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motherless

homeless man with face markings, san francisco, may 2006

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homeless eric in soma. eric used to freight hop and had a circuit he would follow seasonally. about eight years ago, on his sf stop, he got hooked bad on heroin and thus got stuck.

he figures it's too much trouble trying to move on; he'd just get sick, and he wouldn't be able to put aside enough to hold him until the next fix. everything now is shooting up and hustling his next fix. so he stays.

he was in prison in new mexico some time before and has prison tattoos up and down his arms. he managed to get away with them except for an inch by inch section on his left arm; his last. that got him nine extra months.

he grew up in the foster system. his parents killed themselves when he was five (carbon monoxide asphyxiation). his mom was a hooker and his dad was a junky.

he agrees that was fucked up for a five year old but says everything's been fucked up like that.

(5/8/06)

136 Flickr comments:

itsmepete says:

another strong portrait and words...excellent stream

...posted 8/21/2010 11:29:40 AM

devinecorp says:

this is the guy in the documentary called the "decline of western civilizastion part '"spelled wrong- of course (gutterpunks in califorina) the decline of western civlization one was 1980 about punk in la part 2 was like mid 80s about heavy metal and part 3 was in 1996 and this guy was one of the man people they interviewed about life on the streets and the crust/gutter punk way of life..I cant believe no one else pick up on his big M tatto on his face and the dots-no question its him....

...posted 10/15/2009 5:53:49 AM

jilly~bean says:

Dear jobseekingjohnny - thank you for sharing what you just did. I feel the same way you do and you put it eloquently.

Thank you,

Jill

...posted 6/24/2009 2:22:33 AM

jobseekingjohnny says:

What I find sad is that the first thing most of you see is poverty etc. None of the tags state the obvious which is: he is mentally ill and needs help.

We need more support in this country for people like him; just saying he's poor won't touch it at all.

They're not face markings, they're not art, they're signs of abuse. If you want to be kind, get the man to a good doctor. If/when health care is free, what will be your excuse? "He "chooses" to live that way?" He's not homeless, he's sick. End of rant.

...posted 6/24/2009 1:52:17 AM

hopefulfortomorrowandtoday says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called soulful group, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

...posted 6/7/2009 2:44:02 PM

hopefulfortomorrowandtoday says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called sad world, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

...posted 6/7/2009 2:43:44 PM

tsienni says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Humanistic, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

...posted 6/5/2009 9:22:07 AM

[[Jennifer]] says:

Powerful is the word for it

...posted 5/2/2009 1:52:50 AM

Mo-C says:

i think he was one of the gutter kids in the movie The Decline of Western Civilization(part 3)

...posted 4/17/2009 9:45:43 PM

carniebee_jones says:

this guy was in a documentary about the street punk scene in hollywood back in the 90s called 'decline of western civilization III' but he said his name was sage and his wasn't so thin.

...posted 12/17/2008 8:23:29 AM

Andreas who has left [deleted] says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called All People Are Equal, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

...posted 8/26/2008 8:03:26 AM

holgerlippmann says:

oh man, what a destiny! when i look in this mans eyes and read this story... thanks for giving this piece of life away, this piece of love.

...posted 6/11/2008 8:23:12 PM

Joy Ryder says:

The photograph says it all, absolutely tragic

...posted 6/4/2008 2:08:19 PM

Kenneth B. Deckard says:

the shot along with the story is amazing.

thank you for this!

...posted 5/23/2008 3:57:54 AM

Jacobsmamma says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called ALL ABOUT US PEOPLE, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

--
Seen in your poverty (my selections) set. (?)

...posted 4/21/2008 10:50:41 PM

thedeming says:

Brings tears to my eyes. I see him being a successful person in another life.

...posted 4/7/2008 5:41:05 AM

bradster612002 says:

I know this guy, when we met he called himslef sage, a street name I guess. I talked with him several times, he was on heroin then but I knew him as just a good guy. I have a few pics of him from the times we met, he would sleep and hang out around the buss station in SF.
I hope he is OK, good guy.

