Matías
I am sad.
Yesterday, while walking around the market of the City of Granada in Nicaragua, my mind was unconsciously looking for a man I had photographed in that same place two years ago. I never knew his name or anything about him but he has since been very important in my photography.
The portrait I took of him represented the very first time I managed to see something I wanted to photograph, anticipate what was about to happen, notice the combination of strong lights and shadows, and have the camera ready to not miss the moment. All in a fraction of a second and yet, still one of my happiest fractions of a second. I feel proud of that portrait.
Yesterday evening I met Demetrio, a local photographer, and we immediately started to share adventures around photography. As I was showing him my photos of Nicaragua, all people in his studio started to gather around the computer screen saying… “look, it’s Matías!”. “He died a year ago” – they explained to me.
I am sad to know he is gone and, although he never saw that portrait I took of him nor he knew what it meant to me, today I feel the need to thank him and, through him, thank all the people who has ever given me the great little treasure of a fraction of a second.
Thank you Matías. Nice we crossed roads!
