Our Story

"HE LIT MY TORCH"

I bet you owe much of your success because of someone else, just like me.  Think back to the first time someone lit your torch of purpose, someone who believed in you enough to take this beautiful journey.  I see him clearly, my middle school art teacher.  My assignment was to take a roll of film with the goal of learning how to process and print.  With my parent’s Kodak instamatic, I hopped on my 10 speed and road around town in search for interesting objects.  By chance or divine intervention, I landed on the porch of a tired old man with all his hard years mapped out on the leathery skin and deep wrinkles in his face.  I told him of my assignment and he granted my wish to take his picture.  The process of film development and printing was fascinating and sparked so many feelings, but nothing in compared to the moment my instructor placed his hand on my shoulder and breathed life into me with the words, you have a gift.  He lit my torch.

My teacher said you should share this with him. Accepting his instruction, I arrived on the old man’s porch the next day, which turned out to be an unforgettable experience.  He reached out with his calloused wrinkled hands to accept the portrait.  What happened next was a miracle, he cried, he said thank you, he hugged me, he said I have a gift, HE LIT MY TORCH.

 

Gregory Daniel M. Photog.,Cr., CPP,F -ASP, FDPE, FSA