Tag: $2 portrait project
$2 Portrait Project: Tim & Talks-A-Lot
by Troy on Dec.29, 2009
Tim & Talks-A-Lot
You can read more about my $2 Portrait Project here.
One night after work I was out with Stuart having drinks at The Hi-Dive along the Embarcadero. As we left the bar we ran into Tiny, Tim, and a parrot named Talks-A-Lot just outside. Tim asked me for a cigarette and I gave him one, hoping the gesture would allow me to take a picture of his parrot. While I was photographing his parrot, Tim asked for some spare change and I told him about my project, to which he agreed.
Tim told me that Talks-A-Lot was actually not a parrot, but a cockatoo and that she was 23 months old. The bird seemed well trained as she stayed on Tim’s head the entire time we talked and often looked directly at either Stuart or myself seeming to smile.
I asked Tim and Tiny if they were from San Francisco, and they said no, they had moved out here from Chicago a few months ago. We agreed that Chicago was a beautiful city, albeit fiercely cold in the winter.
Tim told me they usually panhandled change on lower Market Street near the Embarcadero Bart/Muni station. He said they usually made around $12 each day, but today had only made 85 cents. He told me that on slower days Red’s Java House (next door to the Hi-Dive) would bring them out burgers and fries if they came by before closing time. But to feed 2 people and a parrot, Tim told me the average was $22 per day — which is 2 coffees in the morning, a small lunch, and a slightly larger dinner.
Around this time, Tim asked me for some more money for his chemotherapy medication called Cumatin. The medication was not only necessary, but very expensive and the city refused to subsidize any of the cost. Tim also told me he had had 18 heart attacks in his lifetime and was surprised he was still even alive. He seemed to have quite a bit of health issues and it was apparent that he was both concerned and feeling down about it.
I asked Tim where the 3 of them slept at night and he pointed me across the street to a parking lot beneath the Bay Bridge. When it rained, they sleep underneath an overpass South of Market. In both locations they have been harassed and robbed by other homeless and lost many of their last possessions. I asked Tim why they didn’t sleep in the shelters, if it was because of Talks-A-Lot. He said no, the shelter workers all love her, but they were also always running out of beds.
After smoking another cigarette and talking a bit more, Stuart and I decided to head our separate ways. And with that we told Tiny, Tim, and Talks-A-Lot goodnight and headed down the street.
You can see the collective whole of $2 Portraits from around the world here.
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$2 Portrait Project: Baby Elmo
by Troy on Nov.05, 2009
You can read more about my $2 Portrait Project here.
A few weeks ago, I was walking around Union Square shooting the mannequins in the windows of the surrounding shops. As I rounded the corner onto Stockton, Baby Elmo asked me for some spare change. I told Baby Elmo about my $2 Portrait Project and he agreed to pose for a few shots.
After I gave Baby Elmo his $2, he asked me for another $1 so he could buy a hot dog. He told me had had not eaten for two days and his stomach was becoming angry with him.
70-year old Baby Elmo moved from Hawaii to San Francisco in July to look for his wife and daughter. A relative had told Baby Elmo to meet his family in front of the Louie Vuitton store. So each day, he stands there on the corner and waits for them to show up. He seemed pretty sad that he had not connected with them yet.
Baby Elmo was most excited about seeing his daughter. He wanted to see how she was doing in school and if she had made any new friends since moving to The City. I told him he could go to the SFPD main branch on Bryant and file a missing persons report for his wife and daughter. He told me that would not be a good idea as he had several warrants for panhandling and one for petty theft.
About this time, another stranger approached Baby Elmo and dropped $1 in his cup. Baby Elmo smiled and thanked us both, as now he had enough money to go buy a hot dog.
And with that, I told Baby Elmo to have a nice day and headed down Stockton towards Market.
You can see the collective whole of $2 Portraits from around the world here.
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$2 Portrait Project: Bag Lady Betty
by Troy on Oct.31, 2009
You can read more about my $2 Portrait Project here.
A few days ago, I was shooting in the Upper Haight district with Travis Jensen, looking for stores with Halloween themed window displays. Bag Lady Betty approached us and asked for some beer money. I told Bag Lady Betty about my $2 Portrait Project and he agreed to pose.
Bag Lady Betty had moved to The City from somewhere in the Southern US around 35 years ago. In his earlier days he worked as a sound engineer with The Grateful Dead. Betty told us a lot about doing psychedelic drugs with band. Later he became a teacher at UC Berkley, but was later fired after an incident involving LSD.
Betty had a very hard time remaining still, flailing body in jerky motions and leaning on his shopping cart. He also had a difficult time paying attention to our questions, mostly rambling on about LSD.
After talking for a bit more about rock and roll, Travis and I told Betty goodnight, and headed on our way.
You can see the collective whole of $2 Portraits from around the world here.
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$2 Portait Project: Harvey
by Troy on Oct.22, 2009
This portrait is part of a project called “$2 Portraits.” The idea is that anyone who asks me for change, I will give them $2 in exchange for a portrait. While shooting, I will ask them a few questions in hopes of getting to know them better.
