The Picture Man of York
by J.G. Fabiano
"Hey mister, would you mind taking a picture of my family?" I have been asked that question many times this summer as I walk down Long Sands Beach. Last year I moved away from the beach so now I have to walk from York Harbor to get to the spot on the beach I have sat for the past 22 summers. I dont mind the walk. In fact, it keeps my weight down to below Suma wrestler weight. It is interesting how many people I meet in my trek to Long Sands.
The other day, I met a couple from Minnesota. I didnt have to look at the license plate to see where they were from. The father of the family simply came up to me and introduced himself as a man from Minnesota. I did not know whether or not that was supposed to impress me but I introduced myself as a man from Maine. He then asked me if I would take his familys vacation picture with The Nubble Light House in the background. I told him I would be happy to since I had no other pressing engagements at the time. He then proceeded to arrange his family as a photographer would arrange his clients. He had the youngest sit in front of the older children of the family. He then told his wife to stand precisely behind the youngest daughter so that The Nubble Light House would be directly between her and the husband. I was then told where to stand to take the picture. I must have had a weird look on my face because the older daughter began to laugh. The father quickly put an end to that.
To my surprise, he then handed me a throwaway camera. After all the fuss and bother to set up the picture I assumed he was going to give me a state of the art camera. It was then my turn to giggle. I only took one picture and then went on my way. That was my first experience with a family from Minnesota.
Another day, I remember being approached by a Japanese gentleman. I could tell that he spoke little English because he waved his hands at me more than he spoke. He also yelled at me. I wonder if he thought all men from Maine were deaf. I finally figured out that he wanted me to take a picture of his tour group. The only problem was that I did not see any tour group. After I told him that I would take the picture he pulled a yellow pennant out of his shirt and waved it in the air. Now I know how the people of Pearl Harbor felt. Out of everywhere small Japanese tourists circled around the yellow pennant. The man who asked me to take the picture then organized his group incredibly fast and then gave me a camera that was a bit more complicated than my computer. He told me which button to push and he advised me to take at least five pictures. I did what he requested. The people then dispersed as quickly as they assembled and off to the beach I continued.
One of my more interesting picture taking experience was with a Quebec family. Originally they did not want their picture taken. They just stopped me on the side of the road to get directions. The driver of the car politely asked me where the road they were on went. Being in a bit of a weird mode, I told him that the road did not go anywhere. It stayed right where it is. For a couple of seconds no one said anything. I was about to apologize when everyone in the car started to laugh hysterically. I was the one who was now shocked. The driver of the car now begged me to have my picture taken with them. He told me that they never met a real Maineer. I, of course, obliged and off they went down the road that stayed right where it is.
Every day when I am walking down Long Sands Road to my spot on the beach at least one or two people ask me to take their pictures. Recently, when I was taking a picture of a newlywed couple from New York, I saw a young man point to me and tell his friend, Look, there is the picture man. I guess this is my fifteen minutes of fame.
Jim Fabiano is a teacher and writer living in York, Maine