Holly
I was walking home from downtown on Toronto’s Bloor Street in the late afternoon. The light was fading and I had no expectation of meeting another stranger for my Human Family project, but I did have my camera around my neck.
This woman passed me at a real good clip and I got barely a glimpse as she went by. Something about that glimpse and her determined stride intrigued me and I picked up my own pace. As we approached the Bloor Viaduct which carries pedestrians, cyclists, cars, and subway trains over the Don Valley Parkway, an idea began brewing in my head.
As I followed this woman, I was aware of the Bloor Viaduct and its suicide barrier ahead of us and felt motivated to use that setting to create a portrait if she would consent. I hustled and finally overtook her and I hate to say it but I “ambushed” her from behind. She was kind enough to remove her headphones while I explained my wish to photograph her for my project, making use of the “luminous veil” for a unique background. She was surprised by my request but very obliging and friendly. I explained background of the project as we walked together. Meet Holly.
Holly struck me as energetic and full of life and good will. I thought, as I took her photo, that there was a remarkable contrast between this lively woman and the suicide barrier behind her, forming the background element for the portrait.
Holly is 44 and was born in a small town on the U.S. border at the foot of Lake Huron – one of the first Canadian towns my wife and I experienced on a summer camping trip prior to becoming Canadians. She was walking home from her job as a Health Resources Policy Analyst for the provincial government. We walked together to the eastern end of the viaduct, at which point I turned south for home. I apologized for slowing down her exercise walk and she laughed “Oh no. It wasn’t really. My mother was a fast-walker and I guess I picked up the habit from her.” All I could think is that she must be very fit as a result. When I asked her what her greatest challenge in life has been she thought for a minute and said “Going back to school in my 30s and retraining for a new career.” She started out as a Nutritionist before becoming a Policy Analyst. Her message: “Don’t be afraid to try new things.”
Thank you Holly for indulging my interest in meeting strangers and taking photos for The Human Family project on Flickr. I enjoyed our impromptu acquaintance and I’m going to make a point of walking faster to improving my fitness!
This is my 178th submission to The Human Family Group on Flickr.
You can view more street portraits and stories by visiting The Human Family.
Holly
I was walking home from downtown on Toronto’s Bloor Street in the late afternoon. The light was fading and I had no expectation of meeting another stranger for my Human Family project, but I did have my camera around my neck.
This woman passed me at a real good clip and I got barely a glimpse as she went by. Something about that glimpse and her determined stride intrigued me and I picked up my own pace. As we approached the Bloor Viaduct which carries pedestrians, cyclists, cars, and subway trains over the Don Valley Parkway, an idea began brewing in my head.
As I followed this woman, I was aware of the Bloor Viaduct and its suicide barrier ahead of us and felt motivated to use that setting to create a portrait if she would consent. I hustled and finally overtook her and I hate to say it but I “ambushed” her from behind. She was kind enough to remove her headphones while I explained my wish to photograph her for my project, making use of the “luminous veil” for a unique background. She was surprised by my request but very obliging and friendly. I explained background of the project as we walked together. Meet Holly.
Holly struck me as energetic and full of life and good will. I thought, as I took her photo, that there was a remarkable contrast between this lively woman and the suicide barrier behind her, forming the background element for the portrait.
Holly is 44 and was born in a small town on the U.S. border at the foot of Lake Huron – one of the first Canadian towns my wife and I experienced on a summer camping trip prior to becoming Canadians. She was walking home from her job as a Health Resources Policy Analyst for the provincial government. We walked together to the eastern end of the viaduct, at which point I turned south for home. I apologized for slowing down her exercise walk and she laughed “Oh no. It wasn’t really. My mother was a fast-walker and I guess I picked up the habit from her.” All I could think is that she must be very fit as a result. When I asked her what her greatest challenge in life has been she thought for a minute and said “Going back to school in my 30s and retraining for a new career.” She started out as a Nutritionist before becoming a Policy Analyst. Her message: “Don’t be afraid to try new things.”
Thank you Holly for indulging my interest in meeting strangers and taking photos for The Human Family project on Flickr. I enjoyed our impromptu acquaintance and I’m going to make a point of walking faster to improving my fitness!
This is my 178th submission to The Human Family Group on Flickr.
You can view more street portraits and stories by visiting The Human Family.