Next month the Social Security Administration turns 75 and for that hefty anniversary I was commissioned by AARP to shoot seniors who can no longer depend upon their monthly checks to cover expenses in their retired years. I traveled into central PA to meet up with Bud Bickley (surprisingly not a professional Ben Franklin stand-in), a retired heavy equipment mechanic, and his lovely wife Tiny. Whenever there is a chance to talk to the subject before the shoot I jump on it, and Bud let slip that they work at the local flea markets twice a week to help make ends meet. Of course I immediately invited myself along and off we went.
Bud sells over-the-counter medications and toiletries while Tiny operates a spice stand across the aisle, and Bud holds shop with the many retirees who work the flea market circuits. The atmosphere of the market was great even if the pictures only revealed themselves reluctantly. After a long day we followed Bud and Tiny home and were blessed with some fickle evening sunlight before saying goodbye to the Bickleys who could have not have been more gracious and fun to photograph. Bud especially just had one of those faces and personalities which make the gig.
Still new-ish to freelancing in the northeast these type of road trip jobs are such a relief and pleasure, and AARP is the perfect client to work for on one of them. Now if the magazine only came out more than 6 issues per year wouldn’t that be great!
