Originally Dick was from Chicago. He sold consumer products around the world, and spent time in the Philippines, Japan, Malaysia, and other locations in Asia. Forty years in all. His wife was born in Philadelphia and they now split time between Sarasota and the Pocono mountains. Not bad.
Rocky and Maria (#754) 01-08-15
I saw Maria and Rocky in front of Pastry Art of course. And this is the first rocky I have met in this project. I told them about the 100 Strangers project and said that Maria looked like a real character. She burst out laughing, and Rocky said “yep she's a character all right.”
The two of them used to work at Pastry Art and Maria was the manager for a while. She said that when ownership changed about three years ago, the whole culture became too serious. Nobody smiled (that has not been my experience). Now they each work at eateries within a few blocks of where we sat. Both were engaging, and Maria's hearty laugh is contagious.
A few moments after we parted, I saw them searching for something. Rocky had lost his wallet. There were no more smiles, and no contagious laughs were heard.
Note: No smoking is allowed in front of Pastry Art. Rocky's cigarette is a prop, it is not lit.
Bob
Al (#753) 01-07-15
While drinking a cup of Joe al fresco, I saw Al across the street, walking in the other direction. Something about his demeanor caught my eye, and I resolved that if he came back, I'd meet him. Sure enough, after walking a block he about faced and headed my way. I quickly crossed the street and walked toward him. In an unusual display of efficiency, a busboy immediately removed my ½ cup of coffee, the price of being a stranger portrait photographer.
Al seemed amused by my request and immediately said “OK.” I halfway expected him to ask for a little money, but he didn't. Instead, he went right into a series of poses, he clearly likes to be photographed. He is originally from Sarasota. I asked if he worked nearby. “No, I'm just hanging around now.” Hmmm...
I asked if he had eaten breakfast, he had not. But Al had to be somewhere in a few minutes. So I dragged him across the street into Pastry Art and bought him a muffin to go. The look on his face as we parted suggested that this had not happened too often in the past.
Bob
Logan (#752) 01-06-15
At the Sarasota Farmer's Market, Logan was working at the back of a pickup truck. He was unloading pots of flowers. After working at other jobs, he finally joined his father in flower sales 2 ½ years ago. A I asked if they grew them. “Oh, no. How can you compete with flowers from South America. They are shipped in one day and are still cheaper then we can grow them.”
Logan went to nearby Sarasota High School, and was the fourth ranked pole vaulter in the state. Of course, ribbons are for first, second and third. That career ended badly. A pole broke, and he pulled all the ligaments in one shoulder.
I asked about his scratches and shiner. “On Christmas Eve, I tried to break up a fight in a bar. But the other guy lost. He's in jail.
Bob
Genie (#751) 01-05-15
Went to a different Farmer's Market for a change of view. And, some different faces. Genie was sitting on the curb on a street corner, singing and playing the guitar. She seemed to be appreciated, as I saw a few people adding to the tip jar.
Genie was born in Freeport, NY, but spent much of her life in the Dominican Republic. She had no accent. She and her husband (who works at a market a few yards away), now live on a 32 foot sailboat. We discussed how the west coast of Florida is not very live-aboard friendly. They have been in the Bradenton area for seven months. Soon they plan to move on to the Florida Keys, and then Puerto Rico.
Genie has studied some photography, and gave me her e-mail address so that I could send this image.
Bob
Robert (#750) 01-04-15
Robert was sitting on an outside stool at Smokin' Joe's bar. He had a DSLR in his lap, a 3000 series Nikon. This location always works for me, the light is very nice. At bit quiet at first, he opened up and “got into the spirit.”
Robert is from Belmore, a neighborhood in Queens, NY. He left young, but remembers small houses being close together. Once he went to a store to buy candy and got lost on the way home. All of the houses looked alike. Being from Queens also, we traded stories about “the good old days', and how the neighborhoods have changed. Not for the better.
He photographs all kinds of things, and was interested in Flickr. He seldom shows his work. Robert was very interested in 100 Strangers and took a card. Before parting, we photographed each other with our respective cameras to our eyes.
