How many times in life do we pass by people we've never seen before... and you got this weird gut feeling that you need to say something to this person but because you don't know them... you kinda hate to bother. Or how many times do we just completely ignore any feelings what-so-ever and keep on going our way as if they have nothing to offer you and think that it's just a waste of time for you and them. Thank goodness I listened to my gut feelings and said something.
About a year ago I was at a motocross track with my new camera trying to polish up on my new found love of photography when all of a sudden, I see this guy come rolling up in his old pickup truck with no bike... but on this particular day there was a reason he didn't have a bike. This guy I'm telling you about goes by the name of Benjamin Segal. I'm here to take a few pictures... Benjamin said, with his air force glasses and a back pack about the size of something I use to carry around elementary school. I knew for sure this guy was up to something serious. He just had that look. At this stage in my life I had just got my camera and was still riding the majority of the day. So as a few hours passed, I noticed he was walking back to is truck and thought this was my time to pour out my guts and explain to him that photography was a new passion for me and just wanted to see if he would give me a minute for a few questions. So here we are in the moment of truth... which is the time when he can either give me a simple answer and walk away or explain what I was asking him. Hopefully by now you've figured out that since I'm writing this story about Benjamin, you know that he gave me his undivided attention and was more than happy to answer any questions that I had... he even gave me his business card before he left for any further questions that I might have. Like I said, thank goodness I listened to my gut feelings. As time went on I would occasionally send Benjamin an email with questions and he never missed a beat when replying back with answers. Over the next several months of getting to know Benjamin a little better, I felt that he was the type of person that was honest and enjoyed helping people, which is the type of person I call a friend. After swapping a few photos back and fourth I learned that Benjamin's whole life has been all about photography. He has lived in Miami and California as well as other states living the professional photographers life and is now pursuing his dream as editor and chief of an online motocross magazine called easterndirt.com . There are a million cool things about Benjamin and the help he has offered to me. So much that it would be difficult to remember but the one I'll never forget is the offer to take a few photos for his magazine. Even though school has taken almost every ounce of my time for shooting photos for his magazine he still calls every now and then to shoot the breeze... and that is just one more thing that says how willing he is to help. Before I close, I would like to mention a phrase I read a long time ago. It said... "Be who you are, say what you feel. People who mind don't matter and people who matter won't mind". Well Benjamin Segal is someone who matters. I would like to say to Benjamin... thanks so much for all your help and advise. It has really made difference in my life.
To see all of Benjamins work, go to http://www.benjaminsegal.com/
To see his online magazine go to http://www.easterndirt.com/ and while you're there go ahead and subscribe. It's free. Just for a little bit of bragging rights you may even run across a photo of mine that Benjamin used for one of his stories.
Once again, special thanks to Benjamin Segal.
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