Back in the days of large format, I was patiently setting up my view camera along the river's edge at Graue Mill in Elmhurst, Illinois - a place I knew well. It was a cold morning in early winter and that first arctic blast caused the season's inaugural ice to form at the water's edge.

I was working quickly, as I recall more from being colder than I expected. A woman about my age came by, intrigued by the large camera which people often mistake as being old (view cameras just haven't changed in about a century). I explained what I was doing and what I saw in the scene. She was very kind and poured a full cup of coffee from her thermos and handed it to me without asking. Completely random, and I'd normally politely say no thanks. But I would have sawed off my left hand for hot coffee at that moment and it was an incredibly nice gesture.

So I made a friend that morning, took two nice photographs that I love to this day. Overall, it was a very good day!

Wista 4x5 Cherry, Rodenstock Sironar 210mm f/5.6, 1/2 sec @f/64, Zone VI Lightweight Wood tripod, Bogen 3047 3-way Pan/til head, Gossen Luna Pro SBC Meter w/spot attachment, Lowest value placed on Zone IV, highest value fell on Zone VI, Negative given N+2 development, HC-110 Dil B, Print: Kodak Elite Grade 3