The Fear of Battle
While most people are Christmas shopping or watching the clock count down to their holiday vacation, some young boys are doing battle. Too young for the rank and file combat of modern war, but plenty old enough to battle with their dexterity among like-minded youth on the streets of PDX. I found them on 5th, breakdancing and flipping as white-collared overcoats passed by without even glancing up from their phones. Headphones replaced the 80′s ghetto blaster, and a flip video camera replaced a circling audience. I stopped and watched for a while, not knowing what to think. Then it dawned on me, I’m older now and this is the new generation. Filming videos for YouTube on flip video cameras, and talking about fashion and international cross-branding startup companies.
One boy caught my eye. Chances are it was his Kid N’ Play hair cut, but more than that, it was his fear. He looked scared, like a boy going to war. But it wasn’t war, it was a “battle.” The term used when two dancers challenge each other and face off in the street with nothing more than their rhythm and moves. This fear is synonymous for a generation of children faced with fighting tooth and nail for their place among an exponentially growing population of fiercely talented competitors.
There was a time when I would have shot lots of photos of kids dancing, trying to be clever and show off how interesting I can be with a camera. Now I’m trying to slow down and look beyond the flair or pretty pictures and find the honesty of simple moments that highlight a slice of the human experience.
I also slipped away to shoot some more images for my Halprin Landscape series.
Ahhh that’s a great portrait, the first one. And really? Kids still do the Kid N Play hairdo? Awesome.