Bob
Tessa (#749) 01-03-15
Tessa, who works at Pastry Art was sitting in front of the bakery, waiting for her shift to begin. This was the first time that I had seen her outdoors, so I immediately approached her. Amazingly, sue was a bit reluctant; I know that she has seen me photograph people many times, including her coworkers. I heard a bit of the usual, “My hair doesn't look good today”, etc. But once she agreed, she couldn't stop grinning.
Tessa is familiar with Flickr, and has an account. I asked if I could find her under “Tessa.” She wasn't sure, as she had changed accounts a few times. I asked:
“Had you been hacked?”
“No, but when Yahoo took over, it was a Cluster.”
“Wait a minute, I know that word!”
Bob
Andrew (#748) 01-02-15
I had just been turned down by a stranger, in front of my favorite coffee shop, no less. While licking my wounds, a barista, Joel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bobdeinphoto/15016197129/) came out and spoke with a man sitting alone. He was clearly outgoing, and worked somewhere nearby. When Joel left, I made my move. Andrew was very outgoing, and we had a long conversation about the local homeless situation.
He is a bartender at the Gator Club, about a block away. For 18 years he has seen the homeless, drunks, crack addicts, crooks – the gamut. Having been homeless himself, Andrew has seen it all, from both sides. He recounted local homeless people (some of whom I have photographed) who had one stroke of bad luck that destroyed their lives. And others who are crackheads, hustlers, and you-name-it. But overall, Andrew is nonjudgmental, and caring for the homeless population. One fellow has panhandled me several times, and is a former Stranger. Andrew says that Phil gets a Social Security check and has a place to live. Panhandled money goes for cigarettes. Another of my former strangers is an excellent pianist, but gets stinking drunk most nights, sometimes at the Gator Club, and is a general nuisance. One psychotic (harmless) fellow sat in front of the Gator Club rubbing oil on his feet and selling strange artwork. Andrew chased him off. “He's going to hurt business. We need business to pay our taxes, and pay his Social Security.”
What an interesting dialog. I look forward to chatting with him some more – so many stories to tell. Oh, and Andrew is positive that Obamacare is going to provide needed services for some of these people. That should appease some readers, and enrage others.
Bob
Michel (#747) 01-01-15
"That's a very distinctive tattoo, there must be some significance."
"No, I just like it."
Bob
Leslie (#746) 12-31-14
Leslie was walking toward me, on her way to the Whole Foods Market. She used a cane, but moved fairly quickly. When I approached her, she was more than happy to be photographed. Leslie was the stereotype of what I call the “open” person. She was happy, in the present, and totally engaged. Nice. We have all encountered the “closed” person.
Leslie is from Wisconsin and is very glad to be in Sarasota. Her husband's parents had a condo in nearby Bradenton. When they died, Leslie and husband began using it for vacations. Her husband got cancer and they moved into the condo “permanently.” He died one year ago Now Leslie lives in it during the winter, spending summers in Wisconsin.
She was so pleasant. Here she is a recent widow, and obviously has some kind of movement problem (she didn't say and I didn't ask). Leslie has reasons to be bitter and dour, but she has chosen to eschew the negative and be grateful for the positive.
Bob
Cheryl and Casey (#745) 12-30-14
On a very cool morning, I watched Cheryl and Casey exit their car. Casey's wool hat seemed appropriate. The sun was high enough in the sky to make light harsh (drat!), so I followed them looking for an acceptable location. Cheryl wore a fuchsia jacked that could easily be seen from 50 yards.
Finally they approached an area of acceptable, if not great, light. I made my pitch and the two looked at each other; finally Cheryl said, “Why Not? We work in photography.”
“Oh, are you photographers?”
Cheryl said, “No. I'm a model”, and Casey said, “And I do the wardrobes and makeup.”
I was surprised that Cheryl agreed – usually professional models won't allow free photos. But I just reveled in my good luck and asked her to take a couple of steps to the right. Immediately she got this HUGE smile. I asked if she would not smile for the camera. She looked shocked and laughingly said to Casey,”He's trying to direct ME!” In other words, this amateur Bozo is trying to direct me, the beautiful professional model. Then she walked away, the shoot was clearly over.
