Meeting Jeff

www.billcharles.com

          The room was filled with the anxious air of anticipation. Eighteen college students were sitting in the classroom – waiting for a legend to arrive. They knew of his many accomplishments – having won the European Publishers Award for Photography and having his work displayed in over fifteen exhibitions. Then, he arrived and Jeff Mermelstein was a regular man wearing regular street clothes, but like his photography of ordinary people, there was something extraordinary about him – his passion for taking pictures.

          He did not begin his presentation with a biography or an account of why he became a photographer. Instead, he began with the thing that matters to him the most – his photographs. As he went from one picture to another, he revealed small tidbits about himself – his history, inspirations, and preferences. He revealed that he was inspired by Garry Winogrand and Diane Arbus, who according to Mr. Mermelstein had “documented with social content what they had seen in front of them.” As for himself, he said “I’m very interested in surprise and what I cannot anticipate or plan.”

          His technique reflects this philosophy and his photographs act as a chronicle of the amazing things he sees in normal, everyday life. When he takes his photographs, Mr. Mermelstein does not have a particular subject or concept in mind. He simply captures the images of anything that interests him and then, only after the prints have been processed does he look for similarities and intersections in subject. Mr. Mermelstein also often does not look through his viewfinder in order to capture the unusual in its natural state – many of the people that he photographs are unaware that their picture is being taken.

          The discussion of taking photographs without asking permission was a prolonged one during his presentation. He told stories of how people had argued with him and given him dirty looks. He told of one particularly memorable story when a man had grabbed Mr. Mermelstein’s camera out of his hands and then ripped the film out of the camera. Mr. Mermelstein explained that although he loves street photography, he would never get into a fight with someone who did not wish to have their picture taken. Although he has had some confrontations with people, he still enjoys being close to them when he is taking a photograph. By using a 35mm camera, he is forced to be close to his subjects – usually within a couple of feet – and Mr. Mermelstein says that he enjoys that intimacy.

         “Intimate” is definitely the correct word to describe some of Mr. Mermelstein’s photographs. One of the images that received the largest reaction from the group was a picture of a business man walking in mid-town Manhattan. The surprise in the image comes from the huge yawn that is shown on his face. His stoic and proper figure contrasts the relaxed and almost comical yawn. Mr. Mermelstein is able to capture this moment of vulnerability from such a close distance that the image is just extraordinary.

          Many of Jeff Mermelstein’s images are extraordinary because of the closeness that exists between himself and his fantastical subjects. His photographs are a reminder that the world is filled with eccentric and wonderful surprises if we just take the time to truly look and see. His talent is unquestionable and his passion is grand, and he leaves you with a sense of inspiration when you realize that you have not just met Mr. Mermelstein, but that you simply had a meeting with Jeff.