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death rides tonight

young drifter ash, san francisco, may 2006

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young homeless drifter ash. he says he was named for an ancient death god or such and goes by ash for short. he grew up as a ward of the state. says his parents were "fuckers." he got the star tattoo on his face when he was 13.

says he's a "traveler." has been hopping freight trains for years. he's off to louisiana tonight.

but now a moment alone with a cigarette and a bottle. then to party with his friends. then there's a freight train he'll hop in oakland with his crew.

(5/23/06)

143 Flickr comments:

OiLiLy says:

holy hell this is great ..he looks like a character from a film...i guess he is ...film called *life*

...posted 12/3/2009 5:53:52 PM

pinkzibra says:

Incredible. Three years on, I wonder what his story is today...

...posted 9/11/2009 4:14:36 AM

nomadfeet++ says:

more than tattoo, it looks like he's been branded.

...posted 9/5/2009 4:54:10 PM

wiley09 says:

your portraits are just so good

...posted 4/8/2009 8:59:11 PM

comfort_of_winter says:

Simply amazing portrait.

...posted 2/3/2009 4:24:11 AM

Kirstenv says:

Wow, beautiful picture. Your portraits of the "street kids" are very impressive and I think it's great that you tell their stories as well.

--
Seen in someone's favorites. (?)

...posted 10/26/2008 9:42:48 PM

My.name.is.mud. says:

all of your pictures are so beautiful.

...posted 10/14/2008 8:16:47 PM

Garrett Brown Photography says:

amazing title

...posted 8/14/2008 1:10:30 AM

[Mariam] says:

Quite the beautiful bone structure he has. Nose aswell.

...posted 7/24/2008 5:53:35 AM

Trista! says:

i also like his star on face !

...posted 7/17/2008 5:53:05 PM

jnmerrit says:

i didn't think people still hopped trains.

...posted 5/14/2008 11:23:59 PM

India Eileen says:

I'm sorry, but he reminds me of a really updated version of Indiana Jones
:D

...posted 3/4/2008 8:44:58 PM

amandak2323 says:

This picture let's your imagination wander. It's wonderful and I adore it.

...posted 1/31/2008 6:46:11 PM

ami_vox says:

He's beautiful.

...posted 1/31/2008 6:42:22 AM

nina*muoric says:

this is the best photo i ´´ve ever seen. he reminds me the man i loved at most... our lost son...:( i would like to fav it 1000 times

...posted 11/10/2007 2:28:08 PM

Jasmin Cormier says:

How'd you get that texture on the gloves?

...posted 9/24/2007 1:15:41 AM

saibia says:

Super, amazing!

...posted 9/13/2007 2:43:54 PM

playfullydark says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Gloved and Smoking Men for Women, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

...posted 8/27/2007 7:32:22 AM

monikica_081 says:

great work...

...posted 7/6/2007 9:54:36 PM

Donna Francé says:

I love this foto...a fave!

...posted 5/6/2007 4:45:02 PM

alex guelff says:

wow

...posted 5/2/2007 12:07:18 PM

Paul Anatta says:

could you post a unthouched photo... it is amaizing how expressive are... how could i learn to do that.... thnks

...posted 4/28/2007 4:19:25 PM

Påĺm†ŕèêҒяẻąҝ says:

yet another... WOW!!!!!!

...posted 4/14/2007 4:18:29 AM

ESCAPISTAS says:

que buena foto. and the title makes it artwar.
www.extinta.com

...posted 3/27/2007 4:37:57 AM

Paul Ballen says:

Great portrait! ---www.paulballen.blogspot.com

...posted 11/29/2006 3:50:46 PM

Briannahm says:

All of your work is absolutely beautiful

...posted 11/20/2006 8:22:34 PM

WatermelonSugar says:

This is a great portrait fully perfect

...posted 11/2/2006 10:12:09 PM

Bernardo Batista says:

you have some really beautiful portraits

...posted 10/9/2006 3:16:48 PM

BeeS and StickS says:

I absolutely love this photo. Amazing portraits! So glad I came across your page. greets!

...posted 9/13/2006 2:16:27 PM

stoneth says:

Thanks!!!

damien_p58: getting going on that :)
Sawrah: just try to make a connection personally :) try to minimize the existence of the cam
Tampen: yes :)
centrifuga: yes ;))))) !!!!
Enoz: just asked if i could take his picture :))

...posted 8/2/2006 5:30:07 PM

Enoz says:

Please, please, please tell me how you approched him? Like the way you ask him for a few shots? Uhrm poses? or not... Things like that, I'm very interested in this.

...posted 8/1/2006 4:29:03 PM

lost4words says:

Wow, this is good.
I'm sat at your feet, man.

