A small, good thing

In 1983, Raymond Carver wrote a very lovely short story about hope, persistence through trial, and the small things in life that light up even the worst of circumstances.

In the spring of 2010, I read that story -- and it warmed me clear through to the bones.

In the short story, "A small, good thing," a couple endures the death of their young son on the day of his birthday. Shortly after, the couple visits the bakery where they had ordered a cake for their son's party -- a party that was never able to happen -- and they share their grief with the owner of the bakery.

As they all sit down with cinnamon rolls, coffee, and the weight of recent tragedy, the baker says, "You have to eat and keep going. Eating is a small, good thing in a time like this."

So, they do.

The story ends with these words: "They swallowed the dark bread. It was like daylight under the fluorescent trays of light. They talked on into the early morning and they did not think of leaving."

Like I said, it warmed me to the bones.

As an English teacher by trade, I like to use stories as metaphors for my own life, and I find a lot of solace in the words and stories of other people.

I like to think that that's what makes me the photographer that I am.

So, I use the title of Raymond Carver's story as my own tagline for two reasons -- one, because I love stories, especially this one. But also because I really believe in those small, good things that light up our everyday experiences, sort of like internal sunlight that can never be fully blocked out by clouds or hardships.

Sure, I appreciate the big, landmark turning points in our lives, but I think the real story -- the real substance -- is in the small, good things.

So, that's what I've dedicated my life to capturing. That's the story I'm delighted by telling, and that's the way I live and see the world.


When it comes to being a photographer, I look for the seemingly insignificant: the simple act of sharing food together, the little smiles that say more than they seem, and the time spent doing absolutely nothing, yet absolutely everything.

I love natural sunlight, warm colors, summer afternoons, and packing as much love into a single photo as humanly possible.

I genuinely believe in people and I believe in good things -- even when they might be hidden by so much bad.

I consider it an honor to capture life, love, and all the amazing things that make up the right now -- all the small, good -- very good -- things.

much love,
-p.

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