I am revisiting photographs from my archive in order to start making darkroom prints of my favorite images. Back in 2010 I met a friend of mine at the Checkerboard Tavern on Sprague Avenue. The Checkerboard is known for having the longest continuous liquor license in the state of Washington. I was excited to go there because it brought back memories of my childhood when I trained at a boxing gym just down the street from here and how my coach Kaley Sonners would take me around to his favorite taverns in Spokane like the Lucky Penny, Checkerboard, and Jack and Dan’s.
I had my camera with me and just had to approach this rough looking guy at the bar and ask him if I could make a photo of him. He asked why? I told him about being here as a young teenager and how he reminded me of that time in my life and that I didn’t have a camera at the time because my father had pawned all his camera gear to pay for my boxing club membership and travel expenses.
The guy said “sure! no problem” and let me make photographs of him and his buddy. I love the contrast from the rough expression to the joyful one. It is a great reminder to never judge someone by first appearances. It is also an example of how I feel connected to these places and give myself permission to enter and ask permission to make these photographs.
I feel authentically connected to this place and I think people trust me and let me make photographs because of it. Although I was a stranger to the bartender and patrons, I was a kindred spirit.