...posted 7/26/2006 6:52:54 PM

jenandben2004 says:

you can feel where he's been and where he's going through your shot. Beautiful.

...posted 7/19/2006 4:05:51 PM

Ro Halfhide says:

A hobo... didn't know they still exist. Maybe this person has a good life?

...posted 7/19/2006 9:34:25 AM

camdens_mom says:

I wonder if he's read any Kerouac?

...posted 7/12/2006 6:25:01 PM

sphnx~ says:

Nice textures.

...posted 7/4/2006 9:46:49 PM

Zenith Phuong says:

thsi shot is indeed amazing...

fav

...posted 6/23/2006 2:25:47 PM

Diego-go-go says:

you make a wonderfull work, i realy like your photos...

...posted 6/23/2006 5:28:08 AM

mOdunique says:

Perfect capture!

...posted 6/22/2006 5:30:38 PM

~C o n i P e n d o l a~ says:

So sexy..

...posted 6/21/2006 7:26:20 PM

alonsodr says:

No words, my friend!!

Perfection!

...posted 6/20/2006 9:35:42 AM

Aerial² says:

simply Great. Really. It's a great Shot.

A²

...posted 6/16/2006 3:58:35 AM

Being Radha says:

great work...inspired portraits

...posted 6/13/2006 8:40:58 PM

Umby says:

It wasn't easy - you're a damn good photographer and stories' intensity equals shots - but I've chosen this one to fav in the end.

...posted 6/13/2006 11:01:20 AM

*RICCIO "il colore del ricordo inganna" says:

it's a great shot...

i like it!

...posted 6/13/2006 12:58:06 AM

vanjah says:

very special moment to have your cam and meet people like this.
btw.the guy is a living rock star withoout the holywood,the media and all the pr shitheads of the planet working for him....

...posted 6/12/2006 6:53:29 PM

ooneyanne says:

He reminds me of Indiana Jones.

...posted 6/11/2006 2:51:53 AM

dlemieux says:

excellent portrait!! and yes, nice texture on the glove

...posted 6/7/2006 6:31:20 PM

(Rimbaudian) says:

am I too late to tell you that this is freakin' amazing?

...posted 6/4/2006 1:01:04 PM

Harpersbizarre says:

You are really amazing........ This is exceptional.

...posted 6/4/2006 3:31:48 AM

azephalia|gone says:

so many comments.. wanted to say your homeles people portraits are so strong!

...posted 6/1/2006 8:05:24 PM

stumblintrucker says:

Another fave. I love the photos but I really like the stories. Thanks.

...posted 6/1/2006 2:51:00 AM

/// Gixxie says:

Outstanding ... simply outstanding !!

Ahh ... What life this traveler has ...

...posted 6/1/2006 2:07:22 AM

centrifuga*teatrante says:

do you really need another comment? I don't think, but I have to say it: thank you for your pictures!

...posted 5/31/2006 7:12:11 PM

maryanne_b says:

Brilliant shot. :)

...posted 5/30/2006 9:59:48 PM

..· ✈Katherina ➳·.. says:

I ... J..u..s..t ..... Love this !!!

...posted 5/30/2006 4:46:00 PM

tim72 says:

love all your portraits !!Amazing work!

...posted 5/30/2006 4:45:50 PM

Mariana Mattesco says:

The best portrait of this series. That one really reveals one´s individuality. Congratulations!

...posted 5/29/2006 2:23:00 PM

Lex in the City says:

Great catch of the mood, character and details.
So many things to look at in this one. Nice work! :^)

...posted 5/29/2006 3:19:44 AM

perlipo says:

Amazing portrait as usual, so much details, moving story too...

...posted 5/28/2006 9:32:45 PM

Mernas says:

the intensity of this image is incredible.. absolute fav

...posted 5/27/2006 11:09:06 PM

former.ly says:

your point of departure continues to amaze me...the stories, the images...a day walking with you and your eye and ears of all that you are told and see would be amazing!

...posted 5/27/2006 8:30:47 PM

Didier-Lg says:

Wonderful ! (once more ...)

...posted 5/27/2006 5:09:34 PM

♥♡Queen Cleopatra♥♡ says:

your portraits are amazing ♥

...posted 5/27/2006 4:20:53 PM

eyewash says:

this is hauntingly wonderful! well done!

...posted 5/26/2006 7:00:32 PM

Gosia Margosia says:

wonderful face. and the story. Your photos are so beautiful.

...posted 5/26/2006 4:33:32 PM

Tampen says:

Ditto all the above. I'm presuming that's f1.8 - the $75 lens, right ? So we can all afford to take pictures like this.....

