Omar and Bryan (#786) 02-20-15

Omar and Bryan were consuming life-saving pastries and joking. The easy body language and camaraderie made me wistful. Good friends aren't easy to come by, but these two seemed to have it. When I approached them, each was happy to help and spent most of the time kidding and laughing.

 

I asked them if they were from Sarasota, and each said yes?

"Did you go to Sarasota High School?"

Omar: "Yeah."

Bryan: "God no, I went to Riverview." (laugh)

Me: "Did you know each other as rivals in high school?"

Bryan: :No, we just know each other now as rivals." (laugh)

 

Omar went on to the State College of Florida and happened to take one course in Film Production. After graduation, he showed a Film Production course project to an official at a local cable TV station, Sarasota News Network (SNN). He was hired and received lots of on job training. Now he is a staff photojournalist at SNN. Neat!

Bryan is a musician and works in music production. He plays eight instruments. He listed them off, and I said (tongue in cheek) "What, no flute?" He responded, "Oh, I could play the flute too."

Each liked their photos, so I sent them by e-mail. Omar prefers the smiley face.

Bob

Nina (#785) 02-19-15

I was shelf surfing in a Mom and Pop bookstore when I spotted Nina. The store was relatively dark, and her fair complexion and blond hair jumped out. Photographing in the store was out of the question, and feeling somewhat lazy, I didn't make a move as she left the store with an older couple.

But as I was about to leave, she was standing near the sidewalk curb, so I immediately approached her and introduced the project. She seemed pleased and spoke with a delightful German accent. Nina spends half of her time in her native Berlin, and the other half in Manhattan. She is an art broker and sells art in each location. Nina is an artist, working in several mediums, including photography.

Then suddenly the older couple came up and she said that she had to leave with her in-laws. I was very disappointed. Nina was eager to tell her story, and I did not realize that we were under a time constraint.

Bob

Bruce (#784) 02-18-15

Eating a pastry with his coffee, Bruce made a striking image. Curly blonde hair and a beige sport jacket set him apart from the usual patrons. And I told him so as I explained the project. He smiled, and immediately 'got it'. Bruce is a film actor in New York and showed me images of performances on his phone. His expression when playing a cop made me think, “I wouldn't want to piss off THAT guy.” He said that he was playing a gritty cop, the Sam Spade type. These websites are illustrative”:

http://www.brucecolbert.info/

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4252111/

Bruce is checking out the area. He likes Sarasota, but it's a little 'sleepy.' He lives next to Columbia University, and compared to New York, everywhere is sleepy. “Yeah, it's hard to compare New York to anything but itself.”

While shooting, I tried to get my usual look with the subject making eye contact. As the consummate pro, he had his own ideas, and glanced to the side. Using burst mode I got one accidental image looking at me. I saw him a couple of days later and he mentioned how important it was to get the look “doing something”, not just staring ahead. Hmmm, makes me think.

A few years ago, Michelle Tricca, a Naples FL professional photographer, captured a large series of portraits of locals making eye contact, and published them without captions. The local newspaper had an article about this and published two photos: one was a man who owned a ten million dollar house on the Gulf, the other cleaned his pool. It was impossible to tell who was who. I thought that this was a powerful message and have always tried to take an egalitarian approach, making us all equal. The poorest, mentally challenged person is totally equal for at least 1/100 of a second in my series. Bruce's comments bother me – maybe I'm missing something by not capturing other expressions.

Bob

Bob (#783) 02-17-15

Bob was sitting in the outdoor, covered area, of Smokin' Joe's Bar. When in the area (a lot) I always check out this spot – this seat. The light is always good. Bob was relaxed and chatty. He lived in Central Islip, Long Island, for 10 years. As a youngster, I lived about three miles away.

He relocated to Chicago, becoming a carpenter. At age 32 he started his own construction business. Over many years, the firm grew to 500 employees, and during the recent recession, it dwindled to 10. Now it's back to 50. Bob looked pained as he recounted all the good hard working men that he had to lay off. He still owns the business.

The layoffs segued into a discussion about the homeless in Sarasota. He shook his hear recounting how men that lost construction jobs could be on the streets like this. He first got a house in Sarasota in 1989, but used it little. Until six years ago, that is. Then he began living six months in Chicago and six in Sarasota. We passed on the street yesterday and I got a hearty, “Hi, Bob.”

Bob

Shane and A******* (#782) 02-16-15

I watched A******* enter the coffee shop. She had long, straight hair and wore an ankle length white dress. I had to meet her. A few minutes later she emerged with Shane, and each had a handful of food. I waited until they were settled and ensconced in their chairs before making my move.

