Tags
BOMM Camera, Craig Pindell Fine Art Photography, generosity, meeting virtual friends, Vedauwoo, Wyoming
Leaving Colorado in the rear view mirror, the urge to reacquaint myself with my own bed and bathroom was growing exponentially. I’d been homeless for almost five weeks, and the calendar was racing toward the hectic 4th of July holiday, which is never a good time to be on the road, in campgrounds, or anywhere in America but home. (In my humble opinion.) But I was looking forward to one final stop.
Back in the fall of 2019, when I published the book, one of my first readers and a most loyal supporter was a professional photographer and fellow writer whom I’d met on Twitter (aka, regrettably X). For anyone who’s ever pushed out a book, the second most thrilling moment—after holding the real deal in your hands for the first time—is when a total stranger takes the time, expense, and trouble to purchase, read, and laud your book. My stranger was Craig Pindell, whom I knew only through likes and retweets on Twitter. Craig’s steadfast support and loyal marketing amplification boggled my mind. I couldn’t pass through that corner of Wyoming without meeting this person in the flesh.
We arranged to meet at a coffee shop in Cheyenne. He warned me, however, that there was a caveat. He would have to take a photograph of me. Those of you who know me, understand my abject fear of being in front of a lens. But it was a fair request and I was thrilled when he suggested Vedauwoo as the location for the shoot.
Vedauwoo is a spectacular community of rock formations that burst out of lush pine and aspen groves situated at 8,000 feet, roughly halfway between Laramie and Cheyenne, Wyoming. The area is now most famous for its abundant rock climbing opportunities. But as a child, growing up in Laramie, Vedauwoo was a magical, mystical place to go for picnics and rock hopping excursions. Indeed, the name is an anglicized Native American word that means Land of Earthborn Spirits.
Craig, his wife Katie, and I talked the afternoon away at the coffee shop. Meanwhile, storm clouds were brewing and I was beginning to wonder if our photo shoot would be rain-cancelled. Finally around 5:30, we headed out of town, with Craig leading the way. Campsites at Vedauwoo were abundant, to my great relief. After securing a nice spot, I hopped in Craig’s jeep and off we went to find the perfect location for a shoot, which didn’t take long because Vedauwoo is photogenic from any angle and Craig knows the area like he knows his gear.
Then I had the privilege of watching a pro in action. It’s not the first time I’ve watched a photographer set up a large format camera. But Craig’s custom-made BOMM was a special treat. The setup went remarkably quickly, and then all I had to worry about was if the glass would crack when he aimed it at me.
When Craig was satisfied he packed up his gear and headed home. I headed for my last campsite of the trip. The following evening I would be home in my own bed, the exhausted car, with nearly 10,000 new miles to brag about snug in the garage.
A few weeks later I received a great big, beautifully packaged Postal delivery. I won’t disgrace the work by photographing it with my iPhone. Trust me to say that, it is now framed and boldly hung in my dining room, and I am proud to know Craig, the photographer of “Author Linda Paul,” a brave and generous man.