Shot in 1974 on slide, scanned
I’m often asked when I started in photography, what influenced me? Well, I kind of started and stopped a bunch of times along the way but I can honestly say that my very first wedding was shot in 1974 at the Hilton Nairobi Hotel in Kenya, Africa.
They were young in love and on a safari, I was seated next to them in the bar, I had a Lucky Strike in my mouth and a camera around my neck, so I must know what I’m doing right, they asked, I said yes, why not, what could go wrong?
The 10 minute wedding was on a dark dance floor at the Hilton hotel disco bar, (yes disco, ball and all) no stage lighting and I had no flash having just bought my first 35mm camera 2 weeks ago before flying to Africa.
I handed over a metal roll containing the FILM of their most special moments, never knowing how they turned out. They paid me in beer and more film and we said goodbye to each other, I was hooked.
As travelers often do we ran into each other again at another airport (this time in England). They rushed up to me with twin smiles from ear to ear and hugged me while yelling “Jambo, Jambo” (Swahili for hello). They then told me the developing lab screwed up the roll of film and only one shot came out, just one……and they loved it! Saying they would enlarge and frame it and always remember me.
The lab didn’t make the mistake, most likely the photographer (ME) did. It was a moment that would start a long journey…..never knowing this is what I would do as my life’s passion. Oh, I almost forgot to mention that I was in Kenya as an Anthropology student studying with Dr. Leakey Jr. Boy that would have been the wrong move.
Hope you enjoyed this pre-historic Hump Day story
