Educators Day Out
I came to DSM Experience’s Educators Day Out at Constitution Yards with my friend Melissa, originally thinking I’d mostly be her personal photographer for the afternoon. I wasn’t hired to photograph the event and didn’t arrive with an assignment. I simply brought my camera, started paying attention, and quickly realized there was something happening around me that felt worth documenting.
The afternoon was full of activity. Educators competed in potato sack races, egg-and-spoon races, tug-of-war, and other games while raffles were drawn throughout the event for merchandise, gift cards, and other prizes. Somehow, I won the very first raffle and walked away with a reusable water bottle—which is especially funny because, to my recollection, that may be the first raffle, bingo drawing, or anything of the sort that I have ever won in my life.
Between the games, there was plenty of laughter, conversation, networking, eating, drinking, and simply enjoying being outside together.
The event also gave me my first opportunity to experience the newly relocated Constitution Yards. The venue recently moved about a block from its former location and the new space is beautiful. There are activities throughout the grounds for different ages, along with a kitchen serving hot food and beverages and a full bar. The food was delicious—and the frozen margarita absolutely deserves its own acknowledgment.
A few hours into the afternoon, an isolated rainstorm suddenly rolled through and lasted for roughly twenty minutes. Everyone scattered beneath umbrellas, covered areas, and whatever shelter they could find. DSM was prepared, though—they had ponchos ready and began passing them around to attendees. I gladly accepted one, particularly because I had my camera equipment with me. Once the rain moved through, everyone came right back out and continued enjoying the afternoon almost as though nothing had happened.
Throughout the event, DSM also welcomed a number of guest speakers and community leaders, including Wilmington City Councilman Alexander Hackett, Dr. Laretha Odumosu, Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Governor Meyer, Taron Williams, Elementary Principal of Kuumba Academy, Melissa Andrade, Speech Language Pathologist and Community Advocate, James Simmons III, Special Assistant in the Wilmington Mayor’s Office, and others.
What stayed with me most, though, was everything happening between the scheduled moments.
I photographed people talking, competing, laughing, resting, reconnecting, cheering one another on, and simply existing together. I’m often drawn to relationships when I photograph—not only relationships between people, but between people and place, people and experience, and all of the smaller interactions that help tell the larger story of a moment.
At one point, India, who hosted the event, mentioned that she hadn’t realized I was a photographer during the first few times we encountered one another. In return, I offered to send her the photographs I had taken that afternoon.
I’m glad I brought my camera.
Sometimes I know exactly what I’m going somewhere to make. Other times, I simply notice that something is worth witnessing and follow the instinct.
This was one of those times.
