A few days ago I officially started moving things into storage. My buddy is letting me store my things in his place while I'm on the road so I came today to bring a load of things. I've come to realize I'm a minimalist. If it wasn't for my bed I could load everything I own in my car. How crazy is that? I'm 28 and the only things I care about are my dog, my camera equipment, and my computer. Throw in some clothes and I'm good to go. I'm simple, I don't need all those extra things like a new car, new clothes all the time, collecting things I don't use. Well one more trip and I'll be officially moved and hitting the road.
My camera also has started to slowly give out. My shutter is messing up, and 2 or 3 pictures out of every 10 or so turn out messed up due to the shutter moving too slow and being caught in the process of taking the picture leaving a black mark normally at the bottom of the photo. Great, just what I need. A money issue already, and I absolutely need my camera. It's the tool I use to pay bills, to feed myself and my dog, and it's what I use for my own entertainment. So, there's an expense I wasn't expecting and certainly affects my financial situation but it's something I have to do. I need it, so I might as well pull the trigger. BOOM!
Cue Troy Tomlinson from Flaming Chicken Studio in Charlotte, NC. He told me he had a replacement camera for me for a good price and it worked out because I had to be in Charlotte a few days later for a photo shoot (and I was going to need a camera for it). So I went by his studio and picked up the camera and headed to my photo shoot which was just over the border in South Carolina. I went through the entire shoot just fine and was bragging on the camera (how good of shape it was) when all of a sudden...something broke inside. I did nothing, but something definitely broke inside. But what was it?
I took the lens off and inspected, and it was the mirror. The mirror just completely came loose in it, and fell out. Now I have one camera that isn't working properly, and one that isn't working at all. While I was calling Troy to tell him what happened I was going over it in my head and it sounded like I just don't know how to use a camera, since 2 cameras had relatively the same issue, but nope. It wasn't me. He told me to bring the camera back to him, he'll refund my money and he'll send it off to get it fixed since it's still under warranty.
I left him with the camera and went to have lunch with my friend Danielle at this great Ethiopian place called Red Sea in Charlotte. We went to walk in and noticed it didn't open til 4 (it was currently 1 something). The owner saw us and came and let us in and cooked for us. He opened exclusively for us almost 3 hours ahead of time. The nicest guy and the food was great. (Again, go to the Red Sea in Charlotte!) While we were eating, Troy texted me and told me he had a loaner camera for me until then, so after lunch I went back by the studio to pick it up. I met an interesting guy that there is the camera man for a Discovery Channel show and learned a few things about the business just because I'm inquisitive with everyone I meet. Hey, I like knowing about people/things!
Last night I had my going away party here in Greensboro. I had dinners and drinks with some really good people and I'm glad I got to see them before I left. Some of them were surprises. Others that didn't show up, well, I don't hold it against them. Things happen. I'll see them again in this life or the next. I'm just glad I do have some friends that are willing to see me off before I start this next chapter of my life. I mean I could just be on the road for a month and decide to come back home. Who knows? This is exactly what the trip and experience started out being about.
Also, at the urge of a few friends, they convinced me to start a Go Fund Me page for anyone interested in supporting me on this venture as I won't be working on the road and completely coming out of pocket. I've created a few incentives for anyone interested, so that way I'm not just taking your money. I don't want you to think I'm begging, I'm just asking if you want to help. That's all. Please read the page and find out more about the idea. Thanks for reading!
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