Photography – my Passion and my escape!
I came to Synanon in 1968 as a freckled-faced, pig tail-wearing pre-teen – then called “Notions”. (we were just “Notions” and didn’t qualify as being fully developed people yet!) My parents were game players so thought to bring my brother and me down on the weekends. What was cool back then is the constant sounds of congas on the beach – as many of the residents there were from Puerto Rico or New York. Live music on Saturday nights with every kind of person in attendance and was the first time I saw every color of person altogether!
Moved in in 1970, I made lifelong friendships that have lasted over half a century. Also met this guy named Bill Crawford who gave me my first real lessons in photography and my first camera. It was through the lens I could capture the agony of despair, the “act as if” hard at work – the babies from the corner of the room learning to become toddlers and walk and talk and fight…was really fascinating!
My journey took me through school (even though I tried to make a run for it twice – teenagers really do not want to follow rules and always think they know better!) through working as an “aid” in our communal school, and finally through intense training to what has become my career for the past 44 years. BUT, I always loved the view from the lens of a camera. Luckily I fell in love with Bruce Levine and together we photographed dissipations, trips, and all of the photos that eventually became the salespeople’s “pitch” book. He taught me so much!
Later in my Syna life – I had the luxury of working in a dark room at the end of the airstrip where I listened to the soulful sounds of Al Green, Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, the Ohio Players, etc. It was my beautiful escape from the constant yammer of the Wire – which mostly consisted of invitations to the feared Monday Night Games, or someone complaining that their ice was melting and their meat was freezing in the refrigerator… not realizing that the food was placed in the opposite bin sides – thus ice actually would melt in the refrigerated side and the meat would freeze if put in the opposite side. Music was a much better and more pleasant sound for me.
Photography is still my escape and passion. Thank you, Bill Crawford and Bruce Levine, for helping me realize what awesome art can be made as long as you look through the lens!
I would like to add that some of these photos were not taken by me, but I’ve grabbed them from various places and kept them for years. Should anyone have issue with their image being shown, please contact Cory Becker roazbear@gmail.com who can remove them. Your right to privacy is of utmost importance. Thanks, Vicki
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