Ben McKeown

Several weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to be asked to do a portrait of Jonathan and Hannah Carr, a couple of old friends from my former church. We took our operation to Duke Gardens in Durham, NC, which unfailingly provides beautiful and serene backdrops for portraits like these. As is the case for most July days in North Carolina, the weather on this particular day was…HOT. When we were finished, I was literally soaked from head to toe in sweat. However, interestingly, I was somewhat pleased with this feeling of exhaustion. Somehow, it indicated to me that I’d completed a grand task, for no man should sweat this much unless his work is hard and meaningful. I think my mind goes back to my days as a defensive tackle for the Wakefield Wolverines, when after toiling through a vigorous 2 hour football practice, I’d find myself sitting in the locker room soaked in sweat, smiling to myself. I knew in these moments that I’d done something wonderful, that I’d pushed myself far, far beyond comfort, and that I was better for it. Granted, the portrait we did was not nearly as physically demanding, but I believe it did yield some satisfying results.