When my coworker texted me on a random Wednesday in August, I had no idea it would lead to a photo I took on the side of a building.
My coworker has done many design projects for the local business, Cycle Works, and was tasked with creating an image to cover a glass garage door for their building. After many failed AI attempts, he texted me and asked: "Do you have any plans for tomorrow evening? (asking for a photographer)" and I jumped at the opportunity.
The vision was a rider wearing the company jersey, riding past a blue sky and corn field (truly, a Nebraskan vision). They location scouted and found the last bit of tall corn left on a dirt road, and we got to work. It took way more tries than I thought, needing to get the angle just right, motion blur, the corn wasn't tall enough, his leg looked funny, and the list goes on and on. But after an hour of crouching in the dirt and grassy ditch, we got it. I also asked to take some general photos as the guys were chatting, just to promote the business and build my portfolio, and they turned out great.
Then 2 months go by: I hear nothing.
The process of delivering the files to a print vendor and finding an installation date took longer than anticipated. It made me think this was just a write off and maybe they'd try again in the spring. It needed to be warmer than 50 degrees to install, and Lincoln was in a cold snap. My coworker promised it was coming, and to just be patient. But to be honest, the whole concept of my image on a building felt surreal, and I probably wouldn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes.
Which I did.
On a new Wednesday in November, randomly between meetings my coworker said "The photo is up now, and the owner loves it. Do you want to see the picture he sent?" and I immediately said "Absolutely not. I'm taking my lunch break to drive over there and see it myself." And that's what I did. It was insane: a simple project as a favor to my coworker turned into my work being memorialized in Lincoln. Seeing that was such an out-of-body experience, it felt like I had won an award or something.
Maybe I got lucky, and it was a matter of who I knew vs what I can do. Maybe I had been talking about my photography so much that it stuck with my coworker and he knew this was a great idea. Maybe he was out of time and ideas and I was a last minute option. But however it happened, I'm so glad it did because a photo I took is on a building in Lincoln.
xx
McKenzie
