Every photographer has a "personal classic."
You know, the photo that means nothing to
no one except you. This is one of mine.

This was a portrait I took of Bubba-Ray Poindexter
in 1991. I got lucky, and to me, his expression was
perfect. The goofy smile, the glasses, the big ears,
even the hearing aid. Look at the photo...He is shy,
still half in the dark, yet the warm sun is shining on him
and he is coming out. No longer afraid of the world and
of those who might make fun of him. He knows that the
sun would soon illuminate him fully, and he would be the king.

He is The Man. He is Generation Geek.

Why is that important? Because guys like Bubba-Ray opened the door.
Because today, we are all living in geek land. We love our computers,
we love our digital cameras. We don't eat bland 'regular' food any more,
we eat foods with Omega-3, we drink drinks with "ribo-flavonoids," we eat
yogurt with "bifidus regularis." We're not mentally ill, we have "OCD."
We don't fight, we take "time out."

It's amazing that the Geek Generation has lasted this long,
but it's going strong and still in its youth. You ain't seen the
last of us. But Bubba-Ray was the first. He was geek before
geek was chic.

This is my ode to Bubba-Ray Poindexter and Generation Geek.
Wherever you are now brother, remember when the gang used to
say "DUUUUUUUUDDDDDDDDDEEEEEEEEE!!!" upon your arrival.

FACT FILE:

Name: Bubba-Ray Poindexter
Ethnicity: American
Favorite Computer: IBM Thinkpad
Favorite Cameras: Nimslo 3D Camera, Yashica Dental-Eye
Favorite TV Shows: "Family Matters" with Steve Urkel, "Webster," and "Ugly Betty"
Favorite Drink: Avian Natural Water
Favorite Books: "De Revolutionibus" by Nicolaus Copernicus,
"Principia" by Sir Isaac Newton
"A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking
Favorite President: Ronald Wilson Reagan (Believe it or not!)
Favorite Musicians: Buddy Holly, Barry Manilow, Lisa Loeb, Devo, Bell Biv Divoe
Favorite Quote: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" by Ronald Reagan