Agreeable Strangers
Time and money - two constraints we all have. Since adopting the grandkids they have become even scarcer - as any parent knows.
Retirement was to be “all about photography” - the freedom to take a few modest excursions and time to spend making photographs. As they, say life happens while you’re making plans. Given the new limits, how would I do it?
It’s easy to make a good photograph of a spectacular place - tons of people do. But that uses the two things in short supply with kids. I also realize that going to the spectacular venue means you have to see and do all the tremendous sights - so you never get to “be”, absorb, consider. Maybe be inspired.
Then it occurred to me many people come to Florida and take pictures. Why not make photographs close to home, as you’re doing life? So my perspective has shifted. I’m still learning to see, get comfortable and better, with the new approach. I think it will work out.
Agreeable Strangers is a long term project in that process. Since I carry my camera wherever I go, as I meet people, say hello, pause, and talk for a bit, I get around to asking to make their photograph.
I will add installments to the project from time to time and see how it evolves. Thanks for looking.
Carlos - at 5:30 in the morning
As I left home to go to Tampa at 5:30am on a Friday morning I stopped at a light. Looking to my right I saw this guy waiting at the bus stop, opened the window and said “hello”. He then asked how far I was going then asked for a ride.
“Sure, hop in.”
Carlos is an auto mechanic, 8 years, heading to work. He saw a bike on a car ahead of us… “I used to be a grand prix bike racer. Turns out he got an ulcer and has a rubber esophagus so had to stop racing. Recently he had his stuff stolen from his apartment and suspected his landlord, who has MS. I dropped him off at Circle K.
As I began to drive away I thought “I should get his picture” and headed back. I went in and made this picture.
Hopefully I’ll run into him again.
Cathy, retired nurse
Friday morning at the Auburndale Diner for breakfast with 3 friends - a local place we’d never been to before in Central Florida. It was a busy place from 6am opening, ( I got there at 8:30a - that’s what the waitress reported), till 11, when I left.
We were looking at a map spread out on the roof of the car. Cathy came out and asked “if we needed any help?” We talked a bit. Cathy grew up in Central Florida - “my Dad taught me everything about plants, hunting, fishing, trapping, raising cattle and living in Florida”. She went on to tell a few of the spots we should check out in the area.
Dominique, chef
Dominique was at the car repair shop. I stopped for an oil change and he came in after a 4 mile walk to pick up his car. He came to America and worked for Marriott Corp. in DC as Head chef and consultant. After Marriott he moved to Largo and started Cafe Largo, a french restaurant right near us. We did eat there once and had a very nice evening - thank you Kaitlin and Danny! He just sold the Cafe and is semi-retired. Dominque was leaving this afternoon to consult another restaurateur who was opening a place in Atlanta.
(He was very hot, sweaty and out of breath - summer in Florida. I didn’t have the heart to ask him to remove his sunglasses - from France, probably a master spy anyways :-))
Fran with Giselle
Fran is a volunteer at the Animal Shelter nearby. She rescued Giselle, and Hiedi - shy, looking out the opposite window. Both dogs are gentle and friendly. She was at the park to meet with a couple of other friends and their dogs to enjoy a picnic breakfast and a get-together for their dogs.
At the shelter she likes to spend time with each dog rather than just the obligatory walk, as she describes it “take the dog out of it kennel drag 'em around the property, then put them back in."
It’s obvious both dogs and owner are devoted to each other.
Al, Biker
Walking down the street, I said “hello”, and we both stopped and started talking. Very quickly he’s telling me about his bike “just around the corner” and wanted me to take his picture on it. It's electric-assisted and he's ridden the length and breadth of Sarasota County.
He's planning to ride to Tampa next, he just has to figure the best route. He's also going to get a "trailer" for the bike, get a chain saw, and do tree trimming, "I can get $50 per tree." Regretfully, I couldn’t spend more time with him as friends were waiting - he has big dreams!
Erika…
On a very hot day with the sun high overhead I saw Erika was standing at the side of the parking lot with a rag and a spray bottle of water with a sign "clean your windows." She didn't solicit business, just stood there, quiet and straight, waiting for it to come to her. I came over we started talking.
Erika said she'd recently separated from her husband, was homeless and out of work and couldn’t afford the rent, “but was better off”. Her kids were with a friend while she looked for a job, and did what she could to make money.
She spoke plainly, with a sense of pride and sureness that "she was going to make it". She never asked for a thing. A wonderful lady.
Stefano
We met on an Amtrak train in the Cafe car… there was an open seat opposite and I asked if I could sit. I asked the normal questions including “how far you going"?”
“Tampa.”
“Me too!”
“Where do you live?”
“Largo.”
Turns out we live 3 blocks away from each other and have been getting together every week for about 8 years now.
I’ve taken many pictures of Stefano - this is an earlier one that I still enjoy.