Meanwhile in Chester, Inquirer reporter Mari A. Schaefer had interviewed counselers and staff at the Boys and Girls Club so when I arrived a day or two later, the director assumed it only to photograph them. After walking past a swimming pool and playground crammed with laughing kids, through a fun-filled basketball gym and rec room to get to the office, I was told none of the young summer "campers" at the public facility had parents' releases so I none of their faces could be in any of the photographs.
I was ready, after an already frustrating day, to just bag it and make portraits of the counselors and staff quoted for the story. Then one of the counselors pointed out a number of the staff have kids at the camp so a few of them got into a game of basketball. Not the best situation, as it is closer than I'd like to get to "setting up" photos.
I was still at the club when some parents began arriving to pick up their kids, and it was suggested I get those campers to play together for more photos. That would definitely be over the line, but it did give me a chance get okays from those parents, and shoot them leaving - to visually represent the obstacles kids in Chester face getting to a fun place.