Forgotten Influence!

I have given a lot of thought over the last several weeks to my early years and how those times influenced the person I am today. Like many kids, childhood memories are filled with happiness and thoughts of easier times. And, with a few exceptions, I am no different.

In my last post, I wrote about an email I received from an individual that I do not know but, it started a chain reaction of thoughts of why I have become the person here today. And, there is one small period of time that I just came to the realization had great influence on me. That was my senior year in high school. During that last year of (what seemed to be an endless 3 years) I wrote a term paper on someone that many think is the most influential photojournalist of the 20 century, David Douglass Duncan. I remember researching this incredible and talented photographer and looking at what he loved to do and thinking that I hoped to find that passion in my life. Duncan, was commissioned a United States Marine where he became a combat photographer. After the war Duncan's career headed in the direction of a leading photojournalist where he gained great notoriety. His career and life had become a great influence on me although, I was unaware at the time.

"Forgotten influence?" A distant memory brought up by a random email from a complete stranger? Who knows, but I can say that Duncan had a lasting influence on that kid in 12 grade.