So I keep on meeting strangers… AWESOME!!!!

This time I was in Yonkers

Location: Untermeyer Park

Stranger: Matt Cleary

After Hurricane Irene came to visit, she left a glorious sky to reflect upon. Untermeyer is a great place to do so. And I was not the only one who thought so…

Fast forward through an impromptu dinner party and a few weeks later and we find ourselves in Hastings, NY in the backyard of set designer Mat Kowalski…

who was in the middle of constructing a mobile for the “Take Me To The River” Festival Sat. Sept 10, 2011, Draper Park. This is the last week before the festival so the backyard has been transformed into a workspace for creatives. PRODUCTION MODE.

Cleary was working on the festival’s web presence and social networkings

and Owen… was being Owen

And I took up my role as documentarian

Somewhere in between the feathers, hammers and other random set props it dawned on the group that the festival needed a life sized replica window from the World Trade Center…

And so the research began

and with a set designer as a friend… all is possible

By the end of the night, we were in high spirits. Productivity can do that to people. It was amazing to see Mat in action, a free-style of prop making. It inspired me to create a piece as well.

So I’m heading back this morning to finish my work and continue to document the work of others.

I love strangers. i love production mode.

When we were younger, it was important not to get comfortable with people that we didn’t know.

Now, I recommend it.

Yesterday, I was hanging with my good friend luisa.

It is almost a year since we met… in the subway when I began my underground tourist photo essay last summer. While exploring subterranean NYC, I met a musician a playing there. I almost didn’t leave my card in her violin case. In fact, I boarded my train and went on my way… beating myself up for a stop until I turned around and looked for her. I got to drop my business card off and a few moments after I did, she closed up shop for the day and was gone. CLOSE CALL.

Had I never went back to drop off my card, I wouldn’t of had a wonderful yesterday…

We were walking across the Williamsburg Bridge, setting up shop to take pictures at the same landing as a pair of guys who were seemingly shooting a video. We acknowledged each other and continued in our separate realities. Finally, we all got to talking and then we got to shooting… together.. of course I filled to role of documentarian…

They turned out to be some chill dudes. In the blue was David Powers of NYC via PR and my kindred spirit with the camera, Derek from the midwest via LA. They were shooting a music video for David’s upcoming album. Creativity in the air. It was great.

Think of all the moments that we let pass us each day. Yesterday was created last summer… Imagine if Luisa and I never met, if I hadn’t randomly made a trip out to NYC last night, if we decided to chill in a park instead of the bridge or if we never got to talking with this dynamic duo. Imagine all those little decisions the four of us made collectively over the span of our lives thus far. Each of these moments adds up to the present, creating our experience of reality. And because of the infinite possibilities, there are now 2 less strangers in the world.

Then I turn around and see this man. I wonder what decisions he made over his lifetime and why he was carrying all these belongings with him? What made him go to the bridge that day? What was he thinking as he watched the busy people go? Where would he go after?

Think about the moments that created the life you see today, taking account of the good and the bad. Realize the string of events that created your reality. Are you happy with it?

So far I am happy with where I am. And though I eagerly anticipate what the future may brings, I know that my present actions make that future possible.

Choose wisely. Talk to strangers. Say yes to life and it will say yes back.

you never know when a stranger may become a friend.