Many things could be said about Gregorio. We could talk about his childhood in the village and his work as a goatherd when he was very young, also about his life in Vizcaya where he has lived for more than 60 years, or about his retirement, enjoying the village in a different way.
With Gregorio, or Goyo as he is also called, we talked about his life and ours. What struck us most was how he made us reflect on Trust.
He was the first to have his portrait taken. His nephew Joseba, who had to leave the day before to the north and missed the activity, encouraged him (and a lot) to participate. Our experience with Retrato Nómada has taught us that beginnings are always slow. People don’t know you at all and they don’t understand what a motorhome is doing in their town square. Logical. Even less so when it becomes a photographic studio. It all sounds a bit crazy, to say the least.
Trust is the basis of our work. A human trust that is above the contract that each person signs. We live in a time when providing information is a bit scary.
However, Gregorio, after asking us and listening to us, and after talking to his nephew, did not hesitate to cheer up. He saw that we were “normal” people. He shared with us his opinion about trust, and he was clear: “There are good and bad people everywhere, but by talking you soon realize it”.
Every time he passed by the square, he would ask us how things were going, if people were cheering up or not. He understood that in small towns, it is normal to be suspicious of those who come from outside without having references… which highlights the importance of communicating our activity well before our arrival.
At the end, during the evening projection of all the portraits, with the square full, we confirmed that, although the beginnings are always slow, the affection we put into them and the care with which we treat them, makes them trust us, which we are very grateful for.
Eskerrik asko (thank you in Basque) Gregorio for your company and for teaching us. Gero arte! (see you soon!)