Shane was immediately interested, while A******* was a bit more cautious. Shane was interested in my Olympus camera. He recently purchased a Canon 6D, full frame DSLR, but was also interested in smaller gear. I showed him the OM-D E-M5 and had him look “through” the digital viewfinder. He immediately saw the difference between it and an optical viewfinder. He uses Lightroom and looks forward to learning how to make local adjustments.

A******* looked uneasy. I asked if Shane photographed her and her (large) eyes. She said, not much. She had done some modeling in the past, but was still quite shy and private. She teaches 2nd grade. A******* insisted that Shane be photographed first. As soon as I got the first click of A*******, I knew that the shot was a winner. I gave each of them a card.

The next morning I got an e-mail from A*******. She said that she was a very private person, and asked that I not post her image anywhere. Drat! I immediately processed the image and loved it. I sent it to her and said that she and Shane should like it, and to please reconsider her request. But I assured her that I would not post it without permission.

I never got it. :-(

Bob

Matthew and Katheryn (#781) 02-15-15

They were sitting outside the coffee shop, but with a twist; their suitcases were next to them. Matthew and Katheryn were killing time, waiting to go to the airport. They were flying home to Atlanta, a destination clearly within driving distance.

Matthew and Katheryn met in college, at Furman University. There is an inherent conflict between Atlanta and Furman University; Furman is largely funded by Pepsi Cola, while Atlanta is a Coke town. Matthew said, “Oh, I had to drink Pepsi for a few years, but I was forgiven.” He was born in Atlanta, but has zero southern accent. Katheryn was originally from Jacksonville, and likewise, has no southern dialect. She works for Raymond James, and he works in financial planning for Northwest Mutual Life.

Bob

Kevin (#780) 02-14-15

Kevin was sitting with his two dogs, puppies actually, in front of whole foods. He had no reservations about being photographed, but was no conversationalist.

First the dogs: they were pit bull puppies. I could not get even one to look at me for a picture - definitely not two. One had the thick-faced pit bull look and was named Spike. Sounds good. The other had an unusually thin face for a pit bull, and was named Bambi. Whaaa? Bambi? Brings to mint the old joke:

What has 4 legs and 1 arm?

A pit bull, of course.

Kevin is from Cincinnati and has lived in Sarasota for 18 years. He is an occupational therapist and works at Manor Care, a local Skilled Nursing Facility. Encouraging conversation was a challenge.

“What's the best thing about having pit bulls?”

“Companionship.”

Sigh...

Bob

Austin (#789) 02-13-15

Austin is from Bellingham, WA, and is a left coastie by heart. But he came east to attend New College in Sarasota. As I learned from previous strangers, New College has an eclectic approach to education, in which standard grades are not given. Austin is a senior majoring in economics. Actually, there are a couple of adjectives to his brand of economics, but alas, I did not write them down. :-(

Austin has passed the first two rounds of hurdles on the way to a Fulbright Scholarship. Hopefully, next year he will be studying at Columbia University. If not, he plans to start his own company somewhere on the west coast.

He was intrigued by the 100 Strangers group. Austin asked if I was familiar with Jia Jiang's Rejection Therapy project. I am, and here it is; it is informative and entertaining.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/28/jia-jiang-rejection-therapy-krispy-kreme-jackie-braun-video_n_2206217.html

Bob

Annie and J.R. (788) 02-12-15

I saw then eating lunch and Annie looked familiar. Fortunately they were happy to be photographed. Annie explained it – she is a dockhand at Marina Jack, at the foot of Main Street. I have seen her tying up boats. When I showed her the pic, she said, “Yep, I knew it. My eyes are asleep. (laugh).”

J.R. was also a laugher – they were having a good time. He lives on a Broward Yacht, at the “T” head of a dock. T heads are reserved for the largest yachts. No wonder they laugh. The first pic that I showed him had his eyes closed (laugh!). The both approved of the images, but neither wanted a copy.

We talked boats for a while and I finally told them what we own.

“Oh, nice!”

“Want to buy it?”

Laugh.

Bob

Terry (#787) 02-11-15

Terry is originally from Kentucky, but spent 10 years all over Florida in the construction industry. He is now disabled and uses a cane. He has back pain that shoots into his legs. The very next day Terry was to have surgery for permanent placement of a 'pain pacemaker.' I asked if he was scared. He was not, because he had a temporary unit for trial, and it worked.

For the trail, a catheter with electrodes was inserted into the spinal canal. He held a device that controlled the frequency of electrical pulses. Sure enough, he was able to find the right frequency, and got great relief. Now a permanent device will give him remote control of the frequency. Living better electronically.

