Opportunity doesn't just knock, sometimes it comes barging through your window.
I originally met Jamal while working at his apartment complex in July. Typically, I wouldn't pay the tenants much mind, however, I vividly remember the Leica(M6 I believe) strapped around his neck as he walked through the entrance. It's not every day you see someone with a Leica, so of course, I sparked a conversation with him. And after 6 months, a string of exchanges in the DM, a random November coffee shop encounter, and the sudden urge to create; opportunity had waited on us long enough. I believe that though people can plan times to create, creatives are often willed to create despite whether it's planned or not. For me, it's a feeling I get in the pit of my stomach. Though it might be a different feeling for Jamal, he too can attest. So when Jamal reached out to me that Sunday evening, I knew he not only wanted to create but he had to.
It's not very often you meet and can converse with others who just get it. Even more so for an introverted person like myself. I typically go at my own pace when it comes to friendships. However, I genuinely needed a new friend when I met Jamal. I didn't think it would also bring an old but lively motivation within myself. So thank you, Jamal, had it not been for that one-off conversation in July this photojournal probably wouldn't even exist.
Just after this was taken, we ran into a friend of Jamal's. A kind fellow by the name of Ben, who just so happened to be running an event in the building behind Jamal. Even more coincidentally, I ran into Ben maybe a week after, he didn't remember my name but it's cool lol.
That evening, the sunset was warm. And despite the time of year, the sun seemed just as orange and vibrant as it did in July. This year, more specifically the past 8 months, has been the roughest time of my life since I was 17. However, the encounter with Jamal is a reminder that I'm on the right path. This photojournal is a reminder. Even you, reading this is a reminder.