Syd
We passed each other on Gould St. in downtown Toronto. I kicked myself for having been too slow on the draw to approach her for a street portrait. She would have made an excellent subject with her attractive features and compelling eyes, framed by beautiful wavy red hair. I paused and looked back to see that, rather than disappearing down the street, she had turned into the campus coffee shop. Taking a chance, I entered the shop and approached her as she was contemplating her order. I introduced myself and my project and she listened with friendly interest. “Sure” she said. “That would be fine.” Meet Syd.
I apologized for the interruption and she waved off my apology, saying she had time and was glad to help out. I suggested we step out onto the patio for some natural light and explained the project more fully and gave her my contact card with sample photos.
Syd was very comfortable as I framed the photos and she was eager to follow my minimal direction as to where to stand. I explained my process of taking a few photos to ensure success and after we viewed the results. She volunteered to move her bangs away slightly when she realized I was focusing on her eyes. I took another few photos and when we viewed them together we were both pleased.
Syd is a 19 year old first year university student who was born and raised in Toronto. When I asked how her first semester has gone she said it was going well. She has been too busy to really form a lot of social connections but that will come with time and she has retained friendships from high school. She wants to major in Criminology and would like to work with women caught up in the sex trafficking world. As we chatted I found out she grew up in a rather settled environment and I pointed out that she has chosen to study a very different world. She smiled and said “Yes, but people from any walk of life can experience problems.” How true.
Syd’s advice to her younger self was to be more open to new experiences. When I asked about any challenges she has faced in life she responded that she was diagnosed with alopecia at age 11 - a condition that causes one to lose their hair. “This is a wig” she said, indicating her attractive head of coppery red hair. I was surprised and told her that that it suited her to a T. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for a young girl on the brink of adolescence to lose her hair and I asked what had been most helpful to her in coping. She said it was having friends and family were very supportive and didn’t make too big a deal of it. I couldn’t help asking if her wig reflected the color her natural hair had been because she has the lovely, lightly freckled complexion of a redhead. “Yes” she said. “This is very close to the color my natural hair was.” I told her that I know a thing or two about redheads, being married to one, having two redheaded sons.
Syd is athletic and used to be passionate about soccer but school life hasn’t left her a lot of time for sports lately. She is, however, interested in drawing and has a part time student job in a butcher shop. Her message to the project was that we all have a duty to make the world a better place. I couldn’t agree more and was impressed by her maturity and her strong social conscience.
It had been a particularly enjoyable encounter with the lovely Syd. I told her I was glad she had decided to pause at the coffee shop when she did or we would not have met. I found her refreshingly positive and friendly and I’m sure she will do well in her chosen field and make a difference. We thanked each other with a warm handshake. It was time for her to finally get her cup of coffee and for me to head home on my bicycle.
This is my 779th submission to The Human Family Group on Flickr.
You can view more street portraits and stories by visiting The Human Family.
Syd
We passed each other on Gould St. in downtown Toronto. I kicked myself for having been too slow on the draw to approach her for a street portrait. She would have made an excellent subject with her attractive features and compelling eyes, framed by beautiful wavy red hair. I paused and looked back to see that, rather than disappearing down the street, she had turned into the campus coffee shop. Taking a chance, I entered the shop and approached her as she was contemplating her order. I introduced myself and my project and she listened with friendly interest. “Sure” she said. “That would be fine.” Meet Syd.
I apologized for the interruption and she waved off my apology, saying she had time and was glad to help out. I suggested we step out onto the patio for some natural light and explained the project more fully and gave her my contact card with sample photos.
Syd was very comfortable as I framed the photos and she was eager to follow my minimal direction as to where to stand. I explained my process of taking a few photos to ensure success and after we viewed the results. She volunteered to move her bangs away slightly when she realized I was focusing on her eyes. I took another few photos and when we viewed them together we were both pleased.
Syd is a 19 year old first year university student who was born and raised in Toronto. When I asked how her first semester has gone she said it was going well. She has been too busy to really form a lot of social connections but that will come with time and she has retained friendships from high school. She wants to major in Criminology and would like to work with women caught up in the sex trafficking world. As we chatted I found out she grew up in a rather settled environment and I pointed out that she has chosen to study a very different world. She smiled and said “Yes, but people from any walk of life can experience problems.” How true.
Syd’s advice to her younger self was to be more open to new experiences. When I asked about any challenges she has faced in life she responded that she was diagnosed with alopecia at age 11 - a condition that causes one to lose their hair. “This is a wig” she said, indicating her attractive head of coppery red hair. I was surprised and told her that that it suited her to a T. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for a young girl on the brink of adolescence to lose her hair and I asked what had been most helpful to her in coping. She said it was having friends and family were very supportive and didn’t make too big a deal of it. I couldn’t help asking if her wig reflected the color her natural hair had been because she has the lovely, lightly freckled complexion of a redhead. “Yes” she said. “This is very close to the color my natural hair was.” I told her that I know a thing or two about redheads, being married to one, having two redheaded sons.
Syd is athletic and used to be passionate about soccer but school life hasn’t left her a lot of time for sports lately. She is, however, interested in drawing and has a part time student job in a butcher shop. Her message to the project was that we all have a duty to make the world a better place. I couldn’t agree more and was impressed by her maturity and her strong social conscience.
It had been a particularly enjoyable encounter with the lovely Syd. I told her I was glad she had decided to pause at the coffee shop when she did or we would not have met. I found her refreshingly positive and friendly and I’m sure she will do well in her chosen field and make a difference. We thanked each other with a warm handshake. It was time for her to finally get her cup of coffee and for me to head home on my bicycle.
This is my 779th submission to The Human Family Group on Flickr.
You can view more street portraits and stories by visiting The Human Family.