Yes, I'm enjoying photographing the elders at Detroit's Hannan House Senior Learning Center, but even more than that, I'm loving the opportunity it gives me to listen to their stories. Mrs. Jackson, whom I photographed on Friday, is 95 years old and a former fourth grade teacher. She was visiting her daughter Julie and had accompanied her to the art class. As soon as I saw this wonderful African American elder, I knew I wanted to take her portrait. She was agreeable and I found a spot for her to sit right under her daughter's painting. That made her very happy indeed.

As has become my habit, I set my camera on the table holding it so the lens was framing Mrs. Jackson in a way that pleased me, and just kept snapping while she talked. I ended up with 125 pics, only a couple dozen of which were usable. The problem was not my set-up but the fact that Mrs. Jackson had a tendency to close her eyes as she spoke. But, even with closed eyes, Mrs. Jackson still looked more vibrant while talking than if she'd simply tried to pose.

I've now been working on this project twice a week since mid-June. It is teaching me so much about taking photos of people. I've learned that I don't want posed portraits. I either like to catch people doing something active like gardening or making art, sitting quietly by themselves, talking with one another or talking to me. If we're conversing, I don't want the camera between my eyes and theirs, so I shoot "blind" with the camera either in my lap or on a table. I know this technique wouldn't satisfy most photographers, but it works for me. To the honest, the photographs have become much less important than simply being with and learning from these folks. It is such a privilege to be in their company.