The People I Know and The People I Meet - Mark @ Flamekeepers Hat Club
I want to kick off these portraits with my most recent subject. Mark is / was a stranger to me. I discovered Mark through Pinterest. If you’ve seen any of my YouTube videos, you’ll have noticed I’m partial to a hat or two. While scrolling through Pinterest looking at outfit ideas to wear with hats, I noted one name that kept popping up - Flamekeepers.
Mark - Owner of Flamekeepers Hat Club in Harlem, New York.
Mark owns Flamekeepers, a hat and accessory store in Harlem, New York. The uploads I’d seen on both Pinterest and Instagram showed incredibly cool people in some very nice headwear. I knew I was heading to the US later in the year, so I made a promise to myself that before I headed home, I’d visit Flamekeepers, probably treat myself to a new hat and if he was willing, get a portrait of Mark. I’d have my camera kit with me anyway and as the adage goes, if you don’t ask, the answer will always be no. But as well as capturing the image, I want to talk about the events that led up to taking the portrait.
I’m going to make a potentially controversial statement here - Manhattan, meh! I can take it or leave it.
Don’t get me wrong, if you’ve never been to New York, it’s a must visit place. You’ve seen it on telly and in films all your life, and as you walk round, everywhere you look looks just like you’ve seen on your screens… but once you’ve done it once or twice, it’s just an incredibly built up, never ending city of skyscrapers and shops. Every couple of years or so, a new eye popping architectural gem is opened and I love experiencing brave and interesting architecture. Once that new experience is done though, it’s time to get the heck outta there.
On this trip to New York, I’d based myself in Brooklyn. To get to Harlem from Brooklyn is incredibly simple, you hop on the subway and people watch for the next half an hour. It’s a most wonderful way to travel around and you really do get to see every kind of human life going (and some that could possibly be re classified). It’s much more fun and efficient than a yellow cab or Uber if you have to traverse through the length of the city, not to mention cheaper.
Flamekeepers Hat Club, Harlem, New York
I’d got to Harlem about 20 minutes before Flamekeepers opened, so I found the nearest coffee shop for a drink and soaked up the atmosphere. It was a perfect pre portrait shoot preparation. The jazz artwork on the walls, the tunes over the sound system and people watching again. This is the other thing that’s different from Manhattan, people in places like Harlem, Brooklyn etc. are living their lives, real lives, honest lives. It’s not always pretty, but it’s life. Manhattan life isn’t real life. Most of the people working in the stores, offices, coffee shops and the like, don’t actually live their lives in Manhattan, it’s too damned expensive for regular workers to live there anything beyond hand to mouth. And the people who are wealthy enough to actually live in Manhattan don’t live a real life like the rest of us… if you get what I mean.
Anyway, I’m digressing.
I walked into Flamekeepers with my usual pre shoot trepidation (even though I wasn’t guaranteed a shoot…), hoping I’d be the first and only person in the store. Well that didn’t work out. In the store already were a group of five gentlemen dressed to the nines. To me they appeared to be from a church group or similar, they were dressed in beautiful dark suits and over them they wore immaculate dark Epsom coats.
But my soul was immediately lifted as I listened in to their group interaction. They were joking with each other, ribbing each other, but above all, honestly encouraging each other on their choice of hats. I found myself inwardly chuckling as this group of older gents were interacting and having fun like a group of teenagers. I was openly smiling as I eavesdropped on this band of friends, it was a joy to see. But my heart was absolutely glowing with joy as they left. They’d bought their headwear and as they stood by the exit, they grouped together and bowed their heads slightly. One of the men offered his thanks to Mark for his patient and expert service. They all nodded. He then went on to offer thanks for Marks shop to be there and available. They all nodded. He then wished Mark and his business continued success, longevity and profitability. They all nodded and said their ‘amen’.
I am possibly the least religious person you could meet, but I was filled with absolute joy that these men wanted to express their thanks and gratitude in their own way. Moreover, they were happy to offer their thoughts and thanks without fear of a stranger standing and watching on. It was a beautiful human experience, I’m grateful I was there to witness it and every time I think of it, I’m instantly happier for having that moment.
I also think that’s one of the most amazing things about travelling in general. It’s the people you get to meet, sometimes fleetingly, sometimes to grab a portrait, sometimes they can become lifelong friends. You see, one of the reasons for beginning this portrait project, is noticing how dangerously insular we as people are becoming. Watch the news (or rather don’t), read your Twitter feed or similar and if you look carefully, we’re being sucked into an information echo chamber. We all instinctively listen to and follow, people and sources we align ourselves with. And especially in the last few years, it’s become more than normal that if you don’t agree fully with another persons point of view, you’re automatically wrong. There’s no trying to see the other persons point of view, or understanding why that person thinks that way, it’s simply easier to decry and denounce that person or opinion. Everything today is black or white. There’s no grey and there appears to be no realisation that we don’t have to fully agree with someone else’s point of view or belief to actually improve our own, or their, lives by getting to know them.
Personally I don’t need or see a point of religion in my life. That doesn’t mean I believe other people should think how I do, or religious people are fools. I can quite easily see the comfort and meaning religion may bring to others, it’s just not for me. I’d also hope that religious people wouldn’t think I’m evil or just wrong for not believing. We can still get on, I’m actually quite an easy person to get on with… as long as you like coffee ;-)
Mark of Flamekeepers Hat Club, Harlem, New York
Back to Mark, he couldn’t have been nicer. I explained how I’d ended up in his store buying a hat and how I’d hoped to ask him for a portrait as part of the ‘People I know and the People I meet’ project. It wasn’t a problem for Mark and I’ve a sneaking suspicion I’m not the first to ask him. Mark is a complete natural in front of the lens. He knows how to hold himself, where to naturally place his hands and he’s got his ‘look’ down to a T. It was an absolute joy to take his portrait. Even though I’d obviously caught him a little off guard, as he had to buy a new comb from the salon around the corner to tidy his mightily impressive beard before I could get a shot. Mark was gracious and patient and although it was a fairly quick shoot, it was a brilliant shoot. It was a joy to meet Mark and yes, I did treat myself to some new headwear…
