Robert
I found myself walking up Yonge Street in the heart of downtown Toronto when I noticed the man in front of me wearing a big fur hat and carrying a Nikon camera body with a motor drive and body cap, but no lens. Since we were heading in the same direction and at about the same pace, I amused myself coming up with fantasy stories to explain the man with the lens-less camera. Several blocks later, we met at a stoplight and I told him I had been behind him, going the same way, and trying to dream up explanations for the lens-less camera. I pointed to my own camera which was around my neck and said “As an amateur photographer I notice these things.” He was initially a bit surprised to learn that a stranger had been following him up the street and speculating on his camera (who could blame him for that?) but he quickly seemed to size me up as perhaps a bit quirky but harmless and told me he’d dropped his camera and wrecked the front element of his zoom lens. He was downtown with the body and had just bought two prime lenses which were in his shopping bag. Meet Robert.
We walked together and I found out Robert is 60 and is retired from a job with Hydro (the electricity company) where he worked initially in the construction branch. At the time of retirement, he was managing a group providing Information Technology help as well as client services. He’s also an amateur photographer and is excited about trying out the new lenses. When I asked what type of photography he’s doing he said “I’m still trying to discover my genre but I’ve done street photography and enjoyed it.” He asked me how I like my camera and pointed out it would be good for street photography because it is so light and compact compared to his rig. I told him it was perfect for my purposes and I had a natural segue into my Human Family project and asked him if he would be willing to participate.
Robert was happy to take a couple of minutes but said he was on his way to meet someone for lunch. We chatted as we walked and I said I would keep an eye out for a doorway or someplace where we could get out of the busy noon-hour pedestrian traffic. Our friendly chat continued for a couple of blocks when Robert said “I’m just alerting you that I’m going to be turning west at Bloor Street.” How considerate. I said “Oh, thanks for the head’s up. We’d better get with it.” Just then we were approaching a covered section of sidewalk where a high rise building is going to be built and I quickly posed Robert there.
Photos taken, we exchanged contact information at the corner before parting company with a friendly handshake. Robert’s advice to the project is “Be sure to enjoy life. Retirement is fun but don’t wait for retirement to enjoy yourself. Do it along the way.”
This was my second stranger today who was super-easy to talk to and easy to connect with. I think we both had the sense that a much longer conversation would have been preferred. Robert wished me well with my photography and I told him to enjoy his lunch and his new lenses.
Thanks, Robert, for being such a friendly subject and for participating in my Human Family photo project. Remember: Don’t drop your new lens!
This is my 170th submission to The Human Family Group on Flickr.
You can view more street portraits and stories by visiting The Human Family.
Follow-up: I received a very nice email from Robert.
“Thank you for detailing our experience yesterday. I really wish I had more time to chat as I found your approach to street photography interesting and would like to have investigated further with you…. Looking forward to seeing your work published. Perhaps we'll meet again one day. Would be nice.”
Robert
I found myself walking up Yonge Street in the heart of downtown Toronto when I noticed the man in front of me wearing a big fur hat and carrying a Nikon camera body with a motor drive and body cap, but no lens. Since we were heading in the same direction and at about the same pace, I amused myself coming up with fantasy stories to explain the man with the lens-less camera. Several blocks later, we met at a stoplight and I told him I had been behind him, going the same way, and trying to dream up explanations for the lens-less camera. I pointed to my own camera which was around my neck and said “As an amateur photographer I notice these things.” He was initially a bit surprised to learn that a stranger had been following him up the street and speculating on his camera (who could blame him for that?) but he quickly seemed to size me up as perhaps a bit quirky but harmless and told me he’d dropped his camera and wrecked the front element of his zoom lens. He was downtown with the body and had just bought two prime lenses which were in his shopping bag. Meet Robert.
We walked together and I found out Robert is 60 and is retired from a job with Hydro (the electricity company) where he worked initially in the construction branch. At the time of retirement, he was managing a group providing Information Technology help as well as client services. He’s also an amateur photographer and is excited about trying out the new lenses. When I asked what type of photography he’s doing he said “I’m still trying to discover my genre but I’ve done street photography and enjoyed it.” He asked me how I like my camera and pointed out it would be good for street photography because it is so light and compact compared to his rig. I told him it was perfect for my purposes and I had a natural segue into my Human Family project and asked him if he would be willing to participate.
Robert was happy to take a couple of minutes but said he was on his way to meet someone for lunch. We chatted as we walked and I said I would keep an eye out for a doorway or someplace where we could get out of the busy noon-hour pedestrian traffic. Our friendly chat continued for a couple of blocks when Robert said “I’m just alerting you that I’m going to be turning west at Bloor Street.” How considerate. I said “Oh, thanks for the head’s up. We’d better get with it.” Just then we were approaching a covered section of sidewalk where a high rise building is going to be built and I quickly posed Robert there.
Photos taken, we exchanged contact information at the corner before parting company with a friendly handshake. Robert’s advice to the project is “Be sure to enjoy life. Retirement is fun but don’t wait for retirement to enjoy yourself. Do it along the way.”
This was my second stranger today who was super-easy to talk to and easy to connect with. I think we both had the sense that a much longer conversation would have been preferred. Robert wished me well with my photography and I told him to enjoy his lunch and his new lenses.
Thanks, Robert, for being such a friendly subject and for participating in my Human Family photo project. Remember: Don’t drop your new lens!
This is my 170th submission to The Human Family Group on Flickr.
You can view more street portraits and stories by visiting The Human Family.
Follow-up: I received a very nice email from Robert.
“Thank you for detailing our experience yesterday. I really wish I had more time to chat as I found your approach to street photography interesting and would like to have investigated further with you…. Looking forward to seeing your work published. Perhaps we'll meet again one day. Would be nice.”