323/400 - Paul
Kensington Market is a colourful area with a strong mixed immigrant flavour. It is just west of Toronto’s downtown core. My wife, who was shopping for some dishware for our home, suggested I might want to wander with my camera while she took care of the shopping. That was a timely invitation for me to pursue my project, especially since dropping temperatures, snow flurries, and high winds are forecast and photo walks are going to be far less inviting for the upcoming week.
I met this man after 10 minutes of strolling the streets and I thought he had a friendly face. When I approached him with my project request he said he’d be glad to help me out but didn’t have a lot of time because he was working today (Sunday) in the designer men’s wear store just down the street. We shook hands. Meet Paul who turned out to be the Manager of Tom’s Place, a rather well-known Toronto clothier specializing in quality men’s wear. (www.toms-place.com)
There are interesting backgrounds in Kensington Market (mostly graffiti walls) but we weren’t near one so I posed him against the window of a breakfast restaurant and focused on his face which I found very photogenic. Paul said “Please excuse my aged appearance but I’m just coming through a rather nasty battle with cancer and it hasn’t been easy.” I’m surprised by how often people will agree to not only help me with my project out of the goodness of their hearts but sometimes confide rather personal things about themselves. We connected on the cancer topic because everyone knows someone who has experienced cancer and luckily my connections with cancer have been mostly people who have experienced successful treatment. I could see that Paul was genuinely happy to hear this – not just for himself, but for friends and family members I was telling him about. He has just completed chemo and his upcoming appointments will be for follow-up rather than for treatment.
We exchanged cards and parted with me wishing him well and congratulating him on his successful treatment. A few minutes later, as I was recording my notes, I realized that Paul had told me his age but it had gone in one ear and out the other. I decided to try and catch him in the store to be reminded of his age and the store turned out to be larger than I expected and another staff member helped me locate Paul. When he couldn’t be found right away (he was on the second floor) I explained he had been kind enough to pose for my photo project and although he’d told me his age for the caption story, I’d forgotten it. The man said “He told you his age? His REAL age? I’ve worked with Paul for 20 years and I don’t know his age. It’s a state secret.” I said “You’re kidding! Well, maybe it wasn’t his REAL age” and we both laughed.
Just then Paul was located and greeted me with a big smile. “You came in!” he said. I explained I’d forgotten his age for the caption and he said “Fifty six, five six.” I told him I felt honoured as his co-worker said his age is a state secret. The co-worker said “All I knew about Paul’s age is that he gets younger each year rather than older.” I said I was working on that myself but not having much luck.
I left the store with what I knew would be a nice portrait of Paul but also with that great feeling we get when our project encounters bring us into contact with friendly, trusting people of such good will.
Thank you Paul for participating in 100 Strangers. You are now Stranger #323 in Round 4 of my project. I wish you continued good health and hope your story will inspire others who may be facing medical challenges of their own.
Additional note: I emailed Paul his photo and my write-up, wanting to make sure that I had not infringed on his privacy in sharing our conversation here. He wrote back a very nice note saying " I haven't had many detailed or professional photo's of myself since my journey began so it was a little difficult looking at my weathered appearance I think you captured the reality of my condition If my story can be an inspiration to anyone going through hardship I have no problem." I told him that what I saw in his face was friendliness and strength of character and that his generosity in sharing his face and story in 100 Strangers was greatly appreciated. I wish him well.
Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page
To browse Round 1 of my 100 Strangers project click here: www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/sets/72157633145986224/
To browse Round 2 of my 100 Strangers project click here:www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/sets/72157634422850489/
To browse Round 3 of my 100 Strangers project click here: www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/sets/72157635541434065/
323/400 - Paul
Kensington Market is a colourful area with a strong mixed immigrant flavour. It is just west of Toronto’s downtown core. My wife, who was shopping for some dishware for our home, suggested I might want to wander with my camera while she took care of the shopping. That was a timely invitation for me to pursue my project, especially since dropping temperatures, snow flurries, and high winds are forecast and photo walks are going to be far less inviting for the upcoming week.
I met this man after 10 minutes of strolling the streets and I thought he had a friendly face. When I approached him with my project request he said he’d be glad to help me out but didn’t have a lot of time because he was working today (Sunday) in the designer men’s wear store just down the street. We shook hands. Meet Paul who turned out to be the Manager of Tom’s Place, a rather well-known Toronto clothier specializing in quality men’s wear. (www.toms-place.com)
There are interesting backgrounds in Kensington Market (mostly graffiti walls) but we weren’t near one so I posed him against the window of a breakfast restaurant and focused on his face which I found very photogenic. Paul said “Please excuse my aged appearance but I’m just coming through a rather nasty battle with cancer and it hasn’t been easy.” I’m surprised by how often people will agree to not only help me with my project out of the goodness of their hearts but sometimes confide rather personal things about themselves. We connected on the cancer topic because everyone knows someone who has experienced cancer and luckily my connections with cancer have been mostly people who have experienced successful treatment. I could see that Paul was genuinely happy to hear this – not just for himself, but for friends and family members I was telling him about. He has just completed chemo and his upcoming appointments will be for follow-up rather than for treatment.
We exchanged cards and parted with me wishing him well and congratulating him on his successful treatment. A few minutes later, as I was recording my notes, I realized that Paul had told me his age but it had gone in one ear and out the other. I decided to try and catch him in the store to be reminded of his age and the store turned out to be larger than I expected and another staff member helped me locate Paul. When he couldn’t be found right away (he was on the second floor) I explained he had been kind enough to pose for my photo project and although he’d told me his age for the caption story, I’d forgotten it. The man said “He told you his age? His REAL age? I’ve worked with Paul for 20 years and I don’t know his age. It’s a state secret.” I said “You’re kidding! Well, maybe it wasn’t his REAL age” and we both laughed.
Just then Paul was located and greeted me with a big smile. “You came in!” he said. I explained I’d forgotten his age for the caption and he said “Fifty six, five six.” I told him I felt honoured as his co-worker said his age is a state secret. The co-worker said “All I knew about Paul’s age is that he gets younger each year rather than older.” I said I was working on that myself but not having much luck.
I left the store with what I knew would be a nice portrait of Paul but also with that great feeling we get when our project encounters bring us into contact with friendly, trusting people of such good will.
Thank you Paul for participating in 100 Strangers. You are now Stranger #323 in Round 4 of my project. I wish you continued good health and hope your story will inspire others who may be facing medical challenges of their own.
Additional note: I emailed Paul his photo and my write-up, wanting to make sure that I had not infringed on his privacy in sharing our conversation here. He wrote back a very nice note saying " I haven't had many detailed or professional photo's of myself since my journey began so it was a little difficult looking at my weathered appearance I think you captured the reality of my condition If my story can be an inspiration to anyone going through hardship I have no problem." I told him that what I saw in his face was friendliness and strength of character and that his generosity in sharing his face and story in 100 Strangers was greatly appreciated. I wish him well.
Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page
To browse Round 1 of my 100 Strangers project click here: www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/sets/72157633145986224/
To browse Round 2 of my 100 Strangers project click here:www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/sets/72157634422850489/
To browse Round 3 of my 100 Strangers project click here: www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/sets/72157635541434065/