ron roelandt

Last month we put together a really fun exhibition with our photo club. It was called “BAU!” – “WOOF!” – and yes, the dog was obviously the star of the show. I might write more about the exhibition another time, but right now I just want to say a few words about one of the photos I contributed.

                Jerry, six years ago. He lived in Selva di Fasano, Puglia, and his eyesight was already starting to fade. Still, every day he’d head out – either on his own or alongside his old master, who was completely deaf by then. As I looked at the print of the photo, ready to be framed for the exhibition, I found myself wondering: is Jerry still alive?

                I decided to have a second print made and sent it along with my partner, who was about to leave for Puglia. It was for Beppino, the son of Jerry’s old master, who sadly passed away a few years ago. And Jerry? Turns out he’s still around. Eighteen years old now, deaf and blind – but whenever he gets the chance, he slips away from Beppino and goes off on a little adventure. He doesn’t get far though – Beppino keeps an eye on him, just in case.

                When I visited la Selva myself a bit later, I went to say hello to them – Beppino and Jerry. Jerry wagged his tail when I petted him and curled up at my feet. Beppino, clearly moved, thanked me for the photo (he’d already framed it!) and offered me a beer. We chatted a bit – about work, his little house, holidays, Puglia, and Jerry.                

As I was getting ready to leave, I asked Beppino if I could take a photo of him too. “Sure,” he said.

Il mese scorso abbiamo organizzato una bellissima mostra con il nostro fotoclub. Si intitolava “BAU!” e, come si può immaginare, il cane era al centro di tutto. Forse scriverò ancora qualcosa sulla mostra, ma ora vorrei parlare brevemente di una delle foto con cui ho partecipato.

                Jerry, sei anni fa. Viveva a Selva di Fasano, in Puglia, e cominciava già a vederci un po’ meno bene. Eppure, ogni giorno usciva da solo, oppure insieme al suo vecchio padrone completamente sordo. Mentre osservavo la stampa della foto, pronta per essere incorniciata per la mostra, mi sono chiesto se Jerry fosse ancora vivo.

                Ho deciso di fare stampare una seconda copia della foto e di mandarla con mia compagna, che di lì a poco sarebbe partito per la Puglia. Era per Beppino, il figlio del vecchissimo padrone, che purtroppo è morto qualche anno fa. E Jerry? È ancora lì. Ha ormai diciotto anni, è sordo e cieco, ma appena può sfugge al controllo di Beppino per “andarsene in giro”. Non va lontano, perché Beppino è attento e lo segue con lo sguardo.

                Quando sono stato anch’io alla Selva, sono andato a salutarli: Beppino e Jerry. Jerry ha accolto le mie carezze scodinzolando e si è accoccolato ai miei piedi. Beppino, visibilmente commosso, mi ha ringraziato per la foto (l’aveva già incorniciata) e mi ha offerto una birra. Abbiamo chiacchierato un po’, del lavoro, della sua casetta, delle vacanze, della Puglia, di Jerry.

                Quando me ne stavo andando, ho chiesto a Beppino se potevo fare anche una foto a lui. Mi ha detto di sì.

We organiseerden vorige maand een hele leuke expositie van de fotoclub. “BAU!”, was de titel – WOEF! -, en de hond was het logische middelpunt. Over de expositie schrijf ik misschien nog wel eens, maar ik wil het nu kort even hebben over één van de foto’s waarmee ik deelnam.

                Jerry, zes jaar geleden. Hij woonde in Selva di Fasano, Puglia, en begon al wat minder goed te zien. Toch trok Jerry er dagelijks op zijn eentje, of aan de zijde van zijn oude stokdove baas, op uit. Zou Jerry nog leven, vroeg ik me af terwijl de afdruk van de foto voor me lag, klaar om ingelijst te worden voor de expositie.

                Ik besloot een tweede afdruk van de foto te laten maken en mee te geven aan mijn lief, die een van die dagen naar Puglia vertrok. Voor Beppino, de zoon van de stokoude baas. Die laatste is een paar jaar geleden overleden, maar Jerry blijkt er nog te zijn. Achttien jaar oud inmiddels, doof en blind, maar als hij maar even de kans ziet ontsnapt hij aan de aandacht van Beppino om “erop uit te trekken”. Ver komt hij niet, want zijn baasje is bezorgd en houdt hem in de gaten.

                Toen ik ook even in la Selva was ben ik ze gaan begroeten, Beppino en Jerry. Jerry begroette mijn aaien kwispelend en vleide zich aan mijn voeten. Beppino bedankte me ontroerd voor de foto (hij had hem al ingelijst) en bood me een biertje aan. We babbelden wat, over het werk, zijn huisje, vakanties, Puglia, Jerry.

                Toen ik opstapte vroeg ik Beppino of ik ook eens een foto van hem mocht maken. Dat mocht.