...posted 5/26/2006 12:26:22 PM

Kris Kros says:

You are really one of a kind. Always coming up with very impressive portraits. You have your own signature on flickr, friend.

...posted 5/26/2006 9:21:19 AM

GButterfly says:

I'm amazed at yoru ability to capture these "hidden" people in our society. thank you for sharing their photos and thier stories - amazing work.

...posted 5/26/2006 4:47:12 AM

Bruna Marchioro says:

I'm speechless. I just kept adding your photos as faves.
You have some amazing pics in here. congrats.

...posted 5/26/2006 2:43:01 AM

cashhold says:

I'm so glad J_B told me about you. You are amazing.

...posted 5/26/2006 1:35:49 AM

jasperroz says:

Terrific portrait. as always................... :~)

...posted 5/25/2006 7:24:12 PM

Mark Hodson says:

astonishingly good shot and a great piece of photo journalism

...posted 5/25/2006 7:11:24 PM

meg.kat says:

amazing portrait.

...posted 5/25/2006 7:07:22 PM

Paradise Regained says:

Ashtar/Astarte/ Ashtoreth/Ishtar are all godess names as far as i know.. from the phoenecians, babylonians, hebrews etc... dont know of a death god called ash.. but i will do a little research...

...posted 5/25/2006 7:01:19 PM

cybermanikan says:

Oh and the only mythology I can think of with 'ash' as a name is Ashanti who are actually a people of Ghana (Africa). Izanami is the goddess of death in Japanese (Shinto) mythology. Shintoism trys to avoid the concept of death and considers it an 'unclean'. Buddhism took on the role of death conception for the Japanese.

...posted 5/25/2006 6:37:08 PM

manyfires says:

Wonderful.

...posted 5/25/2006 5:57:02 PM

cybermanikan says:

Indiana Jones and the train to freedom... awesome image.

...posted 5/25/2006 5:50:38 PM

Rodrigo Daguerre says:

Excellent

...posted 5/25/2006 4:02:19 PM

Carlos Ferguson says:

hey, just another incredible grart portrait.

...posted 5/25/2006 3:30:28 PM

L-ines says:

This picture is just stunning. There is nothing to say something against it and his story caused a chill in my bones.

A little bit reminds me it on Indianer Jones. Maybe it is the hat or it is the adventure in his look.

Great job!

...posted 5/25/2006 3:18:19 PM

GrandmaSondra says:

His eyes capture the look for adventure in a job he has to do.

...posted 5/25/2006 2:38:57 PM

ozczecho says:

Excellent portrait and story.

...posted 5/25/2006 2:07:54 PM

trishlet says:

it's the stories, the flesh behind the flesh, that draw me in to your work.

of course the images themselves are remarkable. but it is the way you contextualize them, make the people real, that matters so much.

thank you.

...posted 5/25/2006 1:49:16 PM

StanD70 says:

well, it looks like ed's point of view already said everything i was going to say but i think it bears repeating...

you do a superb job on your b&w conversions. great tonality and wonderul framing.

...posted 5/25/2006 1:38:52 PM

chrysanthemum-mom says:

my sentiments echo one above - i honestly cannot wait for your new portraits - checking my contacts photos throughout the day for new entries. they are intriguing and provoke such intense emotion.

...posted 5/25/2006 1:28:16 PM

pallamaio says:

intense

...posted 5/25/2006 1:10:06 PM

lynne bernay-roman says:

wonderful photo, the photo, the story, and the mood are very rich in texture. bwautiful work

...posted 5/25/2006 12:53:24 PM

Guillaume! says:

I love the 'stories behind', it reminds me alot of jack kerouac 'on the road'...

...posted 5/25/2006 12:40:26 PM

photomorti says:

damn dude amazing!!

...posted 5/25/2006 12:03:25 PM

boaz_zippor says:

beautiful.
the details.
the composition.
the moment.
niiiiiice.

really inspirational.
thanx
:)

...posted 5/25/2006 11:51:51 AM

HarshitSekhon says:

This is such a strong portrait ... thank you for the write-up ... makes it even stronger and makes me wonder ...

...posted 5/25/2006 9:50:58 AM

maz hewitt says:

Brilliant portrait.

...posted 5/25/2006 8:55:14 AM

teenage jesus says:

great, I love it!

...posted 5/25/2006 7:45:07 AM

artpunx says:

you never fail to catch the essence of those yu photograph. its wonderful

...posted 5/25/2006 7:23:21 AM

andrea francesco says:

Another great portrait, so deep and warm.

...posted 5/25/2006 7:22:30 AM

the mighty jimbo says:

another perfect portrait. bravo. you really should have an expo.

...posted 5/25/2006 4:42:28 AM

Janis Brass Photography says:

excellent portrait Stoneth, and the title is fantastic.

