Rotary

When dialing the phone had a different meaning.
Indianapolis, IN

Taken 12/16/17

Frank

I’ve been shooting $2 Portraits for over 6 years and never has it happened where I’ve run into the same subject in a different city…until now.  Walking through the Palm Desert Flea Market, I encountered a person who looked familiar.  To my surprise, I reconnected with Frank, a gentleman I first photographed in Albuquerque back in May 2016.  It was great to hear that Frank’s second wife took him back and they recently relocated to Palm Springs where he joined on part time with the Forest Service.  After all the California wild fires this year, Frank spends much of his time around local hiking venues promoting fire safety.

We recounted his other stories from 18 months ago.  Frank told me he still has his penchant for Starbucks but after reconnecting with his second wife, his passion for younger women has moved up a decade into the 60’s.  I told Frank we come to Palm Desert twice a year and will search him out next March; perhaps even having a dinner with he and his wife.  We chatted for awhile; then $2 and a Starbucks later, parted ways.  What a coincidence!

Taken 11/5/17

Pick-up Line

El Paseo
Palm Desert, CA

Taken 11/2/17

Palms & Puffs

Rancho Mirage, CA

Taken 10/31/17

Well Stocked

Firebird Grill
Columbus, OH

Taken 10/20/17

Post-retirement Gig?

Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL

Taken 10/6/17

Misguided

Not what the forest ranger had in mind.  Seen on the McCullough Gulch Trail.
Near Breckenridge, CO

Taken 9/13/17

Moonshine

Seen during a walk along the Eagle River.
Avon, CO

Taken 9/11/17

Jam Train

Pretty good musicians on a BART ride.
San Francisco, CA

Taken 8/2/17

Bus Stop

Market Street
San Francisco, CA

Taken 8/2/17

Today's Color is Aquamarine

San Francisco, CA

Taken 8/3/17

Thirsty?

Lisbon, Portugal

Taken 6/26/17

Rainbow Landing

Waiting for take-off of delayed flight from Newark to Chicago.

Taken 7/1/17

Waves

Rossio Square
Lisbon, Portugal

Taken 6/30/17

The Observer

Alfama neighborhood
Lisbon, Portugal

Taken 6/25/17

The Observer

Alfama neighborhood
Lisbon, Portugal

Taken 6/25/17

The Performer

I saw this interesting guy who was very  animated & performing along the street for passing  traffic.  I took a few photos with my phone and then decided to ask him for a  portrait.  He agreed and here is the result.

Taken 6/30/17 - Lisbon, Portugal

Joaquim

After a great dinner at our hotel in Lisbon, there were leftovers that I did not want to be wasted.  After successfully being able to help a homeless person the night before, I sought out the same result this evening.  Being later at night, I had to venture further from the hotel to find an area with more people around.  Walking down a well lit side street, I came across a gentleman rummaging through some waste bins by a nearby restaurant.

I approached him with outstretched hands holding the boxed remains of a ribeye steak.  His eyes lit up when I offered him the food and he gladly accepted it.  He did not speak English and understood enough Spanish when I asked him his nombre?  He went into his knapsack, pulled out a piece of paper & pen and proceeded to write out his full name, Joaquim Rui Lourenço Farinha.   Handing me the paper, he shook my hand profusely and kept saying “obrigado, obrigado”.  I held up my phone and asked if I could take his photo to which he agreed and smiled widely when I showed him the picture.  I also gave him 2 Euro.  As I departed we shook hands again and he began to open the meal.

Taken 6/30/17 - Lisbon, Portugal

Pick One

Alfama neighborhood
Lisbon, Portugal

Taken 6/26/17

The Observer

Lisbon, Portugal

After a walking tour of three Lisbon neighborhoods, I was making my way back to the hotel through Alfama.  This gentleman gave me permission to make his photo and didn't change his expression or position one bit.

Taken 6/25/17

With Purpose

Adams Street
Chicago, IL

Taken 5/15/17

Robert (and Jeff)

I’ve seen Robert regularly over the last 6 years.  I try to stop and chat, sometimes buy him breakfast and always drop a dollar or two into his cup whenever I can.  Here’s a guy who lives day to day, hoping to make enough to cover his shelter and food.  And when he has a good day, he’ll sometimes forego the morning or afternoon street session.

This past year I learned that Robert has two kids living in Kentucky who he hadn’t seen in awhile.  Around the holidays he was trying to collect enough for  a round trip bus ticket.  Along with others, I helped him out and he was able to spend Christmas with his kids.  I’m looking forward to hearing more about the backstory; perhaps when I next take him to breakfast.

As often happens, when leaving my office today, I saw him in his usual spot.  Our conversation went something like this:

“So Robert, do you know what day occurred a couple of weeks ago?”  He looked at me in puzzlement, “No, what was it?”  I replied, “It’s our anniversary - 6 years ago we met in this very spot and I first took your picture.”   “Well then, let’s take another picture!”  And so we did.  Since I had a train to catch, we didn’t have a lot of time to talk.  As I dropped some bills into his cup, we agreed that on Monday morning we’ll have breakfast to start the week.  “And bring me a copy of that picture, will ya?  Thank you and G-d bless.”

I never really know if and/or when I’ll see him again.  Maybe Monday, maybe not.  What started out as photographing a perfect stranger for the $2 Portrait project has turned into a 6 year “relationship” that rarely involves a camera.

Taken 4/13/17

My Personal Hell

College of the Desert Swap Meet
Palm Desert, CA

Taken 3/12/17

What a Combo!!!

Oakland, CA

Taken 3/3/17

7.5 Decades Young

Celebration for a great friend.
Cancun, MX

Taken 1/24/17

Fish Food

Cancun, Mexico

People actually paid for this.  Gross.

Taken 1/29/17

Never Gets Old

Harry's Prime Steakhouse
Cancun, Mexico

Taken 1/23/17

Expecting a Downpour

After all, it is the rainy season...
San Francisco, CA

From the archives - taken 1/5/16

Millbrae SFO

On the BART
San Francisco, CA

From the archives - taken 1/26/16

Evening Rush

Along the Chicago River.
Chicago, IL

Taken 1/9/17

The Tradition is Broken...

...this year.  Instead of spending our traditional New Year's Eve with friends, we decided to travel to Indianapolis to be with our kids and grandpups.  Looks like someone was happy about that.

Taken 12/31/16