There are these two really cool scenes (below) in the Netflix hit show, Stranger Things, in which one of the main characters reflects on why he’s so enamored by photography. Everyday we dress ourselves in the superficiality of socio-cultural conventions, whether it’s laughing at a joke we don’t think is funny or trying to impress others, often at the sake of skewing our personal moral compass, merely to gain acceptance in a clique or advance our career ambitions. But photography is able to fracture superficiality, to pause a unique moment and capture it; a static space in which people can demonstrate their most genuine self. Considering the fluidity of our lives on a timeline, fluctuating our personas second-by-second to fit what society deems appropriate, it’s actually kind of rare to see in an instance a person’s genuine feelings, thoughts, and attitudes. Photography makes all that possible.

I gotta admit this is one of my favorite photos ever, simply because it radiates authenticity. I was walking down this closed-off street at the Fiesta Flambeau Parade in San Antonio when I came across these four kids, who I assumed were siblings, running up and down the street having a great, fun time throwing confetti at each other. I smiled kindly as I walked past these kids. Suddenly, the oldest girl ran up to me, pulling on my arm sleeve, “mister, mister! take a photograph of all of us please!” Well, I thought to myself, why not? As soon as I turned around, she had already gathered her siblings together and had all of them run back up to me. Without much thought or reflection, I put my camera up real quick and took a couple of snaps. I didn’t have them pose. I didn’t tell them to smile. In fact, I didn’t say anything, probably more perturbed at seeing this more of a distraction than an opportunity to get some good photos. As soon as I looked in my viewfinder to see the photos, I instinctively knew I captured gold. I was struck at the serendipity of this photograph. There’s no doubt in all adults that kids, with all their innocence, are the most genuine and authentic beings on this planet (I often wonder if this is one of the reasons why Jesus says in the Bible that we should be more like children). In this photograph, I captured sibling sincerity. None of their smiles are contrived. None of their poses are artificially orchestrated. It’s just kids being kids. No fakeness.

At Fiesta, we’re given decorative “medals” to give out to people we come across, so they can decorate them on their shirts and exchange their own medals with you. I had several medals in my pocket with the distinct purpose, as a single bachelor, to give them out to some classy ladies I’d come across, hoping to exchange phone numbers with medals. Instead, I gave my last medals to these four kids for one of the best photographs I’ve ever captured.