Ian was an archaeologist with whom I worked tangentially for several summers from 1978-83. He was passionate about his profession and his coffee and many other things. Get him started and he could be garrulous about almost any subject. But as knowledgable and hard-working as he was, he often came across as shambling. He wasn't an introvert (he was warm and always ready to talk) but he acted like one. I think this was because he was usually preoccupied by his own thoughts, at work on something in his head regardless of whatever else he was doing.

Here Ian is, early one morning, on site before the day's survey or dig began. I don't have the negative for this photo. Just this hastily made print. I was the studio photographer and darkroom technician for the Ontario Ministry of Culture office where Ian worked. I printed this shot on some cheap proofing paper and didn't fix or wash it properly. You can see staining at an angle along the bottom of the print where it must have must have sat wet with some other prints. Perhaps I made a final print, maybe for Ian, I can't remember. In any case, I kept this print and am glad I did because it really captures Ian's too-cool-for-school 'tude.

Sadly, while researching these comments I learned that Ian passed away almost 23 years ago, in 1997 at age 50.

What a photograph can do.