IS THE JUICE WORTH THE SQUEEZE?
I view every decision in life on a cost/ benefit ratio. How bad to I want it and what will it cost me? If the reward outweighs the risk, I go for it. Now, everyone does that to some degree or another. Most people do it subconsciously. That said, verbalizing usually makes your life simpler.
Usually.
An example of my street photography.
I speak a lot about Jason. Not just because he’s my friend and my boss, but because he’s easily the person most responsible for my growth as a photographer. But no artist ever gets anywhere by only studying one person. The list of photographers that I’ve genuinely studied isn’t long. My biggest influence is an Englishman named Alan Schaller. He’s a street photographer and a genius. His work is absolutely breath-taking and I do encourage you to go look at it.
This morning I was on Instagram and saw that Alan is doing a free photowalk in New York City. I don’t think he’s often in America, so I kind of lost my mind for a bit. The event is at noon on Saturday. As in two days from now. Being neither a New Yorker nor a rich man, this presented an obstacle.
Thankfully, I had flight vouchers. The biggest hurdle out of the way, I envisioned myself on an insane 24 hour trip, flying into NYC on the first flight out in the morning, darting down to the Leica store where the event would take place, meeting and learning from Alan Schaller, then getting some of that pizza those people are always bragging about, do some sight-seeing and flying home! It sounded insane—- but it would be an adventure! Another great, romantic story from a lifetime of great stories.
Twin Towers, Thanksgiving 1998
…and then I looked at the flights. Every flight to New York was between five and eleven hours. Not a single one landed in NYC before noon. And only one landed actually at noon, an hour too late for me to get to the event. That would mean I would need to fly out tomorrow night in order to make it.
Street Photography, Chicago 2024
So what were my options? Stay awake all night in NYC? That city may never sleep, but I do. I have fallen asleep standing up once or twice. Stay in a hostel? I’d have my camera on me. Risky business. I could get a hotel, but that would cost a minimum of $200 on a Friday night.
The hotel was really the only viable option. But then there is getting an uber to and from the airport. Plus food. Conservative estimate would be $350. And I really can’t spend that right now.
And so the question becomes, is the juice worth the squeeze? Possibly. I really want to do this. But I think I just have to let this one go. In the last two years, I’ve been blessed with some unique opportunities. I got to meet my hero, J. Michael Straczynski at a convention in Phoenix. I’ve gotten to learn from an work from Jason Lanier on one of the most historically significant documentarian project in New Orleans’ history. Later this year I’ll be traveling the Mediterranean with a group of people I love.
Yeah. I think I need to let this one go. And be thankful for what I do have. Besides, you never know what’s coming around the bend next.
#costbenefitratio #alanschaller #nyc #newyorkcity #streetphotography #leica #leicastore #travel
