An Extraordinary Man ...

You sense that your photography session might be different from all other photography sessions you have ever worked at, when the object of your attention pulls out the bottle of whisky and proceeds to fill up a shot glass for both you and your translator/fixer.

And so it was with Ant, the 85 year old artist, choir singer and bugle player.

I have some extraordinary friends in their 70’s, heading on up to Abe, in his 80s and so I am accustomed to age not being any kind of limit to living a full life but all the same, Ant startled me, delighted me, almost got me drunk.

He was so full of stories and laughter and there I was, nursing that straight whisky because you drink and eat what you’re offered when you work as I do ... and voila, my glass was full again before it was empty.  So I discovered I can drink good whisky at 10am in the morning which surely catapults me into the status of artiste, in a troubled and interesting way.

We talked for 2 hours, I took photographs along the way, we viewed photographs of Ant meeting the Queen and Mother Theresa, we followed him up a million stairs to his atelier and there, after the pleasure of viewing his artworks, Valerie and I were each gifted a painting we had admired ... signed of course.

Today Ant’s painting is sitting up on my beautiful new red bookshelves, making me smile whenever I look over that way, remembering my yesterday.

There are some truly remarkable people in this world and in fact, I find most people remarkable, but yesterday I met one of the world’s shining stars.

It was a good day.  Dank u wel to Ant and to Valerie, and Steven for organising it all ...

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RD writes on Wed Feb 3, 2010

Oh, you lucky girl! Can we see the rest of the painting, or are you enjoying teasing us?

• Author:RD
• Posted:Feb 3, 2010

furiousBall writes on Wed Feb 3, 2010

I love this shot, because it typifies the kind of painting I enjoy, the detail up close. great colors!

• Author:furiousBall
• Posted:Feb 3, 2010

Kate writes on Wed Feb 3, 2010

Lovely, Di.
I got here from Laura’s post on this article, and of course, have seen your name popping up on her facebook from time to time.
Just HAD to bookmark you today, and will be sharing the link with my aunt who is also a photographer.
(http://pecanpress.com/albums.html) I think you will inspire her, and perhaps, each other.

• Author:Kate
• Posted:Feb 3, 2010

Di Mackey writes on Wed Feb 3, 2010

Lol, okay RD, soon.  I’ll photograph my developing office once the exhibition is over, then you will see both the painting and the new bookshelves (whether you want to see the shelves or not) 

Thanks, Mr furiousball.

• Author:Di Mackey
• Posted:Feb 3, 2010

Di Mackey writes on Wed Feb 3, 2010

Hey, thank you Kate.  I really enjoyed the quick visit to your aunt’s site, and on over to yours too.  Bookmarked you are.

• Author:Di Mackey
• Posted:Feb 3, 2010

Barbara writes on Thu Feb 4, 2010

Oh, the image this post radiates just made me smile in every way!  Too, the painting is gorgeous.  The artist’s name makes me think of that quote from Rumi ...

• Author:Barbara
• Posted:Feb 4, 2010