As if that weren't enough, his left pupil is permanently dilated. Terry was “Jumped” by two hoods who stole his bike, and ruined his eye in the process.

I showed Terry his image on the LCD. He liked it!

“Wow, ain't that a handsome dude!”

“Would you like me to e-mail the image to you?”

“Naw, don't have e-mail. I'm a computer turd. Not a nerd, a turd.”

Bob

John (#786) 10-02-15

On a Sunday, I was to meet someone by an indoor mall. With a little time to kill, I brought out the camera. No one was inside, I had to rely on indoor lighting – not my favorite. But I saw John slouched in an easy chair, and when approached, he was happy to comply.

John works at the Sarasota Opera Company, the same place as Howard blog post #782  https://www.flickr.com/photos/bobdeinphoto/16451481831/

When I mentioned Howard John could not place him. But when I mentioned the front office, I got an “Aha!” “Sometimes I forget that there is a business side to opera.” John performs, playing the piano. He lives in New York City nine months a year and Sarasota for three. Nice! In Manhattan he lives waaayy up on the 200 block “It's the only neighborhood that I can afford.” But he LOVES it.

John had seen an eye doctor in the mall (on Sunday, no less), and was waiting for his eyes to adjust to dilation. I looked closely – sure enough, his pupils were huge.

Bob

Krystina (#785) 02-09-15

When driving through a parking lot by a CVS Pharmacy, a young woman got in front of the car and flagged me down. I opened my window and she came along side. “Could you spare a few dollars so I could by some new shoes in CVS?” She easily held her foot up to my height, and almost put it in my window. Her shoe was threadbare, but I was impressed with the athletic, if inappropriate move. This was a first for me, a new take on panhandling. So I made my usual offer, inviting her into the 100 Strangers Project.

“AWESOME!”

After (hopefully) buying sandals in CVS, she plans to travel to Orlando. Krystina has no job, but she does have a house there. I can hang out with my friends. “It's AWESOME!”

I showed her the pics on the LCD and she wanted copies. But she doesn't have e-mail, only Facebook. So I promised to send something in a message.

As we parted, she asked if I could spare some more, so she could buy the shoes right away. I said no, that she had done pretty well already. Then I got a huge smile:

“Yeah, that was f***ing AWESOME.”

Thank you, Krystina, for allowing me to photograph you for the 100 Strangers Flickr group. It was, well, never mind.

Bob

James (#784) 02-08-15

James was sitting alone at the outdoor bar, Smokin' Joe's. I always check that place, as the light is almost always good. He was affable and happy to be included in the project. Also I quickly realized that James had been at the bar for a while.

He lives in Sarasota, but has moved around. He attended school in Englewood, very close to where I used to live. But his family moved west, and he graduated from High School in the Tetons. James Hated it; the population was 200, and he is a city boy. For a photographer, hating the Tetons seems like heresy - some of the most beautiful country on earth.

James works as a cook at a seafood restaurant called Bryans. His comment, “Don't go there. They won't let me use spices. Can you imagine vegetables steamed?” Well, I said that I occasionally eat steamed vegetables. “Really? Just steamed, without spice?” Becoming defensive, I began to equivocate. James continued, “I clean the fish, weigh the fillets, and broil. No spice. Clean, weigh, broil. Clean, weigh, broil.”

I guess I won't go there.

Bob

Orn (#783) 02-07-15

When Orn approached, I had no idea how she would respond to my request. She is from Thailand, and has been in the U.S. For only three years. One aunt is here, but the rest of her family is in Thailand. Orn loves it here, “It is so quiet!”

She was shy, but obviously interested in 100 Strangers. There was not so much a language barrier as a cultural barrier. She was smiling, but had difficulty understanding what I was up to. Orn preferred the smiley image. I had showed her my photostream on the phone and she wanted to see it later, so I gave her a card. And she wanted a copy of the images and gave me her e-mail address. I felt good about that, as she might have considered that an invasion of privacy. But, she didn't.

Looking at the images enlarged on the computer, I think that I can see contact lenses. I had never thought of that before.

Bob

Howard (#782) 02-06-15

Howard was sitting on an outdoor bench, reading something on his phone. I commented on his British accent. Howard lived 100 miles north of London, and has been in the U.S. For 12 years. Then he returned to England for two years, spent a little time in Boston, and here he is again. He is ambivalent as to where he prefers to live, most of his family is in the UK.

Howard works at the Sarasota Opera House (two blocks away), in management and promotions. He cringed at his photo, “I have so much gray!” I told him that I'd get rid of that in Photoshop – a lie. :-) He very much liked the 100 Strangers project and took a card. And he gave me his e-mail address so that I could send him this image – gray and all.