...posted 2/16/2008 9:46:02 AM

yell saccani says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called V.I.P. ROOM, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

...posted 1/9/2008 11:15:35 PM

haggardprincess says:

Thank you for letting me know. I'd been asking every squatter that came through town if they had seen him..... i'll always have the memories and the tattooes he put on my skin... he made me who i am today and gave me the strength to be the strong person i am now.... even though he almost destroyed me in the process... he'd been trying to die for so long i can only hope it was peaceful... hoping it wasn't brutal and i don't want to know either way... just thank-you i'd been thinking about him for a long time.

...posted 11/30/2007 12:30:50 PM

stoneth says:

haggard.princess: sadly eric passed away; i have this picture to his sister

...posted 11/1/2007 9:30:29 PM

haggard.princess says:

Oh and the M is for the X-files guy that has the M tattooed across his face (I forget what character) i was there when he got it done. he was a military brat and i'm sure i know you too.... kevindemattea

...posted 10/31/2007 5:00:41 PM

haggard.princess says:

Hate to wreck a beautiful, sad, story. I travelled with "eric" for 3 years. His parents, and grandparents (well maybe they're gone by now) are alive and well in Michigan. I've talked to them. Very surprised he gave you his real name because he always went by Sage when i was with him. By the way, he's a compulsive liar and will tell you any story just to gain sympathy or a buck. He is truly a damaged human being... I loved him more than i'll ever love anyone in my life (i'm pretty damaged myself) but i felt i should say something because he makes people poour out sympathy for him when he does have a family that's prob. really concerned about him (they mailed me his birth certificate at one point). They won't do anything for him but what would you do if your son had chosen to be a homeless junky? yes chosen, he's been out there longer than most i was with him from 1993-1996. Glad to see he's still alive... or was. If you see him again could you let him know someone in oregon still loves him (don't want him in my life but..) he should hear that somebody loves him.

...posted 10/31/2007 4:58:13 PM

knudsburg says:

Your fantastic emotional picture is my winner!
Please add this photo to
The Black and white this disowned - Emotions (1 for 3)

...posted 10/31/2007 3:35:10 AM

freetoliveit says:

poster person for 200,000 others, the dream has nightmares.
beware what we wish for ,it may never materialize

...posted 9/21/2007 7:57:38 AM

yell saccani says:

hi i'm a member of a group called anarchisticis souls and would love to have your photo added to our group

anarchisticis souls

...posted 8/20/2007 8:16:32 PM

Paulswife says:

If I had not ready your story, I would have thought the guy was a fairly clean-cut type (minus the bad face tattoos [or what the heck are they about?] , if that's what you could call them). Just goes to prove that you cannot always judge a book by its cover - to me personally, I would have no idea he was so messed up. Am I alone in this thinking?
Regardless, you captured a great facial expression and the story only makes it all the more interesting.

...posted 8/1/2007 4:31:46 PM

Blondie_LG says:

I'm impressed....you are soooo talented!!!!

...posted 8/1/2007 4:18:53 PM

Jack.ed says:

wow powerful stuff - amazing lives all people lead

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

...posted 7/16/2007 11:38:00 AM

robinbenito says:

wow... I love the storys to your portraits!! the images are fitting them so well

...posted 5/26/2007 1:43:23 PM

vingt_deux says:

i nearly always shoot in color (i love the color in the world!), but your portraits remind me how incredible b/w is. thanks for that.

...posted 5/2/2007 12:43:56 AM

kevindemattia says:

His street alias is "Sage"...I've seen him on the streets of SF for about 5 years now.
He's actually interviewed in the Penelope Spheeris film "Decline of the Western Civilization, part III"..a film that documents the lives of various gutter punks. I actually think he was a military brat and his dad used to beat the shit out of him...he ran away, trainhopped for a while, and wound up in good ole San Franpsycho. Also, even tho it's hard to see, there are 13 dots around his left eye, for "M" the thirteenth letter in the alphabet...I forgot what the "M" signifies...

