Shoot For People Today, and for People 60 Years from Now

 

I think of documentary photographers as some of the most important photographers working today, because we’re aiming our lenses at the things that exist today, so commonplace at times, that we don’t even notice them.

But think about being 60 years in the future, 2077, and wondering what a cell-phone store looked like.  Or shopping in a grocery store.  Things change so quickly.  Look at photos from 60 years ago, 1957, and it’s an amazing time capsule to see the ordinary life of that time in photographs.

The goal of this project is to show the events going on, but also the ordinary things that happen throughout the U.S.  The everyday to see what we really look like.

What do you imagine Boulder is like?  If you’ve never been there, it’s just a word.  But photographs of life there gives you a glimpse.  Do you picture city space, or rural?  In Boulder Colorado, there is not much racial diversity.  Take a look below to see–these photographs represent the last five days, Thursday to Monday.

In other states, there is a lot of diversity, and we need to see all kinds of people.  Maybe we’ll see that we are all more similar than we expected.

There was a comment on this project from a person in Germany who traveled to the U.S. and was surprised by what he saw.

Unfortunately. I live in Germany and hardly can give any contribution though I would like to. But you’re completely right with the “stereotypes”. We in Germany now have a “special” picture of the Americans – created by media of any kind.  When I was in the US, it’s a complete different view and people are people, struggling with everyday life. Vice versa, some became very surprised when I told them I am German. They didn’t think one could talk “normal” with me.

Here are photos from my weekend, showing some of the people that crossed my path in and near Boulder.

Rockygrass festival-goers carry their chairs and blankets as they pass by a lemonade stand set up along the sidewalk on Hwy 36, Lyons Colorado, June 30, 2017. (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

A firefighter shoots water from a hose at a target as part of the Firefighter Challenge at the Boulder County Fair, Longmont Colorado, July 28, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

A firefighter stretches before competing in the Firefighter Challenge at the Boulder County Fair, Longmont Colorado, July 28, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

A child competes in the kids version of the Firefighter Challenge at the Boulder County Fair, Longmont Colorado, July 28, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

Farmers sell peaches from Palisades Colorado at a roadside stand at Hwy 66 and 75th Street, Hygiene Colorado, July 30, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

Muffler Man, now holding a pitchfork, stands guard at a ranch on Rt.66, Hygiene Colorado, on July 30, 2017. (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

With summer in full swing, tubers carry their tubes to cool off in the St. Vrain River, Lyons Colorado, July 29, 2017 (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

Fair-goers ride their chicken to the poultry show at the Boulder County Fair, Longmont Colorado, on July 30, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

Fair-goers on a ride at the Boulder County Fair, Longmont Colorado, on Sunday, July 30, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

A couple watch their grandson on a ride at the Boulder County Fair, Longmont Colorado, on Sunday, July 30, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

Camping trailers and pop-up vans in a camping area in LaVern M. Johnson Park during Rockygrass festival, Lyons Colorado, July 30, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

Festival-goers check their phones into a charging station during Rockygrass bluegrass festival, Lyons Colorado, July 30, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

Russia inquiry is the headline on the USA Today weekend paper, seen at the King Soopers supermarket, Longmont Colorado, July 30, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

Shoppers peruse the last of the merchandise on the second to last day before closing the J.C. Penney store in Longmont, Colorado, July 30, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

Kids keep themselves busy playing cards (and one plays cards on his phone) while their parents set up a stand in the exhibit hall at the Boulder County Fair, Longmont Colorado, on July 28, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

A group of friends get together for a Friday happy hour drinks, Oskar Blues, Lyons Colorado, July 28, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

A quiet Sunday afternoon at the AT&T store, Longmont Colorado, July 30, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

A stylist gives a cut to a customer at Floyd’s Barbershop, Longmont Colorado, July 30, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

A young child plays and sings at a backyard party in Boulder, July 29, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

Backyard summer party in Boulder, Saturday July 29, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

A woman is tired after getting her horse set up at the Boulder County Fair, Longmont Colorado, on Friday, July 28, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

A horse rider from Nederland Colorado gets her horse ready to perform at the Boulder County Fair, Longmont Colorado, July 28, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

Contestants in the mini horse category get ready to compete in their class at the Boulder County Fair, Longmont Colorado, July 28, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

Teenagers hang out in front of a food stand at the Boulder County Fair, Longmont Colorado, July 28, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

Fair-goers feed their dog a bit of their turkey leg at the Boulder County Fair, Longmont Colorado, on Sunday, July 30, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

Shoppers in the canned food aisle at King Soopers supermarket, Longmont Colorado, July 30, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

A kid tries his hand at the mechanical bull at the Boulder County Fair, Longmont Colorado, July 30, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

An attendant waits for a customer at the basketball game at the Boulder County Fair, Longmont Colorado, July 30, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

Kids hanging out in the camping area during Rockygrass bluegrass festival, Lyons Colorado, July 30, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

Tubers on the St. Vrain River, Lyons Colorado, on Saturday, July 29, 2017.  (Contax T3 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

 

A jam session in a camping area during Rockygrass bluegrass festival, Lyons Colorado, on Sunday, July 30, 2017.  (Contax T3 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

Members of the St. Vrain Photographic Society at the judging of the photo competition at the Boulder County Fair, Longmont Colorado, July 27, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

One of the judges of the photo competition points to a photo during judging at the Boulder County Fair, Longmont Colorado, on Thursday July 27, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

Miguel Shotts, 15, looks at the winners of the 4-H Photography contest.  He placed first in the Unit 3 – Mastering Photography division.   At the Boulder County Fair, Longmont Colorado, July 29, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

Workers at a food truck prep food prior to the opening of the Boulder County Fair, Longmont Colorado, July 27, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

Shoppers look over the wares for sale at a garage sale, Longmont Colorado, July 28, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

A homeowner sits inside his garage during his a garage sale, Longmont Colorado, July 28, 2017.  (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

Food trucks line up to sell food at the Monday night Prospect Sound Bites, which is a summer outdoor concert series in the Prospect section of Longmont Colorado, July 31, 2017 (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

A truck transports a dwelling through the intersection of Hwy 52 and Hwy 96 in Boulder Colorado, July 31, 2017 (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

Shoppers check out the items for sale inside the TRU Hospice Thrift Shop, Boulder Colorado, July 31, 2017 (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

Cows eat at a trough at a farm on Hwy 95, Boulder Colorado.  July 31, 2017 (Nikon F100 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer

 

A fisherman sits out on the edge of McCall Lake, Hygiene Colorado, 2016.  (Contax T3 35mm) Kenneth Wajda Photographer