Brian

3/31/11 - Week 13
Continued my walk up Market Street on 3/31/11 and met Brian.  Brian's sign is what caught my eye; "WHY LIE! I NEED BEER".  I admired his honesty (or marketing approach) and engaged him in conversation.  When I told him about the $2 Portraits project and asked if I could take his picture and post it on my website, he gave me a roaring double thumbs-up!  I took a few pictures while Brian posed and then continued our conversation.

Brian was a talkative, friendly guy.  Only problem was I couldn't understand much of what he said.  I was able to get that he is 48 years old and grew up in Missouri.  He's been in San Francisco since age 11 and for many years of his adult life worked odd jobs such as sheetmetal worker and security guard.  I couldn't quite get why Brian finds himself in his present condition, but he obviously suffers from some physical maladies.  I asked about his family back in Missouri and he said he gave them up 20 years ago - "I'm through with them; they are evil and I am a messenger of Jesus."  That sounding odd, I asked him if he was on something and he said that he used to mess around with drugs but no more.  "I'm clean now, but I do like my beer."

He asked my name and where I was from.  After a few more moments of conversation, I gave him $2 and told him to enjoy his "cold one".  He smiled and said thank you.  And I walked on.

Unnamed

3/31/11 - Week 13

I am in the Bay Area on business and went into SF tonight to shoot some pictures.  It is very unfortunate, but there is no lack of subjects for the $2 Portraits project.

 

Walking down Market Street, I met her.  She caught my eye because one does not expect a young, attractive woman to be begging on the street.  I told her about the $2 Portraits project and asked if I could take her picture and post it on the website.  She readily agreed.

 

She was born and raised in Eastern Europe and moved to the US with her mother when she was 11, went to school there and learned English.   She lost her apartment and was homeless so came out to San Francisco in November to escape the cold weather.  She plans to move back home in May, look for a job and try to get her apartment back.  

 

I asked her about her family and she said they are all still in Eastern Europe except for her mom, who lives in the US.  I wondered out loud why she was homeless back home and she said her mom has a new family and "has her own thing going on."  I have come to learn that her mom misses her terribly.  She says she likes people and liked her job as a server at a diner, but couldn't make ends meet.  She would like to work at restaurant that serves alcohol because the tips are better…but she's only 19 and will have to wait a couple of years.  I asked where she lived; she said on the streets.  She doesn't like shelters and sometimes has a hard time now sleeping indoors.

 

I gave her $2 and told her to be safe.  She smiled and said thank you.  I walked away with a heavy heart.

 

There are so many sad parts to this story.  As a parent, thinking of someone's kid living on the streets was the saddest part for me.

Rock Concert - Plate 2

3/30/11 - Week 13
Went to a Bon Jovi concert earlier this month with Mrs. Wonderful.  Took this shot with SymmetriCam and processed tonight using Nik software.

Rock Concert

3/29/11 - Week 13
Went to a Bon Jovi concert earlier this month with Mrs. Wonderful.  Took this shot with SymmetriCam and processed tonight using Nik software.

Paint the Scene

3/27/11 - Week 13 
Taken last April in downtown Racine, this building was a good subject for my "Paint the Scene" preset in LR3. Processed and posted for SliderSunday 3/27/11.

Cold Shoulder

3/26/11 - Week 13
Shot for Flickr group Cliche Saturday and inspired by my friend, Ed Sweeney.

Week 13 ☞ 03.26.11 - 04.01.11

Theme: Call Me Lazy...Anything Goes...Again
  

Traveling again this week.  I know shooting opportunities will present themselves, however I won't have time to pursue a narrow theme.  Will try to get in one $2 Portrait for a Flickr group I joined last week.


Also, Please check out my Flickr Photostream at http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffm211/