Bob

Crystal (#781) 02-05-15

While sitting outside, sipping a cup of Joe, Crystal was walking toward me. She had art supplies in each hand, and just had the presence of an artist. When I approached her she seemed very wary and uneasy. Actually, I was surprised when she said OK.

Crystal is a painter and wishes that she had a studio. She works out of her apartment. When I asked if she made a living out of art, she said, “I wish!'

Crystal never seemed “into it”, and I expected her to bolt at any minute. So again, I was surprised that she gave me her e-mail address after seeing this image on the LCD.

Bob

Emily (#780) 02-04-15

Emily was sitting quietly, outside of my favorite coffee shop. She had a staid, demure countenance. When I approached her, she was slightly taken aback and shy. But agreeable. Emily is from Parrish, a rural community in Manatee County, to the north. She graduated from a high school in Manatee County and then bolted for San Fransisco. She was a barista and loved it, but California proved just too expensive to live.

So she moved back to Sarasota and works as a barista here. I asked her where. Pastry Art, right here! Yikes, I was embarrassed. She is new here, but in retrospect I have seen her a couple of times. But her hair was different, and she had an outgoing, gregarious personality. She seemed so different now! My bad. She was not interested in obtaining a copy of the image.

While I was photographing her, the manager came out and said, "Emily, don't let him do it!" A joke. He has seen me in action many times.

Bob

Steve (#779) 02-03-15

The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County has a neat project, Sarasota Keys. Several decorated pianos are placed along downtown streets for anyone to play. Just sit down and go to it! See it HERE.

Steve was sitting down and going to it, next to the Clasico Cafe and Bar. I heard him from half a block away, and it sounded like classical music, although I couldn't recognize any of it. When I arrived at the origin of the sound, an unlikely looking pianist was at work. His bicycle was propped against the piano and he wore a shirt that said “Wilhelm Landscaping.” It was a work shirt, well soiled, as were his hands and fingernails. The fingers worked furiously and sometimes crossed themselves in awkward ways. But the music was great. It is original, Steve composes all of it – no wonder that I did not recognize it. He cannot read a note of music. But more amazing is that it is not memorized, he makes it up on the spot. “I taught myself the chords, and I know which notes go with them, so I just make this up as I go along. A pianist watched me once and said that I have the notes and chords right, but I use the wrong fingers.” And they are gnarled, laborer's fingers at that.

The Cafe outdoor patrons are right next to the piano. Steve says that management runs off people playing poorly for any length of time, but that they love him and his music. I guess! He ought to be on the payroll; he is not. Steve is 49 and has been playing since a small child. He has had a few brief gigs at bars, but has not been able to make a living at it. He just loves playing.

Amazing.

Bob

Khristina (#778) 02-02-15

I saw Khristina on the other side of main St. She was sitting on the sidewalk with her back resting on a wall. She seemed out of place. The location and posture was that of a homeless person. But even from a distance, her hair seemed professionally managed. However, as I approached I saw that she was holding a cardboard sign, an icon of the homeless. It said, “Stranded, Please Help. God Bless.”

Khristina is from New York, Manhattan no less. She came to southwest Florida with her boyfriend, but he cheated on her and they split up. She is broke, and trying to get bus fare back to New York. Currently she is staying in the Salvation Army shelter at $7/night. I said that New your was an expensive place to live. Khristina responded that she had been a waitress and could easily get a similar job again. She has a friend to live with.

So, I misjudged a homeless person. They come in all shapes and sizes. Each story is different.

Bob

Amanda (#777) 02-01-15

Sitting in front of my favorite coffee shop were Amanda and her male friend. I forget his name. Aarrrggg! That's what happens when you refuse to be photographed, your name is instantly forgotten. Ironically, as I explained the project, he seemed more positive, while Amanda was shy and reluctant. I showed her my photostream and asked if she was familiar with Flickr. She said that it was sort of like Photobucket. Close enough.

She is from Sebring, FL. I said that you don't meet too many folks from Sebring, andshe agreed. I said that I have a nephew from Frostproof, and I thought that it was close to Sebring. Amanda said that it was about an hour away, not THAT close.

Amanda is a Speech Therapist at Memorial Hospital, in Sarasota. She has been there for nine months and loves it. I told her that I was familiar with speech problems with Parkinson's Disease, and she treats such patients. Often the drink with a straw due to swallowing difficulties. She was trained at the University of Central Florida, in Orlando. In less than 40 years it has grown the student body to over 60,000!

Bob