...posted 4/26/2007 10:57:41 AM

Daniel A. Norman says:

Special Invite to RAW Street Photography group

...posted 3/27/2007 4:45:56 AM

rudolf james says:

any chance you could enable us to view the properties of the picture? I'm really trying to get into portrait shooting and your light management is excellent...

...posted 3/24/2007 1:36:12 AM

lifeeee says:

wow.

...posted 3/19/2007 9:46:46 PM

AsianTulip says:

That's a sad story... I hope he'll do well...

...posted 12/10/2006 2:21:41 PM

Olympos says:

The "M" on his face is remiscent of a tattoo used in the X-Men comics, meaning "mutant." In that world, mutants are outsiders unwelcome in "proper" society. In our world, a lot of younger people relate to that particular comic out of similar feelings of alienation. I wonder if that's what he had in mind when he drew it on his face. Heartbreaking photograph and story.

...posted 11/24/2006 7:26:25 PM

.Mohammad Taheri says:

thank you for the his life story

...posted 11/21/2006 9:12:35 AM

짜디그노스 (Zadignose) says:

You're right tulley, those eyes are fantastic... really revealing of all he has seen. Thanks, of course, to the photographer.

...posted 11/14/2006 10:18:29 AM

tulley63 says:

They are great shots - all the homeless series. I think some credit should go to the individuals who have followed these amazing lives that have crafted such engaging character in their faces.

Oh, one other thing stop with all the obvious gush about "the eyes". Geez, im just waiting to read some line about eyes being the window to the soul or something.

...posted 11/13/2006 4:44:01 PM

짜디그노스 (Zadignose) says:

Submit to Judge, Jury, Executioner and hope to survive the coming apocalypse.

Note: The Judge is an arbitrarily cruel bastard, and there are no real benefits to joining this group. But don't tell him I said that.

...posted 10/15/2006 11:22:52 AM

w00dy says:

great shot

...posted 10/2/2006 7:47:23 PM

santa&binder says:

chet baker expression

...posted 9/26/2006 3:09:34 PM

flavour404 says:

Stories like Eric's just made me realise how lucky I am, and how I have nothing to complain about. I wish him luck, and some peace. Powerful stuff.

...posted 9/22/2006 8:38:48 PM

edensoul says:

ur pictures talk to us. the added story to each picture are much better than the titanic!!! so much of love.

...posted 7/30/2006 6:19:42 PM

lost4words says:

Amazing.

...posted 7/26/2006 6:47:16 PM

_bjarne says:

shit, man! You got me with this one. Weonderful portrait with a great story to it! Excellent work.

I have seen that some photographers have the ability to get that special look on the peoples eyes, you have that abaility. Don't know what you do, but one can almost tell that you have shot this, by looking at the eyes.

thanks!

...posted 7/12/2006 9:30:53 PM

faiththebrooker says:

tatuaggi un po' pesanti........

...posted 7/11/2006 7:33:03 PM

Jesus Guzman-Moya says:

¡Impresionante!
Its Amazing picture and history.

...posted 6/27/2006 1:06:40 PM

* Honest * says:

I have no words !

...posted 6/17/2006 9:11:42 PM

mahalie says:

powerful

...posted 6/12/2006 4:47:30 AM

Blobborita says:

His eyes are...."no words".., Great, just great picture!!!

...posted 5/26/2006 4:31:47 PM

exhibitj says:

I feel so lucky to have parents who provided a stable environment for me to grow up in...

...posted 5/24/2006 3:08:19 AM

L_Michaela_J says:

You are amazing!!!!!

...posted 5/22/2006 6:59:27 AM

wahoo-yahoo says:

He went hunting with Cheney??

...posted 5/21/2006 12:49:01 PM

anandajoy says:

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

The battles we gripe about daily pale in comparison.

...posted 5/18/2006 4:05:51 PM

carf says:

Another one of your powerful masterpieces, both as a picture and as a story, with much more than what simply meets the eye.
I am so glad there are people like yourself around to put so much care into doing both parts so well.

