When it comes to exceptional photography, there are photographers that are known within the photographic community, and then there are photographers that are known by everybody. And if they don’t know the photographer they have certainly seen their work. For instance, raising the flag on Iwo Jima (Joe Rosenthal), the napalm girl (Nick Ut), and the fire hoses in Birmingham (Charles Moore).

One weekend a few weeks back, while shooting a protest against the Israeli invasion of Palestine, I was standing on the edge of the curb right outside the Federal Building in LA, when I turned and saw one of the greats.

Almost instantly I thought, “Wait, is that –? Hold on. Yeah, it is.”

And then I thought, “Should I say something? Should I introduce myself?”

So I did.

Me: Hey, are you –?

He looks at me hesitantly, somewhat put off, like he’d been asked this question too many times his life – quietly hoping that I wouldn’t ask him about his famous photo.

Him: Yeah.

Me: I thought so, you know, I really enjoy your work.

Him: Thanks. Who are you? Who you work for?

Me: My name’s Shawn. I don’t work for anybody. I’m a documentary photographer doing this on my own.

And after I said that it seemed I really turned him off, like because I don’t work for a publication my work must not be any good.

So I thought about leaving, but I wanted to ask him a question about his work documenting one the world’s most violent gangs.

Me: I was just wondering how you gained access to [that gang].

Him: I don’t know…access…really. Being in the right place at the right time I guess. That’s how it usually works. The guy that actually got me in was eventually murdered by them.

Me: Oh really.

Him: Yeah.

Me: You don’t have a web site, huh?

Him: No.

At this point, I really felt like that he didn’t want to talk to me so I cut the conversation short, surprising him it seemed, and said…

Me: Take care.

And walked away.

I don’t know if it was me, the situation, or he was too busy working, but I just felt like that he absolutely did not want to talk to me. It was as though I had approached a major celebrity for the hundredth time that day and he just wanted me to leave him alone. Which is upsetting, because this guy, along with probably two others, is definitely my favorite Los Angeles photographer, and probably one of my overall favorites.

Personally, if I was at the level this guy is at and another photographer noticed me in a crowd of thousands where 99.99% of the people have absolutely no idea who I am, I hope I would be more cordial and seem a little more interested in having a brief conversation with someone who appreciated my work.

I just hope he was having a bad day, and I’m certainly still a fan, but if I see him in the future I don’t think I’ll approach him again.

Which is disappointing.