Walking through the Franklin Street Mall in Tampa, I saw Austin sitting alone. So, I introduced myself and “popped the question”. He seemed a little shy and embarrassed to be asked, but after a few seconds was obliging. He works in a restaurant half a short block from where he was sitting – I guess that he was waiting to go on duty.

(click to enlarge)

The longer we talked, the more relaxed he became. My gut feeling is that he was a bit lonesome and was relieved to have someone to talk to. That is one of the purposes of this kind of street portraiture. We all spend too much time isolated, and an excuse to meet new people and socialize can only be a good thing. The camera is a nuisance to carry around, but it is a passport to relationships that would otherwise never occur.

Bob