This past week I went out of my comfort zone and joined some friends who were attending a Star Trek convention. Yes, I’m a fan…while I like the show…it hasn’t played a meaningful part in my life. I thought I knew what to expect, but the experience went beyond that. What did surprise me was the generosity of spirit at the event - everyone was super friendly. It was a bit unnerving to see Star Fleet personnel sitting at Guy Fieri’s or in an elevator - almost as if there had been a rip in reality and this fantasy space was seeping through. 

A big part of it what really fascinated me were the fans … I found myself especially interested in the couples that I saw there. Not only were each of them passionate fans, it was a part of their relationship. The couple pictured above were the first that really caught my eye. They were just parked along the walkway and I asked if I could take their portrait. It’s not a great shot…but I do feel it captures a bit of who they are. Normally, I’m not that type of photographer and have avoided street work because it can be too easy to manipulate people visually. After this experience,  my goal for next time is to do a project on couples. I’m interested in those relationships and how it interacts with fandom.