Slight Detour: Clickin' with Maya

---Maya Gunter Photo

Yesterday I enjoyed the great pleasure of spending time with Maya.

Her grandmother contacted me a while ago and asked if I would spend a couple of hours of giving her some tips on how to use her Canon camera.

Maya lives in Boston but spends part of each summer with her grandparents on their farm in Sagle.

I know the family in multigenerational ways, including time spent teaching some of them. I asked Maya what her dad (a former student and a former Peace Corps volunteer) is doing.

She told me he is working on a food distribution project in Rwanda.

For our photo session, I suggested that we meet at the food booth area at the county fair where we could sit down and talk about a few photo guidelines and our Canon cameras.

In order to feature some of the pictures Maya took, I turned over my camera to her and told her to start clicking.

It didn't take long, after a few suggestions, for her confidence to grow and soon she was pointing that lens all sorts of directions.

I had planned to take Maya to other venues around the fairgrounds, but there was so much of interest around the food booths that we never left.

Eventually, her grandparents returned, and, of course, they ended up as subjects for Maya.

About that time, I spotted a face in the outdoor crowd and proclaimed something to the effect of, "Why would you want me when the real pro is standing right over there with her camera?"

Immediately, I summoned Amy Sawyer Peterson (pictured below) our way. Soon, I had joined the grandparents and some other "old folks," all younger than I and some former students, at a picnic table.

As we laughed at witty one-liners coming from my witty friends, Maya and Amy took off to take some more photos.

Later, Amy said she wanted to take Maya to the cattle barn, but that plan was delayed a bit when the magician showed up.

Maya, who has amazing poise for a 15-year-old, played right into the plans of the magician. He had come over to put on a show.

So, the cattle barn plan waited, while he performed, using Maya as his "assistant."

I can't quite relay what a joyful time this two hours spent at the fair with a young lady who didn't mind hanging around with a bunch of old people.

Maya's definitely a full-fledged teen, but she's also well-rounded enough, mature and respectful to give her best to each situation dropped on her plate.

Adding to the joy were the generations with which we engaged during our time spent in the fair food court.

Also, spending time with former students was great fun and inspiring.

Amy, the photo pro and owner of Selkirk Ridge Photography http://www.selkirkridgephotography.com/ was one of my graphic arts students when she went through Sandpoint High.

She's heard this from me before, but I'm so proud of her and of what she has done to follow her creative dreams, especially with a camera.

I'm also hoping the experience lit a fire within Maya to pursue some photography classes and to take that nice camera of hers out in to the world where she can pursue her own creative adventures.

Please note the photo credits for Maya's shots.

Thanks, Crystal, for this meaningful and fun opportunity. And, Maya, it was great meeting and spending time with you. Don, please turn your chair around.