Photography is a lifeline for member, veteran

The mid-2000s weren’t the easiest time for Brother Jeffery (JP) Caffee, now a Conductor for BNSF out of Local 465, (Gillette, Wyoming). 
 
After serving in Iraq from December 2003 until February 2005, he found himself battling alcohol and narcotic addiction when he returned home.  
 
Following treatment and looking for something to occupy his time, he tested out some new hobbies like golfing and fishing.  
 
“When I came out of treatment, I found that I had a lot more time, energy, and money,” Brother Caffee reflected. “So I wanted to do something good with my life.” 

Turning his lens toward the street 

After exploring several different genres, including railroad, livestock, and wildlife photography, Brother Caffee realized that he was looking for something more.  
 
Concerned that he might relapse, he reached out to people who he met during treatment and was surprised to find that not one of them were still clean.  

That led to a sobering realization.  
 
“I didn’t want to be a part of that, and I just sat there thinking about those people,” Brother Caffee said. “I could still see some of their faces and remember them.” 
 
In particular, he remembers a man from Seattle who he says was a heroin addict but had a wonderful sense of humor and boundless energy. 

“I thought of him banging heroin out on the street somewhere, and God knows if he’s even still alive,” he remembered. “That’s what kind of made me think ‘Why don’t I photograph that?” 

Soulful portraits only possible with trust and rapport 

That thought led Brother Caffee to pack a bag and head to Denver to photograph individuals experiencing homelessness. 

But he didn’t want to just set up his equipment and convince people to let him tell their stories. He wanted to do it right.

“I immerse myself in the street environment, and I try to earn [my] way in and make friendships over time,” Brother Caffee explained. “People will start to trust you and you trust them. Then you start to photograph them when everybody’s good with it. I learned my lesson the hard way fairly quickly.” 
 
Approaching 13 years of sobriety on August 3, the people that he’s met and the relationships that he’s built while traveling to photograph different communities has made a significant impact.  

“It keeps me humble,” Brother Caffee said. “A lot of times people ask me ‘When you’re around all these drugs and alcohol, doesn’t that make you want to use?’ And no, it’s just the opposite. I’m reminded of why I don’t use.” 

The Union Difference 

Playing an equally important role in Brother Caffee’s recovery journey is joining the union nearly 20 years ago.  
 
Growing up in a single-wide trailer in rural South Dakota, he watched both parents work jobs where they didn’t have the same security that he does as a SMART-TD member. 

“Becoming a union member and having better wages and some job security and good health insurance and a pension…I think we have a lot of members that think that stuff is just everywhere, and they’re not real grateful for it and are quick to undermine it or let it go, but I definitely don’t.”  
 
A member of Local 465 who has held several different positions, including serving as the Local’s Legislative Representative and the current Vice Local Chairperson of LCA 001A, he quickly saw that the union would play an important role in his life. 

“I didn’t know anything about unions and being a union member and all that,” Brother Caffee said. “I right away took to it, and I knew that my life was going to be a lot better in a union, and it was and has remained so. It’s given me a job, good health insurance.” 
 
Some of Brother Caffee’s photographs have even been featured in past SMART-TD calendars, which he says is a full-circle moment.  

“It makes me happy to contribute something to an organization that has given my life so much.”  

View some of Brother Caffee’s work on his Street Grunt Photography Facebook page. ►