and sentiments that have been conveyed have gotten me thinking more about what immigrants should really mean to this country.

Thanks to all who sat and to Brayan Restrepo for his graphic design skills.

I will be at the Fields Corner Business Lab on Friday 4/24 from 5-8PM doing the Who Are We? project. If you'd like to participate, please stop by.