Atlantic City - 006

September 2021, Atlantic City, NJ

I’m a huge advocate of taking your camera everywhere. You never know what beautiful images await. With today’s technology, people can instantly whip out their device. Some individuals are really good at shooting with their phone—myself, well, I’m not that great. During this time, I was shooting with my Sony A7R4 and a native 35mm lens. Kind of large and overkill for street work, if you ask me.

One morning in Atlantic City, my girlfriend and I went to a pier near the famous Gilchrist Restaurant, known for its phenomenal pancakes. The place is so popular that there’s always a long wait for seating, so we try to get there as early as possible. While I was taking photos of my girlfriend by the water, I noticed a little girl doing cartwheels. There was no composition in my mind—just me, trying to catch a moment.

Now, when I look at this photo, so many thoughts run through my mind. I see what appears to be a mother—or maybe a grandmother—sitting nearby, watching the child. She’s likely getting herself and her family some fresh air, while probably also thinking or worrying about typical adult stuff.

When was the last time we found time to do a cartwheel? Are some of us even able to do one? But children—they aren’t thinking about bills or work. Can you remember what your five-year-old self thought about? I’m pretty sure it wasn’t how you were going to pay the mortgage. It was about the moment. It was about enjoying the moment, wherever you were.