...posted 5/25/2006 2:55:31 AM

eye of einstein says:

wow this is so riveting...

true photo journalism of our culture

I know that these comments sound shallow in comparison to these images, but I am rendered speechless on a deeper level

...posted 5/25/2006 2:44:40 AM

metimbers2000 says:

You have captured the essence of yet another. Really great shot.

...posted 5/25/2006 2:00:33 AM

J_B - Johnny B says:

A+

...posted 5/25/2006 1:35:41 AM

Supervixen. says:

Wow. Wow. Wow.
just love your work.

...posted 5/25/2006 1:24:35 AM

Ben° says:

real good portrait !!

...posted 5/25/2006 12:57:53 AM

*Ivan* says:

Congratulations! This image is currently one of Flickr's most interesting photos for 24 may 2006. (It is on page one of the calendar view.) Would you please add it to the Interestingness pool? It would be a great addition!

...posted 5/25/2006 12:49:09 AM

♥ Unlimited says:

always amazing me...
i loved the texture on the glove!

...posted 5/24/2006 11:22:41 PM

7.oda says:

great great great shot!

...posted 5/24/2006 11:22:20 PM

waking_dream says:

Awesome; top-shelf again, as usual.
Your telling of his story reminded me of Hunter S. Thompson's book "Hell's Angels." My imagination was left to ride that train with Ash and his crew, into some unknown crazy danger...

...posted 5/24/2006 11:22:09 PM

original_ann says:

Gee... we never would think that kid in our elementary school would grow up to live this type of life... some of these kids started out in life virtually no different than any of us....

This portrait is stunning - - I particularly love the silver around his neck and the gloved hand/dirty fingernails - - the detail is gripping...

...posted 5/24/2006 11:12:28 PM

*Ivan* says:

great

...posted 5/24/2006 10:36:05 PM

velo_city says:

this one makes me stop ... and think ... (123)

...posted 5/24/2006 10:19:22 PM

Rod Monkey says:

Fabulous portrait, love it

...posted 5/24/2006 10:17:40 PM

myrte voogt says:

fantastic! the glove & star, expression..everything! great photo

...posted 5/24/2006 10:05:25 PM

Libertinus says:

yes, strong!!

...posted 5/24/2006 9:41:48 PM

anbri22 says:

a strong portrait! Well done!
123

...posted 5/24/2006 9:31:12 PM

*BOOJOO* says:

great as usual
textures and attitude is brilliant

...posted 5/24/2006 9:28:21 PM

harbourscape says:

This is a fantastic portrait! :)

1-2-3

...posted 5/24/2006 9:18:26 PM

jadefyr says:

I am so totally intrigued by these street photos. You capture so much with them.

...posted 5/24/2006 9:11:15 PM

Baala says:

just one of the greatest portaits i've seen

...posted 5/24/2006 9:09:18 PM

A V A says:

You are a truly gifted artist. Your portraits are outstanding.

...posted 5/24/2006 9:08:00 PM

drspam says:

you have to stop! you are making us all look bad!

...posted 5/24/2006 8:44:58 PM

ed's point of view says:

tons of character in this excellent portrait... also, great composition and postprocessing. your b&w conversions are perfect for your subject matter. i love the tonality of your b&w street photos.

though i don't expect you to share the process, i'd love to know what method you use to make these conversions.

...posted 5/24/2006 8:34:30 PM

amorph says:

Fabolously well done portrait!

...posted 5/24/2006 8:34:20 PM

Paradise Regained says:

Another amazing piece of work. Congratulations!

...posted 5/24/2006 8:18:38 PM

Bumfluff says:

Wonderful, gritty. His expression is something else..it seems as though he's a million miles away. Great work..

...posted 5/24/2006 8:03:58 PM

♥ SheCat ♥ says:

Very nice portrait!

1-2-3

...posted 5/24/2006 7:59:19 PM

Sawrah says:

How do you approach a shot like this? On a personal, artistic and emotional level? How do you get so close? I love this series!

...posted 5/24/2006 7:58:27 PM

D.Candian says:

sad!

...posted 5/24/2006 7:58:04 PM

danielledesirea says:

His eyes look familiar. Great pics.

...posted 5/24/2006 7:43:41 PM

TjF Photography says:

They just keep gettin' better, Nice!

...posted 5/24/2006 7:43:10 PM

muskva says:

luv the cig portraits!

...posted 5/24/2006 7:41:59 PM

Arandjel says:

I'm enthralled by this series of portraits...

...posted 5/24/2006 7:34:30 PM

Shushonet says:

wow, i really love this one. faved!

[1-2-3]

...posted 5/24/2006 7:31:25 PM