This professional smile reminds me of a series of commercials a few decades ago, when Pepsodent toothpaste was popular.
“You'll wonder where the yellow went,
when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent!”
Yeah, Cheryl's smile would work for that.
So then I asked Casey to step into the same light. She looked shocked, and said, “You want to photograph ME?” I said, “Sure, I photograph people and you're a people”. She looked a bit flummoxed, but then complied. Clearly she viewed herself as a Plain Jane accompanying Cheryl, the Beautiful. Do any viewers think that Casey appears ordinary, and is deserving of the rank of second class citizen?
This bothered me, and I questioned whether I should post this. The implied stereotyping is just contrary to my value system and makes me uncomfortable. Nevertheless, here they are.
Ironically, I later saw them in an area of perfect light. Just not meant to be.
Bob
Carl (#744) 12-29-14
Drinking a cup of Joe outdoors in December. How good is this? Carl liked it as he intently studied his laptop. Carl has a Ph.D. From the University of Pennsylvania, and teaches Ancient Greek History at nearby new College. Of course we all know a lot about Ancient Greek History.
But New College is different, there are no grades. At the end of each course, Carl writes a narrative about each student's progress. He says that the students are incredibly motivated, and liberation from grades allows freedom to pursue material based on intellectual curiosity. As an Honors College, other schools recognize the degree for entry into graduate school. I asked if Medical Schools or Law Schools posed problems, I know that Medical Schools used to be extremely grade and test score oriented. Carl assured me that this seldom is an issue.
He liked the image and asked me to send it to him. “I can't wait to show this to my girlfriend. Unfortunately I just read this now, preparing this post. There has been about a 10 day delay. Sorry, Carl.
Bob
Richard (#743) 12-28-14
Richard sat looking so relaxed, so at peace. Not so his dog, Charlie Brown. Every passerby required this pit bull mix's attention, not at all threatening, just interested. My attempts to photograph him with Richard were in vain.
But Richard had no issue with being photographed. Originally from Newport Beach, CA, his work took him to Chicago. For eight years, he commuted to Chicago from Newport beach. Pretty ambitious. Finally, he moved to Chicago and raised three children there Now Richard has two grandchildren.
Richard moved to a home on the bay, in Sarasota. He can work from there (sort of) but was not interested in discussing the nature of his work. Both he and Charlie Brown seem satisfied with the arrangement.
Bob
Rhonda (#742) 12-27-14
I was walking through the Venice Farmer's market (not the one I usually go to), on an unusually cool morning. Rhonda was headed my way wearing a fur hat that reminded me of the Cossacks. When I introduced myself and complimented her on the hat, she sheepishly agreed to be photographed.
Rhonda is from San Diego, and moved to Venice four years ago. Southwest Florida is better, “San Diego is getting like L. A. Turns out that she is a vendor at the market. Her business, the Painted Seahorse sells her art, paintings on palm fronds. Her boyfriend Paul helps and explained that only a small percentage of fronds are the right size and shape. The previous week a lady dragged up several fronds, to “help.” They sheepishly thanked her, but they were useless.
When I saw the fronds, I immediately bought one of a dolphin, as a Christmas gift. Rhonda said that the dolphins were the most popular items. Her Facebook page is HERE. https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Painted-Seahorse/313577018845660
The first image shows a dolphin that my nephew now has.
Bob
Datev and Kevin (#741) 12-26-14
At an outdoor table, Datev was concentrating on the Mac laptop. Actually, she was editing video. When I asked her name, I had to re-ask a few times until she spelled it for me. It isn't so difficult, just unusual. Here. It is a common name in Armenia, used for both sexes. When I heard that her male friend was Kevin, I breathed an audible sigh of relief. All laughed.
Datev is from Florida and studied Film at Florida State University. Kevin graduated from The University of Nevada Reno. Both are videographers. Datev has a youtube channel that is monetized. I just don't know how you make money at this, it's a generational thing. See her channel HERE. Anyway, it is refreshing to know that there are a lot of ways to make a buck in this world.
