homeless "bagger" sitting on the sidewalk panhandling and selling oakland
athletics discount cards. he has some trouble speaking; but is not shy for it.
he lives in berkeley and is in sf to pick up his ssi check.
Another excellent portrait... Your shots where the person looks directly into the camera just grab my soul and hold it there, as if the person is looking at me, through me, into my mind... I am locked in that gaze, uncomfortable but unable to tear my eyes away... Feeling very ashamed that I and everyone else are not doing enough for these people, that they must live like this in the midst of all the wealth, comfort, extravagance and waste in the richest country in the world.
I always come back to your stream to replenish my vision of life and its backwaters. As my daily work is with street children, your images remind me of what future lies ahead for those who don't make it off the streets in their childhood. A sad reminder...........
I stayed for hours on your pictures the other day reading and looking and looking again they are simply awesome they have total purpose and everyone should have to read and look at these and realize how blessed they are.
Such pleading eyes.... what an incredibly detailed capture - - the textures on the brim of his hat, around his eyes and in the whiskers of his beard. As with so many of your captures, Stoneth, I sit and wonder 'why him?'...