Anyway, back to 22nd of May. The photo shoot was scheduled with Ty for 11.45, I requested the studio and asked Ray to meet me at 11 (I've a paranoia about ever being late, or other people being late, so I do what I can for it not to happen - being late is disrespectful, always was, always will be, and I won't change my mind about this). So I'm on the tube making my early way to the studio in Hackney and who do I see on the same platform waiting for the same train? Ty. Oh sh-t. So much for having everything ready for his arrival. With my heart sunk, I approach him and introduce myself. We talked a little bit about the exhibition and this and that, but my mind was going crazy, I had nothing prepared, I didn't even know where the studio is! I've always been a panicking person but I've also been working so hard lately on learning to "accept and let go". This was definitely a good time to practice it haha.
I did get myself together though, and Ty and I managed to find our way to the studio and had a lovely conversation in the meantime.
And Ray was late. Not very late but late nonetheless. Despite my having called him at 9 in the morning to 'confirm' he was going to be on time. It ended up being ok though, I knew he was on his way so I was in my 'staying calm no matter what' mode (I think I got Ray feeling pretty traumatised with all of the hundred calls I'd made to him in the days leading up to the shoot).
And then it all fell into place. Ray came (yes he makes me stress but gosh I love this boy and it was so nice to see him), a couple of his friends came, Ty was there, I was there, pictures were taken, conversations were being had - it was raw and it was fascinating and I was sitting in a photo studio with one of UK's hip-hop legends. Thank you, life - except I was the one who made it happen.
I wish I had video footage from the day so I could just post the debates that arose regarding the culture's current and possible future states. This videoing thing - I don't know how to go about it, what the rules are, how to edit it. And it's really annoying.
Two and a half hours later it was a wrap. So there you have it, as I mentioned in the previous post, for two and a half hours Ty didn't even look at his phone - this is how committed he was to the task at hand. Combine that with his arriving EARLY and you know why he is what he is. Amazing.
I did ask Ty to help me get in touch with Shortee Blitz but as far as asking for favours goes I only managed to make that one. I just already felt so grateful for him supporting this project in the first place, asking for more felt wrong. Am I right? Ty would most probably have most, if not all, people I'm trying to reach in his phone book, but these aren't things I feel comfortable asking for. So the hard way it is then - one done, 19 more people to 'hunt down'. Help me God.
