I met Robert in front of Union Station. He was looking for $5 so he could get home. I told him about $2 Portraits and he agreed by starting to pose for his picture. But I started talking with him instead. Robert is 65 years old and has spent his whole life on the south side of Chicago. Home now is the El…he rides the train back and forth without a permanent place to stay. We started comparing street names when I told him I was originally from the south side and my wife graduated high school there. Robert used to work shipping/receiving in the aeronautical industry.
After I made a few photos and our conversation wound down, Robert asked if I could give him three more dollars so he could get back to the south side. Knowing that I didn’t have any more small bills, I gave him a $20 and he began a “happy dance" thanking me profusely. Then he began chanting “hotel room tonight” and I snapped this photo.
Photographed 5/13/21
No comments:
Post a Comment