One more story Monday, March 19, 2007

There was one more story I wanted to share from yesterday ...

As the march worked its way past Pioneer Courthouse Square, there was a group of eight people in orange jumpsuits with black sacks over their heads lying down in the middle of the street, all chained together in some kind of public expression. There was an older lady walking around them, spreading Jesus' blessing on them. I don't know if she was part of the group, or just acting on her own.

Nevertheless, I started photographing them as the protesters marched around them. So far, so good.

But then a guy told me that the shot "I" wanted was from a different angle. I stopped and started talking with him. When I asked his name, he hesitated, so I had to explain that I needed to caption the photos, so I needed some kind of a name to attach to them. He identified himself as "Lucas Personality," although I have to admit I'm not sure whether that was what he called himself or some company he was representing. He said something about trying to cast people for NBC/Universal or something ... I started getting the picture that the jumpsuit people were more of a stunt than a protest. He suggested I try to submit my pictures to Reuters or NBC.

Meanwhile, the protest was moving on and I needed to stick with it. Rather than talk with him for another 20 minutes, I gave him my business card, and suggested he email me with the details of who he and the group were, what they were trying to say, etc. I moved on, figuring that was the end of it.

He rewarded me with a phone call at 5:15 this morning. The first thing he asked was "did I wake you up?" Dude, it's 5:15 a.m. ... what did you think I'd be doing? And he called from a local number—it's not like he was in New York.

He asked if I wanted to sell my images, and told me I'd have to send them off before I went to work this morning; I could call 411 to get the number for Reuters, and I should let them caption the photos. I re-suggested that he email me the information. After telling me that he didn't have a computer handy, he confirmed my address and pretended to start an email: "Let's see ... compose ..."

I haven't seen an email yet ... and I'm not inclined to publish the photos, on this blog or anywhere else.