Day’s End

I’m learning that sometimes, when I think I’ve taken the last good shot of the day, an unanticipated encounter or moment may yet present itself — if I keep looking. On this recent evening, that proved to be true.

I’d been driving around the township checking out various spots that I’ve had my eye on for evening shots. I ended up at Shallowford Square just as the sun was beginning to bestow a golden glow on the town. That’s where I captured this dynamic photo of a thoughtful young girl named Kennedy.

Kennedy lives near the Square, and she’d come up to enjoy swinging on the swings before the day ended. I asked if I could photograph her while she was swinging, and she said yes.

While photographing Kennedy, I asked her a few questions. I learned that Kennedy is a seventh grader at Meadowlark Middle School. Her favorite subject is writing, and she also enjoys reading.

Kennedy’s favorite book at the moment is How to Be Popular (by Meg Cabot). When I asked why she likes the book, Kennedy explained its story line to me. I admit that the title, at first, made me think the book might be a bit shallow. Instead, it appears the book could actually be instructive and encouraging to teenage girls.

Here’s what one Amazon.com reviewer wrote about How to Be Popular:

For every girl who has gone from being nobody, to somebody, to nobody again, this is an uplifting story that I rate highly up there with Jerry Spinelli’s wonderful Star Girl books. Meg Cabot always knows how to touch readers of any age with situations all of us who weren’t so popular can relate to from any era, and combine them with contemporary humor that will only be slightly dated years from now. For every girl at any age, this is a great story about finding out who you are and what you’re made of in both the nastiest and most hilarious storms of your life.

Thank you, Kennedy, for allowing me to photograph you and to learn a little about you. You made my day!