Gregory - The Hummingbird Project (Projeto Beija-Flor)

...posted 5/18/2006 3:15:53 AM

Sue, Toronto says:

I can't stop looking at your photos. Powerful - yes. Disturbing - very. Important - incredibly.

...posted 5/15/2006 10:15:06 PM

ArcherPhoto says:

I think powerful is the word

...posted 5/14/2006 8:18:58 AM

lil miss priss says:

incredible and powerful shot.

...posted 5/13/2006 2:23:17 PM

*.¨.✦.¨.* says:

hey
great shot
love the eyes in your shots
cheers! :)

...posted 5/13/2006 2:22:40 AM

lejaz says:

Looking at these homeless people you've so sensitively captured, I can only think...'they deserve so much BETTER from life!" Here we sit with our computers and our cameras and fancy digital toys looking at these people who have nothing but the shirts on their backs. Some will blame them for their failures, but I think WE failed THEM!

...posted 5/12/2006 6:06:09 AM

sMacshot says:

Why doesn't even begin. Why was he born, I can't help but wonder. Devastating.

...posted 5/12/2006 5:00:56 AM

* laura says:

damn' hard story to bear on one's back...

...posted 5/11/2006 8:50:26 PM

isolatediguana says:

Please add this amazing image to: www.flickr.com/groups/theface/

...posted 5/11/2006 12:31:51 PM

corcam says:

very powerful..intense ofcourse like all your amazing work... He is very Handsome for what he has been through... beautiful Man

...posted 5/11/2006 5:40:33 AM

iamchrisjett says:

Amazing.

...posted 5/11/2006 3:40:14 AM

btezra says:

~such an intense presence~

...posted 5/11/2006 1:49:54 AM

enjae says:

Haunting.

...posted 5/11/2006 12:52:39 AM

trishlet says:

damn

...posted 5/11/2006 12:12:35 AM

*RICCIO "il colore del ricordo inganna" says:

this is one of your best shot!

...posted 5/10/2006 11:17:45 PM

becca_1890 says:

such expressive eyes, a tragic story, this picture really does says 1000 words

...posted 5/10/2006 10:55:40 PM

stoneth says:

Thanks everyone!!! Your comments mean a lot! :))

the charity ego: tx! :)) i'll speak norwegian when google translate does ;)

dave watts: danka danka! i'll check it out!

Flipped Out: i saw him in lenswork! great stuff :)) thx!

sengster: like anyone i guess... friendship, interest, respect, ... :)

shout out: redart, lewishamdreamer, Hans van de Vorst, walk4fotos, burks_berlin, original_ann, Vit Hassan, Effin' ToeKnee, **Ahmad Kavousian, bradfordfoto, ReeeeN, StanD70, PortugePunk, Lady Vervaine, nathalie pahud-briquet, teenage jesus... thanks again! ...for sticking around ...or happening by again ;)

...posted 5/10/2006 10:23:19 PM

curly_exp( l)osure says:

not only love the portraits.. but the stories behind them.. I love the way u just take the time to talk to them, not just take their pic and leave. Keep it up.

...posted 5/10/2006 10:15:48 PM

Vmal says:

Your portraits and biographies are simply amazing!

...posted 5/10/2006 7:20:15 PM

teenage jesus says:

strong story.
I'm almost shocked by those tattoos. they are so different from those like in "hard knock leif". I don't see any effort to appear 'better looking'. they look more like marks left by life on him, or at least It seems he wanted them to appear like this.

...posted 5/10/2006 2:05:32 PM

I Shutter says:

Another powerful shot! Love your work...

...posted 5/10/2006 1:29:35 PM

SophieMuc says:

you're portraits are so powerful! they rock!! :)

...posted 5/10/2006 10:38:27 AM

soporific_menagerie says:

How do you reach out to someone so damaged? How? Yet looking at him, you wouldn't know (apart from the tatts).