A few weeks back, I was headed over to the Coda Jazz Club to check out the David Alan Harvey (Magnum Photos) show along with friends and photographers Jeremy Brooks and Caliber member Julie Michelle.
As I headed towards Mission Street, Harvey approached me and asked for $1 in exchange for a Street Sheet newspaper he was selling. I told Harvey about the $2 Portrait Project and he agreed to let me take a few shots.
Harvey moved to San Francisco by way of Louisiana in the late 1980′s with his mother. He quickly got a construction job, was married, and had 7 kids. Back in those days, Harvey had a pretty nasty drug and alcohol problem, which slowly deteriorated all of his personal relationships. He hasn’t seen his wife or kids in a long time, even though he is sober these days. He seemed pretty upset about the loss of family contact.
Harvey also seemed really upset with the offices of Mayor Newsom and Governor Schwarzenegger for denying him access to SSI and housing. He also seemed to dislike the St. Anthony’s Foundation and especially Cecil Williams of Glide Memorial Church. He called Reverend Williams a “crook and a thief” and told me the reverend steals money from the weekly donations.
Harvey used to live at 19th & Capp, but “got into an argument with some Mexicans” and was evicted from his apartment. He now sleeps on the street and his only possessions are a change of clothes, a disc-man, and all 3 Guns ‘N’ Roses CDs. Harvey asked me if I liked Guns ‘N’ Roses, and I said yeah, they are actually one of my favorite bands.
At this point Harvey started to flag down other passers-by in hopes of selling more Street Sheets. As another stranger handed him $1, I told him to have a nice evening and headed over to Coda to meet my friends.
You can see the collective whole of $2 Portraits from around the world here.
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$2 Portrait Project: Willie
by Troy on Oct.14, 2009
This portrait is part of a project called “$2 Portraits.” The idea is that anyone who asks me for change, I will give them $2 in exchange for a portrait. While shooting, I will ask them a few questions in hopes of getting to know them better.
Last month I met photographers Greenkozi and RumNose for a Friday photowalk up Market Street. We met at Schroeder’s German Pub, and after a liter or two — headed out to make some photos.
As we neared the intersection of Market/Post/Montgomery, I noticed Willie from the corner of my eye. Willie had two tables set up and was selling items ranging from the King James edition of The Bible to pro/anti Obama buttons.
Willie asked me if I wanted to buy a button for $2. I told him I wasn’t really into collecting buttons and instead told him of my $2 Portrait Project. Willie told me he would both agree to a portrait as well as give me a button, so I paid him $2 and began shooting.
57 year old Willie moved to San Francisco in 1975 via the Greyhound Bus. It took about 4 days, but it was one of his best memories to date. Willie moved to San Francisco in because he had heard the weather was nice, the girls were nice, the weed was nice, and the Muni was free (?!?). To this remark we both laughed.
I asked Willie why he had so many Barack Obama buttons for sale, and he told me how much he hated Obama and figured “reverse psychology” was a good way to bring about change.
I didn’t understand what that meant, and decided to talk about music. Like myself, Willie’s favorite bands were Guns N Roses and Tom Petty.
Soon thereafter, another customer approached Willie’s tables. I took the chance to shake his hand and thanked him for the conversation. Willie wished me a good weekend as I headed up Market Street.
You can see the collective whole of $2 Portraits from around the world here.
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$2 Portrait Project
by Troy on Oct.07, 2009
Many days after work, I take a 2-3 hour walk around The City and aim wanderously with my trusty, yet entry-level Canon. I generally keep to myself and listen to music and occasionally smoke a cig or grab a beer.
In my experiences, I have realized that strangers generally prefer to remain that way, but with the important exception of our homeless.
There’s always a “hey” or “how ya doin” just around the corner if you’re willing to take the time and listen. But most of the time I am so focused on where I’m going to, I don’t take the time to listen and just return a “have a nice day” while I keep on walking.
After years of either giving an awkward nod, or just plain overlooking ignoring our homeless — I’ve decided to challenge myself to interact more with the other people out on the street and respond back with a little bit more.
A couple of weeks ago, I was out shooting with Thomas Hawk and saw him put this theory into practice.
We had crossed paths with Steve, who was sitting in front of the Gold Club asking for spare change. He wanted to go to the strip club to look at pretty girls. Thomas told Steve about his $2 Portrait Project, whereby he would pay anyone $2 for the chance to take their portrait. While setting up the shots, we asked Steve a few questions…
Where he was from? West Virginia.
Did he keep in touch with his family? No.
Kids? No.
It was clear early on in the conversation, Steve suffered from some sort of mental illness. His answers and questions were all over the place as he struggled to maintain eye contact. Steve talked non-stop, often interrupting our questions with an answer that did not make sense.
After talking a bit more, we said “goodbye” to Steve and headed further into SoMa.
I’ve started a set on Flickr for my new project, and you can see the collective whole in a Flickr group here.
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