produce passion

I was recently introduced to the blog On Location With Rick Lee. I had been feeling in a photo schlump as of late, and really needed inspiration. I found it in heaps and gobs at Rick's blog. I can't tell you what a rush it was. His photos are spectacular and yet he really comes across very down to earth and shows his readers that amazing shots can be found most anywhere.

He features a special post every Thursday on produce, because as he says, "Because Thursday night is grocery night!"

This morning I awoke with new found energy, dressed the munchkin, put myself together and off we went to the grocery store. I knew my daughter would be well behaved as long as she could ride in one of those grocery cart cars. And with that, I would be able to peruse the produce as if I was a cat insearch of tasty mouse morsel.

I was having a fantastic time snapping shots. Some duds right off the bat, some duds found later when I got home, but some that turned out - all in all it was so refreshing! Even if they had all turned out crumby, it was the entire experience...the feeling of wanting to find "the shot" again...the union of me and my camera and wherever my scanning eyes took me.

I did however learn two valuable lessons:

1. Make sure you know if the grocery store plays a little tune before they turn on the produce sprinklers. Especially if you've got your camera whipped out and you're trying to take a close up. I found out that this grocery store did not. Poor poor camera. Poor poor me.

2. Expect the produce guy to think you're off your rocker. As I was happily snapping shots, the produce guy became very curious as to what I was up to. What are you doing? Why are you doing it? What do you do with the photos? Really? Really? Seriously? Hmm, you sure? Cool. I felt like he was about ready to handcuff me and drag me into the back to that dim lit room where there's the good cop/bad cop there to interrogate me, "If you cooperate with us this will go a lot smoother, Ms Insanity..." In all seriousness though, he thought me snapping shots of his immaculately aligned fruits and veggies was great - I think he was rather flattered.

But then after I exhausted the produce section, my daughter and I had to walk the Isle of Death in the bakery. Flanked on each side of us were stacks and stacks of cookies. Naturally, that being a word my daughter can say (half way at least), I immediately hear, "KEEEEEEES! KEEEEEEEES! KEEEEEEEES!" (meaning Cookies)

So I caved since she'd been so wonderful during my "produce photoshoot" and began looking at all the different kinds of KEES to find some that would make the least amount of mess. She had been so cute and determined and somewhat LOUD that one of the bakery men came over to chit-chat. I apologized for a) my loud persistant daughter and b) for not having aspirin to hand out. He chuckled and assured me the grocery store had seen far worse than my little toddler cruising around in her grocery cart car.

Even though I had committed to a yummy container of chocolate chip cookies, the nice gentleman opened up some red sugar sprinkle covered sugar cookies and gave one to my daughter. She was delighted beyond comprehension and that satiated any KEES desires for a good ten minutes.

He was thrilled with the fact that I was taking pictures. He encouraged me to chat with one of the bakers in the back about a photography club in the area and how I should join it after I have my second baby. He gave me good insights on other places to go to in town to try to catch some fun shots. It was really kind of him and very informative.

I asked him to please let the Produce Guy know that I'm really not mental if they were to ever have words with each other.

He laughed and assured me that the Produce Guy didn't think I was mental...

I picked up the items I needed, and we went on our way. I left feeling rejuvenated and alive.

What a great feeling.

My grocery store shots can be viewed in my slideshow above or by clicking here.