...posted 5/10/2006 8:37:53 AM

rrrrrrrrenster says:

You've captured some of the tragedy in his life in your shot.

...posted 5/10/2006 7:15:02 AM

Ozyman says:

u dig deep, way to go!

...posted 5/10/2006 5:10:40 AM

nathalie booth says:

powerful great work

...posted 5/10/2006 3:14:08 AM

Flipped Out says:

Open mouth shot is always very interesting. BTW, do you know of the photographer named Bill Jay? His work is similar to yours. He just was featured in LensWork (Mar-Apr 2006). As usual, excellent work.

...posted 5/10/2006 2:51:39 AM

caen500 says:

www.51outdoor.net/

...posted 5/10/2006 2:04:39 AM

Jimbodiny says:

I would not have put that story with that face in a matching situation. Very cool to spend time getting to know the story though. You do good work.

...posted 5/10/2006 1:48:06 AM

mapgoblin says:

dumbfounded. great portrait, great words.

...posted 5/10/2006 12:57:31 AM

Lady Vervaine says:

My God, Stoneth. Your stuff stops me in my tracks every time. I'm humbled.

...posted 5/9/2006 11:14:18 PM

The Norwegian says:

a very strong portrait indeed...

...posted 5/9/2006 10:59:00 PM

Sarah Rifaat says:

wow. you really know how to capture people. The stories make me reflect on my own life.

...posted 5/9/2006 10:46:23 PM

jilly~bean says:

Very interesting story. Mesmerizing portrait. I wish he could have had a better life.

...posted 5/9/2006 10:00:51 PM

wanderinghome says:

Haunting image, and sad story.... Please add this to:
www.flickr.com/groups/stories/

...posted 5/9/2006 6:19:50 PM

PortugePunk says:

Wow. What a life. Amazing he's made it at all, honestly!

...posted 5/9/2006 6:13:56 PM

MrVerde says:

So good.

...posted 5/9/2006 4:50:12 PM

great_sea says:

intriguing portrait and powerful story. thank you.

...posted 5/9/2006 4:50:11 PM

muskva says:

luv it! pick and story...

...posted 5/9/2006 4:28:11 PM

StanD70 says:

there seems to be a "reaching out for comfort" in his eyes, but also the knowledge that things won't be well for quite some time...sounds like he's been through a lot, and his eyes are just trying to contain it all. great shot. great history.

...posted 5/9/2006 4:24:18 PM

ignacio_lpm says:

Life is hard. What a difficult experience. That is a powerful title, to match the story and image. Great work as always Tomas.

...posted 5/9/2006 4:18:36 PM

lejson says:

such a powerful portrait!
Made me feel sad.
Thank you so much for sharing this with a long story.

...posted 5/9/2006 3:47:20 PM

JesseBarker says:

great portrait.. I feel so sorry for him, I like to think everyone can find the bright spots of life if they look hard enough. So sad to see someone give up

...posted 5/9/2006 3:29:17 PM

dave watts says:

another classic. I can recommend a book - Stuart - A Life Backwards, by Alexander Masters. Biography of a homeless guy in Cambridge, England - sad, amusing and touching.

...posted 5/9/2006 2:53:43 PM

ReeeeN says:

I`m addicted 2 your portraits.

...posted 5/9/2006 2:31:46 PM

Carlos Ferguson says:

again great portrait that make me think about life a little bit more.

...posted 5/9/2006 1:52:26 PM

brancusi7 says:

Your work belongs in a national collection.

...posted 5/9/2006 1:29:23 PM

* Ahmad Kavousian * says:

Great emotion

...posted 5/9/2006 1:02:43 PM

le mec qui n'est pas says:

it's very moving.

...posted 5/9/2006 12:59:23 PM

Ben° says:

very emotional story...

...posted 5/9/2006 12:47:00 PM

sobakasu says:

Another extraordinarily powerful and despairing image.

...posted 5/9/2006 12:27:40 PM

-Amelie- says:

wonderful portrait!

