agreeable strangers V
one door closes, another one opens…
the shift from film to digital photography enabled me to return the darkroom to a bedroom. Some decisions have unforeseen results.
Having adopted the kids there would be less time for photography and little time to travel. The Agreeable Strangers project is the unanticipated result - photographing people that I would come across on a daily basis - at the store, on the street, parks and places in daily life. It would have been possible but time consuming using film. With digital photography you can be more spontaneous. If you have 20 minutes before going out you can be immediately productive in the digital realm. There is far less preparation and more time on generating images.
Yankee’s, Jams and Jellies, an International World market favorite…. he grows the fruit trees and plants, picks the fruit, and makes the jams and jellies. He has an unbelievable variety of jams and jellies, and, the fruit tree seedlings for sale! He spent about 2 years learning his craft from a woman in south Florida who mentored him.
Yankee is a former Navy helicopter pilot.
Cathy… traveled to Florida in 2012, bought a house and moved here a year later from Spring Lake in upsate, NY, near Rochester. She and her husband lived and work in NY but never visited the Big Apple!. This is the second time I've run into her at the International World Market - a very large Flea Market that boasts a Circus performances, Aztec Fire Dancers, and a live gator show - all FREE every weekend.
Steve, at the laundromat… was born in Tennessee and has lived in Pinellas county most of his life. He has a back problem and various screws in his back from a fall. He's a good 'ole southern boy who reported he never really got along with his stepfather who had just died - "we had at least 25 fights." Steve doesn't walk unobtrusively into any room. He came through the laundromat, dropped his bag & plastic bucket overflowing with dirty laundry and the metal door slamming loudly behind him. He knew his way around the machines, reporting " I'm usually here around 5am." After he got his laundry going, I declined the beer he offered and we talked - about his ex's, but mostly his back operations, showing me a pictures of the screws in his back.
Bob and Anthony live nearby and are both horticulturists. They work hard, lovingly care for, and enjoy their yard. Riding my bike on an early, hot, summer morning I stopped to talk. Even though they had been working since first light, (to avoid the heat of the day), and were dirty from hours on their knees pulling weeds - they agreed to making this picture. They are good people!
James - humanist… You meet interesting people at the VA. James was waiting for a bus back to Clearwater. I noticed the emblem on the front of his jacket, "American Humanist Society".. I went back and struck up a conversation. At one point he asked, "are you a humanist"? I said, "probably but I'm not a member." He' was born in Arnold, PA, was married "briefly" and subsequently moved to Florida. That's about all we got to share before the bus pulled up!
Kelly, an award winning Resource Officer employed at Bay Pines. She was one of the first women to serve aboard a US Navy ship. Kelly has 2 kids, the oldest is 19. She is interesting, and eager to talk!
Karen volunteers for Veterans In Need Foundation. Their motto is "Veterans Helping Veterans." She lives in Tampa and is dropped off at rest stops in the Tampa Bay area including the northbound Skyway Bridge and the Hillsborough County rest area's. They drop her off in the morning and is there most of the day selling patriotic caps and badges, as well as soliciting contributions for this veterans support group.
Karen was disabled in hit-and-run car accident and now unable to drive. She gets $595 a month disability payment. She's 61 and has a 37 year old son, Calvin, who she hopes will settle down and provides grand kids to play with. She's doubtful it will happen.
Damian at the Cloisters, nyc… hearing the sound of a guitar and I followed it to the Chapter House and his soft playing. He was waiting for his weekly preschool group who come for book readings and songs.
I sat and listened. After a bit he stopped and we talked. His group hasn't shown up, explaining it was a very cold winter day, the wind was blowing off the Hudson River, and the holidays just concluded. He wasn't sure any would show up!
David was born in the Bronx for his day job is the house musician for these small groups for the Met, The Cloisters and Lincoln Center. He has a band that plays all over the metropolitan area.
His father just retired for the second time he said and "his second wife keeps him busy." He enjoys his life and is happy.
Nico was playing at the Largo Mall. He arrived from Romania 3 years ago. As I approached I noticed his sign... although crudely drawn he included a venmo address for contributions in addition to cash in his violin case. I thought that was impressively entreprenurial. He says his english isn't to good, so is a bit reluctant to speak. It was getting dark so I left him to earn what he could to care for his 3 kids