Is Stevie Wonder in Town?

Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL

Unofficial Exhibit

Observed upon entry to Lincoln Park Zoo.
Chicago, IL

Robert C.

He approached me at the cable car turnaround at Market and Powell and asked if I would buy the Street Sheet.  I declined but told him about $2 Portraits.  He told me business was slowing down tonight so he’d participate.  He then backed up and began to pose for the photos.  I told him to come closer, that we should talk first and then I’d take some photos.

Robert was born, raised and spent his whole life in San Francisco.  He is the last of his family and will be 70 years old next week.  Robert worked as a longshoreman in San Francisco until he developed a heart condition a few years ago.  He lives in a “hotel” on 6th Street and is trying to get a room at a residence at St. Anthony’s (??) due to his poor health.  Robert takes Cumadin every day for his heart condition and is monitored regularly.

I wished Robert a happy birthday and good luck as I gave him $2.  He thanked me and took off for home.

Taken 7/24/14

What Time Is It?

Don't quite understand how the get-up and the watch collection relate to one another.

Market Street
San Francisco, CA

Amelia

She was on the corner, cup in hand, with a sign that said “…traveling to Colorado…”  I asked her where in Colorado, snapped a couple of photos and then told her about the $2 portrait project to which she agreed to participate.  It turned out to be a good thing that I took some shots first because in all the others, she was looking off in the distance.

Amelia is 25 years old and was born in California, spent several years in Florida and then returned to California all before high school age.  Her parents were divorced when she was young and each remarried.  She has no siblings but several step-siblings that she doesn't see very often.

Having completed high school in 3.5 years and not wanting to live with either of her parents and their new families, she struck out on her own.  Culinary arts was what she really liked and worked under some well known chefs in several restaurants in San Francisco and Lake Tahoe over the last several years.  Living between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe for part of her life, she also loves skiing and snowboarding.

When her boyfriend moved out to Boulder, Colorado, she decided  since she loves the restaurant/food service business and loves to ski & snowboard, that Boulder would be a perfect place to go.  Her dream is to cook in the kitchen at a ski resort and snowboard on her free time.  Amelia plans to take a bus or an “Uber-like” long distance car service to Denver sometime in the next couple of months.  She’s tired of all this concrete.

I gave her $2 and wished her luck.  She thanked me for the money and conversation.

Taken 7/24/14

Chillin'

Market Street
San Francisco, CA

Balancing Act

Powell Street
San Francisco, CA

Doctrogullions

Another Frank Chu sighting on Powell Street.
San Francisco, CA

The Beard

I was hanging out at the cable car turnaround at Powell & Market, watching "the dude", subject of a prior post.  Up walked Donald who lit up a cigarette right next to me.  With a smile, I told him to be careful so he doesn't light his face on fire.  We then got to talking about his beard (about a year old) and he told me some funny stories about how he is always being asked if he can be photographed.  I didn't let him down and asked if I could take a photo also, to which he readily agreed and then thanked me.

 We then spoke about a bunch of other topics including Chicago and Oprah Winfrey.

Donald was an articulate conversationalist and a very intelligent guy and I really enjoyed talking with him.   Another perfect example where looks are deceiving.

Submitted for ClicheSaturday.  HCS!

Arcade

Market Street
San Francisco, CA

SPNC - Year 4 - Instruction 16
"Keep the Rhythm" - Oscar Palomares

On the Prowl

I first saw this dude back on May 12th and wrote about his scoping out attractive women.  www.flickr.com/photos/jeffm211/14021381827/

Two months later, there he was again.  Same pose, same technique.  Hilarious.

Troy

He was selling Street Sheet and as I turned the corner onto Mason, he launched into his spiel.  “I’m trying’ to stay out of trouble…”  I stopped and listened for a short while and then asked him if he’s heard of $2 Portraits.  He hadn’t, so after explaining it to him, he agreed to participate.

Troy is 54 years old and is originally from Louisiana.  He came to San Francisco at age 18 and immediately got into trouble.  “I was a gangbanger…did some bad stuff and spent almost half my life in prison.  I got involved in running some guns and a few guys got shot up real bad.”  Troy spent 25 years in Folsom, San Quentin and a third prison I hadn’t heard of.  He was there long enough to become a “lieutenant”; supposedly running a cell block from an inmates perspective.

Once out of prison, he tried finding work and was actually hired by Hertz.  Once they saw 10 felonies on his record, they let him go.  (I thought it odd they didn’t see the felonies before they hired him).  Troy is living in a halfway house and sells the Street Sheet to make legitimate money.  He’s not interested in going back to prison.

Troy was really polite.  He thanked me profusely for listening to his story and not running off.  I gave him $2, told him to keep the Street Sheet and then we shook hands.  Off he went to pitch the Sheet to another prospect.

Taken 7/8/14

Robert & Me

He was my very first $2 Portrait back in March 2011.  At the time, I was nervous as hell embarking on a photo project outside my comfort zone.  Robert (aka Superman) helped break the ice.  Since then, I have photographed over fifty $2 Portraits and have met some very interesting people.  Of the 50+, I have an ongoing relationship with two;  Robert being one of them.

Please visit my $2 Portrait set at: www.flickr.com/photos/jeffm211/sets/72157626211920319/ 

 Taken 6/20/14