Julia
I was in midtown Toronto getting my bicycle serviced and was told I could go somewhere for a cup of coffee and return in an hour or so. I crossed the street, got a coffee, and began walking. I passed her as she was using her smart phone and I was struck by her hair but couldn’t see her face. I walked past and by the time I realized I would like to meet her for my project, she had begun walking and crossed the street. Another opportunity lost to that dreaded foe: hesitation. Wait a minute, she paused and sat down on a doorstep. Hope is renewed. Oh no, a friend of hers appeared and they engaged in conversation. Throwing caution to the wind I approached and apologized for interrupting. I introduced myself and told her why I would like to photograph her. She laughed and said “We were just talking about my hair!” Her friend excused herself and said she should be on her way. A handshake later and Julia was no longer a stranger.
Julia told me she was just on break from her work and was waiting for her boyfriend to come by so she could hand him his lunch. “I only have a couple of minutes and we might get interrupted” she said. Beggars can’t be choosers and I was happy to have the few minutes. We were near a wood fence and I explained how I wanted to position her to use the unpainted wood as a background. Julia said “I’m afraid I’m not at all photogenic and never take a good photo.” I said “If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that, I’d be rich by now.” We made a few portraits and checked them on my camera display and were both pleased. Julia gave me the credit. Can you believe that? I asked to take one more with Julia turned partly away from the camera and looking over her shoulder. I’m glad I did. Both poses worked great.
Just then her boyfriend pulled up in a delivery truck and I joked that he was in the middle of a “big time photo shoot.” He laughed. I explained Julia was graciously helping me with my photography project. She handed him his lunch, they exchanged a kiss and he said he had to be on his way.
Julia and I chatted for a few more minutes. She told me she was born in St. Catherines not far from Niagara Falls but has lived all her life in Toronto. She is 36 which she said with a groan. I told her I will be 70 in a week and when she reaches my age she will be entitled to a groan. Her greatest challenge so far in life? “I’ve actually been pretty lucky. My biggest challenge has probably been health. I worked for several years as an editor and using a computer for hours on end really messed me up with musculoskeletal issues. I wound up leaving that world and got my current job which is in a health food shop just down the street. Now I couldn’t be healthier.” She sure looked healthy.
Her message to the world? “It’s all about thriving, not just surviving.”
Julia told me how much she liked the concept of The Human Family photo project. That’s this second time I heard that comment today.
Thank you Julia for sharing part of your break with me and for participating in The Human Family photography project. Keep on thriving.
This is my 129th submission to The Human Family Group on Flickr.
You can view more street portraits and stories by visiting The Human Family.
Julia
I was in midtown Toronto getting my bicycle serviced and was told I could go somewhere for a cup of coffee and return in an hour or so. I crossed the street, got a coffee, and began walking. I passed her as she was using her smart phone and I was struck by her hair but couldn’t see her face. I walked past and by the time I realized I would like to meet her for my project, she had begun walking and crossed the street. Another opportunity lost to that dreaded foe: hesitation. Wait a minute, she paused and sat down on a doorstep. Hope is renewed. Oh no, a friend of hers appeared and they engaged in conversation. Throwing caution to the wind I approached and apologized for interrupting. I introduced myself and told her why I would like to photograph her. She laughed and said “We were just talking about my hair!” Her friend excused herself and said she should be on her way. A handshake later and Julia was no longer a stranger.
Julia told me she was just on break from her work and was waiting for her boyfriend to come by so she could hand him his lunch. “I only have a couple of minutes and we might get interrupted” she said. Beggars can’t be choosers and I was happy to have the few minutes. We were near a wood fence and I explained how I wanted to position her to use the unpainted wood as a background. Julia said “I’m afraid I’m not at all photogenic and never take a good photo.” I said “If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that, I’d be rich by now.” We made a few portraits and checked them on my camera display and were both pleased. Julia gave me the credit. Can you believe that? I asked to take one more with Julia turned partly away from the camera and looking over her shoulder. I’m glad I did. Both poses worked great.
Just then her boyfriend pulled up in a delivery truck and I joked that he was in the middle of a “big time photo shoot.” He laughed. I explained Julia was graciously helping me with my photography project. She handed him his lunch, they exchanged a kiss and he said he had to be on his way.
Julia and I chatted for a few more minutes. She told me she was born in St. Catherines not far from Niagara Falls but has lived all her life in Toronto. She is 36 which she said with a groan. I told her I will be 70 in a week and when she reaches my age she will be entitled to a groan. Her greatest challenge so far in life? “I’ve actually been pretty lucky. My biggest challenge has probably been health. I worked for several years as an editor and using a computer for hours on end really messed me up with musculoskeletal issues. I wound up leaving that world and got my current job which is in a health food shop just down the street. Now I couldn’t be healthier.” She sure looked healthy.
Her message to the world? “It’s all about thriving, not just surviving.”
Julia told me how much she liked the concept of The Human Family photo project. That’s this second time I heard that comment today.
Thank you Julia for sharing part of your break with me and for participating in The Human Family photography project. Keep on thriving.
This is my 129th submission to The Human Family Group on Flickr.
You can view more street portraits and stories by visiting The Human Family.