“One by one”

The story behind this image is more anecdotal than anything but at the same time a testament to how sheep-like we humans can be at times–or at least how sheep like I can be at times.  

I had just walked out of the LA/LA exhibit at LACMA in a pretty good mood.  The exhibit was superb and I was fairly certain some lovely images (by yours truly) would be waiting for me once I processed my rolls.  I don’t really know what I was thinking about as I moseyed around, in fact I would say that I let my mind wander as I sashayed.  Maybe I was considering the pictures, perhaps the art, or possibly whatever, but at some point after exiting the exhibit I totally spaced-out  and queued up for something.    

Now, when I realize that I’m in a queue, I also realize that I don’t actually remember why I’m queueing.  I also realize that I have no idea where the queue leads or how long I’ve been standing in it.  I figure it can’t have been long.  I briefly look around and neither my wife nor my children are waiting in this queue.  They are all standing across the hall looking at me waiting in a queue looking at them.  I wave and they wave back, a bit confused but I’m guessing that I look like I know what I’m doing.  

But what the fuck am I doing?  Now it’s getting more than a bit ridiculous.  I look around at my comrades in the queue.  They seem to be in control of their mental faculties, fully comprehend what they’re doing and are generally looking forward to some amazing thing as every few moments they shuffle slightly forward in anticipation.  I can feel excitement from them and I hope they can’t sense my bewilderment.  I strain to look over the top of everyone and as far as I can tell we are queueing up in front of a large white wall with some writing on it, which is sadly very little to go on. 

As silly as it sounds I’m kind of stressed out.  I’m not going to ask anyone why I’m queuing because the time for that question passed five minutes ago.  Nor do I want to cut the queue to find out what I’m queuing for just to jump back in line because that’s equally stupid.  I could bail but what if it’s something I want to see, like a small door to a hidden world where everything is small and colorful and made out of papier mâché.   

In the end I opt to bail.  Chances are it wasn’t a small door leading to a colorful hidden world where everything is made of papier mâché so what’s the point, but my curiosity gets the best of me anyway and I go towards the front of the line to see what I have missed.  The wall says something about a “Tale of two Persian rugs,” followed by a fair bit of writing on the wall and a small picture.  

People were pointing and waiting and excited for this?  Jesus.  I was more excited about all of their silhouettes, one by one, against the white wall so I made this image.

Shot on my Leica M7, amber filter on a 35mm Summicron.  Film was Kodak Tri-X 400 pushed +1 at the Icon.