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