Through the Lens, into a World of Blue

By Cheryl Machat Dorskind

We all have pictures in our mind's eye of who we think people are. These images, often solid define what's in front of us. We think we know; a been-there-done-that attitude permeates and clouds perceptions. What then, is the purpose of a photographic portrait if we already know what we want to see? Can a picture really tell a thousand words? Or is that picture inside your head all you care to see?

With these philosophical questions burning, I dove into the world of the men-in-blue. As a student of the 12 th Annual Southampton Town Citizens Police Academy , I and a group of Southampton town residents met and interacted with personnel from the various departments of the town's police force under the direction of Lieutenant Bob Iberger. We learned about the many hats the police officers wear and were intrigued by their breadth of professionalism.

Eye on the viewfinder, motivated and inspired, I focused—macro style—on the Community Response Unit, CRU, a flagship division of Southampton Town Police. I quickly realized that a group portrait would not say enough. I wanted to know who they were individually, professionally, personally, and as a community. I wanted to take a two dimensional representation and make it 3-D.

Under the leadership of Sergeant William Hughes, CRU consists of 6 officers. William Hughes, Lewis Scott, Lyle Smith, Mike Smith, Jane Harrigan, and Rich Gates. As the acronym implies, CRU officers respond to the community's needs throughout the large geographic area that defines Southampton Township and the unit is the most visible group of police officers. But who are these people? I truly wanted to know.

Over the next three weeks, I will show you the portraits that emerged and leave you with the words of environmental portrait photographer Arnold Newman, “We do not take pictures with our cameras, but with our hearts and minds.”

Cheryl Machat Dorskind