Today's Color Is Red

San Francisco, CA

Taken 12/22/15

Marital Advice

Cancun, Mexico

Taken 12/13/15

Futility

Cancun, Mexico

Break Time

Chicago, IL

From the archive - Taken 10/3/15

I Pledge Allegiance...

Powell Street
San Francisco, CA

Taken 11/12/15

Today's Color Is Red

San Francisco, CA

Taken 11/12/15

Help Wated

They make a mean meat sauce but cannot spell worth a damn. And the new owner was bitching to my wife (dropping F-bombs like crazy) about our neighborhood being too uppity and wealthy for him to find help.

I'm thinking he should look in a mirror. As good as the food was, we're done with LaRosa.

Taken 11/8/15

Connor

On Powell Street, he was asking for 50¢ to get something to eat. I told him about the $2 Portrait project and he readily agreed to participate.

Connor is 22 years old and was born and raised in Massachusetts. He left home without a plan and has been in San Francisco, living on the streets, for about a year. He plans to return to Massachusetts when he has bus fare to do so. Right now, he’s about $60 short. With a GED, he’s not sure what’s next. His biggest regret - not following his Dad’s advice when he cautioned Connor about leaving home without a plan.

I wished him luck, gave him $2 and accepted his thanks.

Taken 11/12/15

Ghost Bananas

Who are you going to call?

Taken 10/31/15

Splat Balls

I have no idea what they are and apparently they weren't too popular.

Hawthorn Mall
Veernon Hills, IL

Taken 10/31/15

Mesmerized

South Haven, MI

From the archive - Taken 7/26/15

Swooosh

Cousins - Two Littles and a Big
South Haven, MI

From the archive - Taken 7/26/15

Tuned In Or Checked Out?

Kelby Worldwide Photowalk
Chicago, IL

Taken 10/3/15

Straight Up

Kelby Worldwide Photowalk
Chicago, IL

Worm's eye view composition rarely observed.

Taken 10/3/15

First Chicago

Kelby Worldwide Photowalk
Chicago, IL

Regardless of their changing names , I cannot help but refer to iconic Chicago buildings by their original names.  This shot is a puddle reflection.

Taken 10/3/15

Visitors

Kelby Worldwide Photowalk
Chicago, IL

It was their outfits that caught my eye and they agreed to stop for this family photo.

Taken 10/3/15

Lens Cap

Kelby Worldwide Photowalk
Chicago, IL

Didn't catch this juxtaposition until downloaded from camera.

Taken 10/3/15

Couple With Class

Daley Plaza
Chicago, IL

Taken 10/3/15 during the Kelby Worldwide Photowalk

Jeremy (Elmo)

Towards the end of the Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk in Chicago, I saw him leaning against a “El” column with a sign asking for some help since he’s homeless.  I asked him if he’s heard of $2 Portraits and explained how it works.  He said he’s had his picture taken many times, hadn’t heard of the group and agreed to participate.

Jeremy is 35 years old, was born in Chicago and lived in Kentucky for several years before being old enough to strike out on his own.   Jeremy said he’s been a drifter for most of his life, spending the greatest amount of time in Pensacola, FL but traveling all over the United States.  He didn’t say much about his education, but talked about his skills in woodworking and creating wood sculpture and furniture.  Sometimes he will sell his work at art fairs to make some money, taking pressure off of having to work the street.  Jeremy (who also goes by the name of Elmo) lives a day to day existence.

I asked Jeremy what brought him to Chicago this time.  He said that obtaining a copy of his birth certificate and getting an official ID is his goal.  Since he’s been off the grid for so long, Jeremy wants to try and work himself back into society and having an identity is a good place to start.

I wished him luck and gave him $2.  He thanked me with a strong handshake.

Taken 10/3/15

Waiting

South Side Drill Team
Federal Plaza
Chicago, IL

Taken 10/3/15 during the Kelby Worldwide Photowalk.

Bricks

On 46th Street
New York, NY

Taken 9/25/15

Escape

The Bowery
Newy York, NY

Taken 9/27/15

Young City Fish Balls

Lower East Side Tenement Walk
New York, NY

Taken 9/27/15

Holding Court

On 7th Avenue
New York, NY

Taken 9/25/15

Thanks For The Help

On 7th Avenue
New York, NY

Taken 9/25/15

Starship Enterprise

NY Subway somewhere between WTC & 42nd Street.
New York, NY

Taken 9/26/15

Crash The Selfie

They caught me shooting their selfie session.
Times Square
New York, NY

Taken 9/25/15

Double Subject

On 7th Avenue
New York, NY

Taken 9/25/15

Stripes

Market Street near Powell
San Francisco, CA

Taken 8/5/15

Today's Color is Pink

BART
San Francisco, CA

A poor quality photo but I posted anyway because the guy looking back at me makes this shot.  Used my P&S Olympus Tough 4 with high ISO, but not high enough to compensate for the moving train!