...posted 5/9/2006 12:27:31 PM

TjF Photography says:

Sad story, another great shot

...posted 5/9/2006 12:23:12 PM

Vít Hassan says:

Excellent portrait!
-------------------------------------------------------
!!! THE FACE !!!
Please,add this exceptional image to:
www.flickr.com/groups/theface/
--------------------------------------------------------

...posted 5/9/2006 12:19:57 PM

original_ann says:

Devastating. He doesn't even KNOW hope.

...posted 5/9/2006 12:05:59 PM

peacetedford says:

powerful image..god bless eric..he has forgot his own beauty

...posted 5/9/2006 12:02:27 PM

DaveWilliams says:

Another excellent shot and sad but intriguing story.

...posted 5/9/2006 11:39:20 AM

Didier-Lg says:

Your portraits are all beautiful. This one is really powerful. I love them all.

...posted 5/9/2006 11:18:08 AM

Paradise Regained says:

poor eric - he really never stood a chance did he? everyone runs out of superlatives describing your work, tomas. this one is a classic. his expression is absolutely haunting. great capture.

...posted 5/9/2006 11:15:08 AM

esther (off) says:

great portrait!

...posted 5/9/2006 10:50:14 AM

*clairity* says:

You do beautiful work.

...posted 5/9/2006 10:45:14 AM

burks_berlin [AGAINST FLICKR-CENSORSHIP] says:

This a the land of hope and glory....

...posted 5/9/2006 10:25:57 AM

isolatediguana says:

absolutely stunning. a very moving portrait.

...posted 5/9/2006 9:27:43 AM

Serdjo says:

Very moving portrait and story. 1-2-3

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

CatastropheWaitress says:

amazing story with the photo. it adds to much life.

...posted 5/9/2006 8:22:52 AM

walk4fotos says:

Your lens probes deep into his soul, and captures the demons that haunt him, revealed in his eyes

...posted 5/9/2006 8:16:25 AM

bennyjewell says:

dude how intense is this guy so many sories i bet love em man

...posted 5/9/2006 8:15:17 AM

.zack! says:

Very impressive portrait. (1-2-3)

...posted 5/9/2006 7:55:19 AM

_Hans van de Vorst says:

The picture is as powerful as the story. Stunning and disturbing.

...posted 5/9/2006 7:46:42 AM

jot.de says:

very strong!!!!
Love your portaits!!!!

seen on 123

...posted 5/9/2006 7:42:17 AM

lewishamdreamer says:

Brilliant in how simple and yet how disturbing the photo and words actually are.

...posted 5/9/2006 7:34:49 AM

shane rishell says:

wow, it really is powerful. the expression on his face is stunning.

123

...posted 5/9/2006 7:29:25 AM

TobiTobi ( now www.ipernity.com/home/tobitobi) says:

intersting story, great image. Wonderful that you talk to the people! Thanks for joining your meet up's!

...posted 5/9/2006 7:28:37 AM

fipi says:

powerful indeed

...posted 5/9/2006 7:25:20 AM

Navelfluff says:

A strong shot again, with an interesting story. Thanks.
(via 1-2-3)

...posted 5/9/2006 7:25:15 AM

woman must dance! says:

Wonderful face, heartbreaking story. There are so many things I want to say, but I'm not articulate enough. (Unless, of course, you speak Norwegian)

...posted 5/9/2006 7:19:52 AM

A Glimpse of the World says:

Terrific, powerful image. Bravo!

...posted 5/9/2006 7:16:09 AM

princess_sorrow_gerona says:

Hay mucho dolor y locura en esos ojos. Increible y expresiva mirada.

...posted 5/9/2006 7:15:32 AM

RedArt photographer says:

powerful portrait!!!

...posted 5/9/2006 7:11:04 AM

sbaracchina says:

:(

...posted 5/9/2006 7:09:20 AM

OnoLulu - Laurence Guenoun says:

Powerful shot.

...posted 5/9/2006 7:09:00 AM