'Carpe Diem'...even in the rain...
By Berette Macaulay
22 Apr 2009
The other night I was lucky enough to see what I thought was the best example of "living in the now". I had just finished dance classes and was walking across the Union Square piazza in the pouring rain towards one of the train entrances. After bidding adieu to two friends as they descended into the MTA tunnels, I continued on my wet journey. Very shortly thereafter I stumbled upon two chess players seated on crate boxes barely sheltering themselves and their chess board with one black and one bright yellow umbrella! It was startling and unreal and wonderfully amusing. They were rapt in their game and barely noticed the second and third glances they got from passersby.
As I strolled slowly past them I almost gave myself whiplash unable to resist repeatedly looking back at them and at another passerby in particular who was having the same trouble. Note though that they didn't attract a crowd or even a small gathering as spectacles are apt to do in city squares - I think because it was raining buckets. But the irony is, if it were dry outside they wouldn't have attracted any attention at all!
I have always been nerve-wracked about shooting public scenes - I guess a true photojournalist I am yet to be. :) Anyway, on this singular occasion how could I resist?!?!?! Manifest before me was the odd reality that bore resemblance to a surreal dramatic scene in a Kubric film! In recognition of this I muttered sotto voce to myself "fuck it", pivoted on my heel and approached the men, and asked them if I could take a shot. They didn't look up, but instead nodded "yes" in unfettered compliance.
As I began snapping away, that other similarly seduced passerby had apparently also decided to follow the 'now' example and came over to join me. Together we circled the men, he holding the umbrella steadily in the wind, as I did my best to capture a clear flash-free shot in the pouring rain, at night, with my little old point & shoot camera. I promised my spontaneous companion that I would email copies of this most unforgettable moment to him.
I'm glad to have these pictures (blurry as they may be) of the 'chess game in the rain', to remind me of an age old philosophy recycled a thousand ways these days because we keep forgetting:
CAPE DIEM!!
1 response
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Olivier Scher gave props (22 Apr 2009):
This is a really funny story. I couldn't imagine myself playing chess in the rain like they perfectly do here ! You did the good choice by shoorting them this night :-) I hope you were not soaked taking pics... in the rain !