Taken 9/10/15

No Fish Today

Flicker Worldwide Photo Walk
Along the Riverwalk
Chicago, IL

This gentleman was just packing up his pole, without catching anything that day.  He said the river usually yields some dinner but the water is just too cold this day.

Taken 8/23/15

Spikes

Flicker Worldwide Photo Walk
Randolph & Michigan
Chicago, IL

Taken 8/23/15

Carlos at Work

Flicker Worldwide Photo Walk
Maggie Daley Park
Chicago, IL

Carlos is an aspiring photographer and was taking photos of his mom.  Here's a link to another photo of Carlos' family.

Taken 8/23/15

Street Scene^2

Flicker Worldwide Photo Walk
Chicago, IL

Walking by, I saw some street reflections in this guy's glasses.  I asked him to allow me to frame this shot so I wasn't in it, to which he obliged.

Taken 8/23/15

Pals

Flicker Worldwide Photo Walk
State Street
Chicago, IL

Taken 8/23/15

Brian

Along Wabash Street, during the Flickr Worldwide Photo Walk, I encountered Brian.  He was sitting amongst construction debris with a sign saying “anything will help”.  I stooped down and told Brian about the $2 Portrait project and Flickr Photowalk.  He rubbed his chin thinking and muttered “let’s see what I can tell you about my story.”

He was a talker for sure.  Brian is 55 years old.  He just qualified for Section 8 housing and is moving into an apartment in Humboldt Park.  As a young man, he was going to school in accounting at Roosevelt University but had to drop out for financial reasons and went to work in construction at the age of 20.  Brian performed many trades, including drywall, carpentry and roofing.  He was a certified roofer and that was his main trade.  Brian is no longer working due to acute COPD as a result of his construction work.

Brian comes from a large family; he’s one of 10 siblings.  He began to describe each of them…and I lost track of the detail.  The one thing that stuck out, and it seemed very farfetched, is that his "...brother is a doctor and founded Cancer Centers of America."  Brian also described his 26 year alcohol addiction; and that he hasn’t had a drink in 14 years.

As I was speaking with Brian, I noticed he had a penny stuck in his ear.  “That’s my good luck”…no further explanation provided. [See photo]

I congratulated Brian on his 14 years sober and gave him $2.  He thanked me and shook my hand with a strong grip.

Taken 8/23/15

Dreds

Flicker Worldwide Photo Walk
Chicago, IL

I stopped to tell her how awesome her dredlocks were and asked if I could take a photo.  I learned it is a 6 hour process to undo, wash her hair and redo.  Wow!

Taken 8/23/15

Megan & The Birthday Girl

Flicker Worldwide Photo Walk
Along the Riverwalk
Chicago, IL

Six gals convening in Chicago to celebrate a 31st birthday.  Here's two of them.  They were fun to talk to and seemed to love the attention given by the swarm of Flickr photographers.

Taken 8/23/15

Doris

I parked my car and was heading to the 2015 Flickr Worldwide Photo Walk.  On the way, I met Doris at Dearborn & Lake Street asking for some help.  I told her about the $2 Portrait project and the Flickr Photowalk.  She agreed to tell me her story.

Doris is originally from Birmingham, Alabama but has been in Chicago since the age of 7.  She is now 51.  Doris used to work for a meat-packing company in the office but they went out of business years ago.  For many years, she was living with her boyfriend in Maywood.  He contracted liver cancer and after many treatments and surgery, recently passed away.  All of Doris’ family is deceased and her boyfriend’s family inherited what little he had.  She is now living in the city, either at a shelter or on the street (she pointed to a spot across Dearborn where she sometimes stays).  Doris said she’s on a waiting list for an apartment.

It was an interesting encounter - Doris was very well spoken and when I was taking her photo, she went into “model posing” mode.

I thanked her for her time and she thanked me for listening to her story and the $2.

Taken 8/23/15

Engrossed - Plate VIII

San Francisco, CA

TAken 8/5/15

BOY

Market & Powell Streets
San Francisco, CA

Taken 8/5/15

Cop A Feel

Joking around with public art.
Carmel, Indiana

Millbrae SFO

San Francisco, CA

Taken 8/5/15

Entrepreneur

First time I've run into Frank Chu with an advertising sign.  He said they are supporting his effort to become a movie star.

Taken 8/5/15

The Pier

Navy Pier
Chicago, IL

Tranquility - Plate III

On Lake Michigan
Chicago, IL

Taken 7/30/15

Tranquility - Plate II

South Haven, MI

Taken 7/28/15

Tranquility - Plate I

South Haven, MI

Taken 7/28/15

On the Way Up

Cousins - Big Sis
South Haven, MI

Taken 7/27/15

Handstand

Cousins - A  Little
South Haven, MI

Taken 7/27/15