not photographing the slabs

First followup thought after the Slabs experience.

There was a thread on one of the vandwelling forums where the poster said s/he didn’t take pics because it would feel like an intrusion on people’s misery and squalor.

While the conditions at the Slabs were minimal and sketchy, I did not see misery or squalor. I saw people making do, forging a life on their own terms and within the limits of the available resources. Life finds a way.

I also didn’t take photos but it was because I was too busy experiencing. One of my recent mantras is to experience first, document afterwards. This idea took hold the first time I saw an Olympic procession where the US team was distracted taking videos and selfies rather than walking in the moment. It’s on TV, ya goofs. Every member of your dingdang family taped it.