Bob
Lance (#740) 12-24-14
As a follow up to yesterday's post, #739, Lance came over to me and asked for a handout. Over the past three years, I have noticed a dramatic difference in the attitude of panhandlers. They have become much more brazen and assertive. So as usual, I “made a deal” with Lance and got a stranger conversation and portrait out of it.
Lance just got out of prison. Three years worth. He had gotten into a fight in the local Salvation facility. Three years is a lot for a fight, I suspect that this was not the first offense.
“A six foot six guy was mistreating a woman. I'd do it again.”
I said, “Six foot six?”
“Yeah. I had seven years of martial arts fighting. I can use my legs, I knocked out a few teeth.”
Now Lance cannot go to the Salvation Army or Resurrection house. As soon as they run his ID, the felony shows up and he is denied. Lance said that he spent three years in a very difficult place, and spent a lot of time reading the Bible. He wants people to know that he is clean, no booze or drugs.
Bob
Chrysta (#739) 12-23-14
Chrysta was sitting by herself outside of the coffee shop. I was glad I asked the spelling. I don't know how many ways there are to spell what sounds like Chrysta, but I never wold have guessed this one. She lives in Bradenton, ten miles north, but works in Sarasota. In fact she works less than a block away at Micheal’s on Main, a gallery and boutique. She was waiting for her boss.
After photographing Chrysta, I sat at a nearby table. A young man approached her, and from the body language I surmised that he was panhandling. After a few moments, she got up and went inside. Then he came over to me, which will be the next stranger story.
Later, I passed Chrysta inside the shop. I asked if the man had 'chased' her inside. She gave a weak smile and nodded yes. The local merchants have hired a security guard to patrol the block and prevent these things from happening. No good answer.
Bob
Dave and Samantha (#738) 12-22-14
Dave wore a shirt that Said “Germantown.” I asked if that was in Pennsylvania and he said, “I don't know, I got this from my brother, in Tennessee.” It seems like everyone wears a shirt that says something.
Dave and Samantha are from Pittsburgh and are visiting his parents in Sarasota. For two days. When we spoke it was overcast, but it was sunny in Pittsburgh. You can't win. But still, they were able to walk on the beach, and were grateful for that.
I asked, what should people reading this know about you? Dave said, “I don't know. I guess that we like to get away for any length of time, no matter how short.”
Bob
Brittany (#737) 12-20-14
I meet so many strangers outside of a coffee shop, Pastry Art, that it is appropriate to occasionally photograph employees. This is one of my few indoor shots at ISO 800.
As I placed my order, Brittany said, “Nice camera!”, my lead in. I replied, “Thanks. Guess what I like to photograph?”, and away we went. She was a bit reluctant, but caved in when she saw my Photostream on the phone. I had not seen her before. Probably because she has only worked there for a month, and then only on weekends. She said that her main job is as a hairstylist.
“Hairstylist? But you are hiding your hair under a wool cap!”
“Bad hair day.”
“Hairstylists shouldn't have bad hair days.”
Shrug, with palms up.
Bob
Daniel (#736) 12-19-14
I had a coffee 'date' with Eric, stranger #457. See him HERE. I arrived first, on a beautiful Sunday for outdoor dining. While waiting, I saw Daniel at a nearby table and decided to 'get some work' done prior to meeting Eric.
Daniel is 17, and a student at Suncoast Polytechnic High School in Sarasota. I am embarrassed to admit that I had not heard of it. Suncoast is a magnet school, with a majority of students taking advanced placement courses. Daniel also takes courses at State College of Florida. He hopes to attend nearby New College, on a career path to naturopathy.
Daniel is well read and thinks deeply about environmental, biologic, and political affairs. He is not shy about expressing his opinions. When Eric arrived, the three of us had a lively discussion. I said to Daniel, “I'll bet that you are near the top of your class.” He gave a small smile and shrugged, “I'm in the top 25%.” Yeah, that means that he's in the top 75% too, but I doubt that adequately describes his standing.
He was interested in the project, and we quickly became Facebook friends. Not surprisingly, I am too old to understand the cultural context of most of his posts. But he did use one of my images as his avatar, which always gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling.
As an aside, I got to play with Eric's Leica, a first for me.
Bob