37: Environmental Portrait

Sometimes the line between photographic types is vague, at best. When I shot this it was Street Photography but as I learned more it became an Environmental Portrait. An Environmental Portrait is generally defined as a portrait of someone in his common environment. As I talked to this gentleman I began to realize this was truly an expression of his work. Meet Howard.

Mr. Howard

Howard works at an old fashion hardware/farm supply store. I am not sure how long he has been working for this establishment, but I suspect for many years. Howard seems to know where all the old skeletons are hidden around town and loves to tell about them. How long has it been since you have been in a store where people really talk, it happens here and not just Howard.

But what makes this an Environmental Portrait? (I wish I was good enough photographer to make the image tell the whole story.) Well first this image was made several hours after the store closed. It appears Howard walks home after work (My guess is he lives about a mile from work). Eats supper (dinner to fancy folk) then walked back to water the plants after things have cooled off. This is to avoid scorching the plants. A few minutes after I made the image I saw Howard walking toward home. This image depicts a man that is devoted to the job he is doing and therefore a true Environmental Portrait and a truly great individual.