Perrysburg Pulse Magazine Perrysburg Pulse October | Page 8

multiple industries, he and Jeannette
raised two sons and one daughter.
When an invitation to visit Kenya
prompted Norman to dust off his
camera, he was disappointed to find
that the battery had exploded. A friend
suggested that he buy a digital camera.
“I didn’t know what a digital camera
looked like! But I went to the
store and upon seeing what digital
could do, especially in terms of
processing, I was intoxicated.”
Norman’s old friend, owner of the
manufacturing company he worked
for, bought the camera for him. Over
the years, Norman has amassed
a collection of lenses and flashes,
but has never paid for a camera!
“I think in part it is in appreciation
for all the work I’ve done
over the years,” he says.
Norman takes the bulk of his photos
with a 70-200 lens. He hasn’t had any
formal training in photography, but he
learns from his mistakes as he goes along.
“We have had many adventures together
with so many stories,” Norman fondly
notes, “and in part, my photos are a way
to remember these moments in time.
Malta has been by far our favorite place
to visit, because of the friends I have
there, but I’ve also worked in a very
fascinating place—Barrow, Alaska!”
Jeanette chimes in, “I used to read to
children at the church, and when we
were first going to Malta, I remember
telling them, make sure you are able
to go to another country so you
can see how other people live.”
“I love taking photos during sunrise,”
Norman says. “People love sunsets here,
but we have very beautiful sunrises too,
and some of my favorite shots have been
by the trees, in sunrise with the mist
rising off the ground. Some of my other
favorites have been more sentimental in
value, a holiday in Kenya, the countryside
in Pennsylvania where I grew up, and
memories of Colorado, where my son
lives. I don’t drive very far unless it’s a
holiday, so I get a lot of photos in my
own yard! Mostly though what I try to
do is when I see something, I ask myself,
‘Is that going to resonate with a person
and somehow move them?’ That’s my
goal with my photos,” says Norman.
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Through photography, Norman
connects with strangers and loved ones
alike. His younger son is into macro
photography, and his daughter enjoys
photography as a hobby too. Of course,
he and Jeanette love to take and receive
pictures of their four grandchildren.
When asked if he has any advice for
fellow photographers, Norman says
“It’s easy to be disappointed. You spend
your time and take photos, so if you
come back with something you don’t
like, you will feel upset. But don’t
let it drag you down. Persist, keep
practicing, and you will get there.”
The 1.2 million likes on his photos
are a testament to that! However,
down-to-earth, content Norman
is not much for metrics.
“Getting smiles from strangers is a big
paycheck for me,” Norman admits,
“and my family and wife’s support even
through this illness makes me even
more proud. I would want this to be a
legacy for my family and friends. I am
truly blessed to be surrounded by so
much beauty, and if I can make someone
else appreciate it, my work is done.”
As I was leaving, the image of the stillness
of Put-in-Bay came back to mind. As
the saying goes, still waters run deep.
I asked Norman if he had any last words,
to which he replied, “I’m hoping we can
find each other as people in this country.
There is so much to appreciate here,
and I hope before I check out, someone
comes along who can make that happen.
There is so much we can do together. It
doesn’t cost anything to be kind.”
Photo Credit: Norman Fairman
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