699/700 - Anthony
I was walking down Congress St. in Tucson Arizona, exploring a place I'd never been before. It was a few blocks of pubs and music-oriented stores and clubs with a few eateries mixed in.
I didn't have much expectation of another Strangers encounter because it was not an overly-busy spot with a lot of foot traffic but it was an interesting street. Suddenly my eyes zeroed in on this sharp-looking gentleman who was sitting on a restaurant patio with his wife. They had cool beverages on their table which was against a small railing which separated it from the sidewalk. It was his sense of style and his photogenic features that grabbed my attention.
I know it is poor form to intrude on people who are eating at a patio their food hadn’t yet arrived so I threw caution to the winds and said "I'm sorry to interrupt you but my name is Jeff and I just HAD to ask if I can take your photo for my photo project. You are one sharp-looking guy and you look great in that hat." He and his wife responded with open smiles and he said "Of course. Why not?" Meet Anthony. His wife was beaming.
I promised to only take a moment and two frames, taken over his wife's shoulder, was the extent of it. "Have a look" I said. "Just in case you don't realize what a sharp-looking guy you are." He laughed as he looked at my camera display and his wife was nodding her approval. She knows her husband is a good-looking guy. I apologized again for the interruption, thanked them and was on my way.
I had reached the end of the entertainment strip and was retracing my steps to my car when I noticed that Anthony and his wife were still at their table and their lunch had been served. I greeted them again and Anthony said "Hi Jeff." I was surprised that he remembered my name. I asked if the food was good and they said it was. I asked if they were from Tucson and they said "Oh no. We're from Chicago." I laughed. "Guess what? I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago but have lived in Toronto since the early '70s. "No kidding?" said Anthony. "Where on the south side?" "55th Street." "55th and where?" he asked. "55th and Woodlawn." He nodded. "Hyde Park. Well, what do you know?" It truly is a small world.
"I really shouldn't keep you from your meal but I really like the photo." "No problem, Jeff. It was good meeting you." "Enjoy your stay in Tucson." "You do the same."
Thank you Anthony, for tolerating the interruption on the patio with such grace and good humor and for participating in 100 Strangers. It was fun meeting another Chicagoan so far from Illinois. You are #699 in Round 7 of my project.
Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by the other photographers in our group at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page.
699/700 - Anthony
I was walking down Congress St. in Tucson Arizona, exploring a place I'd never been before. It was a few blocks of pubs and music-oriented stores and clubs with a few eateries mixed in.
I didn't have much expectation of another Strangers encounter because it was not an overly-busy spot with a lot of foot traffic but it was an interesting street. Suddenly my eyes zeroed in on this sharp-looking gentleman who was sitting on a restaurant patio with his wife. They had cool beverages on their table which was against a small railing which separated it from the sidewalk. It was his sense of style and his photogenic features that grabbed my attention.
I know it is poor form to intrude on people who are eating at a patio their food hadn’t yet arrived so I threw caution to the winds and said "I'm sorry to interrupt you but my name is Jeff and I just HAD to ask if I can take your photo for my photo project. You are one sharp-looking guy and you look great in that hat." He and his wife responded with open smiles and he said "Of course. Why not?" Meet Anthony. His wife was beaming.
I promised to only take a moment and two frames, taken over his wife's shoulder, was the extent of it. "Have a look" I said. "Just in case you don't realize what a sharp-looking guy you are." He laughed as he looked at my camera display and his wife was nodding her approval. She knows her husband is a good-looking guy. I apologized again for the interruption, thanked them and was on my way.
I had reached the end of the entertainment strip and was retracing my steps to my car when I noticed that Anthony and his wife were still at their table and their lunch had been served. I greeted them again and Anthony said "Hi Jeff." I was surprised that he remembered my name. I asked if the food was good and they said it was. I asked if they were from Tucson and they said "Oh no. We're from Chicago." I laughed. "Guess what? I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago but have lived in Toronto since the early '70s. "No kidding?" said Anthony. "Where on the south side?" "55th Street." "55th and where?" he asked. "55th and Woodlawn." He nodded. "Hyde Park. Well, what do you know?" It truly is a small world.
"I really shouldn't keep you from your meal but I really like the photo." "No problem, Jeff. It was good meeting you." "Enjoy your stay in Tucson." "You do the same."
Thank you Anthony, for tolerating the interruption on the patio with such grace and good humor and for participating in 100 Strangers. It was fun meeting another Chicagoan so far from Illinois. You are #699 in Round 7 of my project.
Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by the other photographers in our group at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page.