So this is my second subject for the People Project 2009. The project is (very) loosely defined as interesting photos of interesting people. I had a short list of subjects in December as I started down this path. I knew it would be a meandering path of discovery.

This week's guest was not on my list until I photographed Daniel (guest #1). In our discussions on shoot day we each spoke of our daughters... his in Italy and my eldest in college. She had just shared an experience where her creative writing professor introduced them to a local used book store. She had lamented how she wished we had stores like that in Portland... Daniel then spoke of his friendship with the owner of one such establishment, Cunningham Books. Her name is Nancy... and she is a perfect blend of "character" and sweet gentle soul. So just Monday I took Allison on a tour of a couple of used bookstores, starting with Nancy at Cunningham. Allison now has a new favorite book store, and could have easily spent the family inheritance (ha!). And Nancy graciously volunteered to sit for me Thursday morning and let me point my camera in her direction. The real bonus is the amazing natural light in her shop. Glorious diffuse daylight comes pouring in from all angles making it a photographer's dream. In the demands of assignment photography, I must be capable of creating glorious light where there is none. It is such a thrill for me when I can see a space like this and just use the light and create, with no product or message driven constraints to what appears in the viewfinder. 

In honor of Nancy's appreciacion of old photos, with a penchant for b&w, with a sepia tint, I will process all of hers in that manner. Once again, I hit a photographic goldmine with her amazing presence and enticing surrounds... a sincere "Thank You" to Nancy, and also to Daniel for introducing us!