510/600 - Eric
I was bicycling home from my class in downtown Toronto, having photographed my previous Stranger, Franklyn, on campus. I had put my camera into my backpack and had no expectation of another Stranger encounter. That is until…
I saw this interesting face from the corner of my eye as I biked past Bridgepoint Active Healthcare (a rehab hospital) on my way home. Of course his big black cowboy hat caught my eye as he sat in a wheelchair outside the hospital with a bandaged foot elevated. I thought he had a very interesting rugged look to go with the hat.
As I approached him he met me with a “What’s happening, my man?” I climbed off my bike and said “I’ll tell you what’s happening. My name is Jeff and I’m doing an amateur photography project…” (the usual rap) finishing with “I thought you’d make a great subject for my project. What do you say?” He gave a casual “Sounds ok so far” response. I tossed in my offer to send a copy of the best photo and he said “Still sounds ok.” A man of few words. I asked if he had a few minutes and he said “I don’t know. I’m waiting for my Wheel-Trans bus to take me to another hospital for a treatment. I’ve got a vascular problem in my leg.” “That doesn’t sound good” I said and he agreed. “I guess we’d better get this done if your transit is about to arrive.”
I asked if I could wheel him a few meters to have a cleaner background of stairs behind him and he said “Fine.” I made sure he then had his brake on and he did. When I asked if he would mind removing his wrap-around sunglasses he said “Sure.” To my pleasure, he had striking eyes to complete the photogenic look for a good character portrait. I also asked if I could remove the eyeglasses hanging from the neck of his sweatshirt (a distraction) and he said “Sure. Forgot they were there.”
I found out Eric is 65 and is from Newfoundland on Canada’s Atlantic coast. He came to Toronto in the 1960s, like many other Newfoundlanders, looking for employment. He’s done a bit of many things including longshoreman, but said his main occupation was as a roofer until he had to retire. I asked “Isn’t that a pretty dangerous job?” He replied “Second only to being a cop.”
Just then his ride arrived and he was told to get a move on because the vehicle was behind schedule. I helped roll him to the ramp and gave him my card, asking him to email me for a copy of the photo. He said he would. I wished him well with the leg and he wished me the same with my project.
Thank you Eric for participating in 100 Strangers. You are Stranger #510 in Round 6 of my project. I hope your leg gets better and you can return home soon.
Update: I received an email from Eric's health professional saying that Eric had told her about the 100 Strangers encounter and showed her my card. He asked if she could request the photo because either his email wasn't working or he was having trouble with it. I gladly sent it via her and got a nice email telling me what a great photo it was of him and how nice the project photos look. Nice outcome.
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/
To browse Round 4 of my 100 Strangers project click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/sets/72157639207561566/
To browse Round 5 of my 100 Strangers project click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/sets/72157643120947043/
510/600 - Eric
I was bicycling home from my class in downtown Toronto, having photographed my previous Stranger, Franklyn, on campus. I had put my camera into my backpack and had no expectation of another Stranger encounter. That is until…
I saw this interesting face from the corner of my eye as I biked past Bridgepoint Active Healthcare (a rehab hospital) on my way home. Of course his big black cowboy hat caught my eye as he sat in a wheelchair outside the hospital with a bandaged foot elevated. I thought he had a very interesting rugged look to go with the hat.
As I approached him he met me with a “What’s happening, my man?” I climbed off my bike and said “I’ll tell you what’s happening. My name is Jeff and I’m doing an amateur photography project…” (the usual rap) finishing with “I thought you’d make a great subject for my project. What do you say?” He gave a casual “Sounds ok so far” response. I tossed in my offer to send a copy of the best photo and he said “Still sounds ok.” A man of few words. I asked if he had a few minutes and he said “I don’t know. I’m waiting for my Wheel-Trans bus to take me to another hospital for a treatment. I’ve got a vascular problem in my leg.” “That doesn’t sound good” I said and he agreed. “I guess we’d better get this done if your transit is about to arrive.”
I asked if I could wheel him a few meters to have a cleaner background of stairs behind him and he said “Fine.” I made sure he then had his brake on and he did. When I asked if he would mind removing his wrap-around sunglasses he said “Sure.” To my pleasure, he had striking eyes to complete the photogenic look for a good character portrait. I also asked if I could remove the eyeglasses hanging from the neck of his sweatshirt (a distraction) and he said “Sure. Forgot they were there.”
I found out Eric is 65 and is from Newfoundland on Canada’s Atlantic coast. He came to Toronto in the 1960s, like many other Newfoundlanders, looking for employment. He’s done a bit of many things including longshoreman, but said his main occupation was as a roofer until he had to retire. I asked “Isn’t that a pretty dangerous job?” He replied “Second only to being a cop.”
Just then his ride arrived and he was told to get a move on because the vehicle was behind schedule. I helped roll him to the ramp and gave him my card, asking him to email me for a copy of the photo. He said he would. I wished him well with the leg and he wished me the same with my project.
Thank you Eric for participating in 100 Strangers. You are Stranger #510 in Round 6 of my project. I hope your leg gets better and you can return home soon.
Update: I received an email from Eric's health professional saying that Eric had told her about the 100 Strangers encounter and showed her my card. He asked if she could request the photo because either his email wasn't working or he was having trouble with it. I gladly sent it via her and got a nice email telling me what a great photo it was of him and how nice the project photos look. Nice outcome.
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/
To browse Round 4 of my 100 Strangers project click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/sets/72157639207561566/
To browse Round 5 of my 100 Strangers project click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/sets/72157643120947043/