Mohammad
He was standing in front of a coffee shop and called out to me, asking how I liked my camera. I said “Fine” and he started asking if it was an Olympus. I crossed the street and said it was and I asked if he liked cameras. That’s when he mentioned a few cameras he owned, including a Canon and a Nikon. When I asked if he was a collector he said “I’ve had a few.” When I asked what was his favorite he replied (without hesitation) “My Nikon F3.” He told me what year it was and how much it is worth today. Meet Mohammad.
Our conversation proceeded and was camera focused. It was then that I told him about my Human Family photography project and asked him if he would participate. He was curious and said that would be fine. I suggested we move a few steps down the covered sidewalk to get a bit more light and as he was parking his coffee cup, I told him he could bring it with since I would do a head and shoulders portrait. A few quick photos later, we continued our conversation with me directing it away from cameras and toward him and his life.
Mohammad is 54 and came to Canada at age 26 from his native Guyana. His reason for coming was common to most immigrants: For a better life. The best thing that has happened in his life? “My daughter. She’s 26 and she’s definitely the best thing that ever happened to me. My marriage didn’t work out that well (divorced 15 years ago) but my daughter is my pride and joy.” When I asked what kind of work he has done, he said quite a few things. The ones I recall are furniture moving and McDonalds. “I’m on disability now, though. Kidney problems and high blood pressure.” He pointed to his legs which were like tree trunks and slipped off a slipper to show me a badly swollen foot. I asked him if he was getting good medical care and he assured me he was.
When I asked him for a message he would like to share with those who see his portrait he said “Encourage your children to get as much education as possible. It will serve them well in life.” He then added, almost as an afterthought “Don’t smoke or drink in front of your children. If you have to smoke or drink, do it away from your children.”
I thanked Mohammad for participating in my project and wished him better health. I offered to send him a copy of the photo but he declined, saying he could request it later if he changed his mind since I had given him my contact card.
This is my 842nd submission to The Human Family Group on Flickr.
You can view more street portraits and stories by visiting The Human Family.
Mohammad
He was standing in front of a coffee shop and called out to me, asking how I liked my camera. I said “Fine” and he started asking if it was an Olympus. I crossed the street and said it was and I asked if he liked cameras. That’s when he mentioned a few cameras he owned, including a Canon and a Nikon. When I asked if he was a collector he said “I’ve had a few.” When I asked what was his favorite he replied (without hesitation) “My Nikon F3.” He told me what year it was and how much it is worth today. Meet Mohammad.
Our conversation proceeded and was camera focused. It was then that I told him about my Human Family photography project and asked him if he would participate. He was curious and said that would be fine. I suggested we move a few steps down the covered sidewalk to get a bit more light and as he was parking his coffee cup, I told him he could bring it with since I would do a head and shoulders portrait. A few quick photos later, we continued our conversation with me directing it away from cameras and toward him and his life.
Mohammad is 54 and came to Canada at age 26 from his native Guyana. His reason for coming was common to most immigrants: For a better life. The best thing that has happened in his life? “My daughter. She’s 26 and she’s definitely the best thing that ever happened to me. My marriage didn’t work out that well (divorced 15 years ago) but my daughter is my pride and joy.” When I asked what kind of work he has done, he said quite a few things. The ones I recall are furniture moving and McDonalds. “I’m on disability now, though. Kidney problems and high blood pressure.” He pointed to his legs which were like tree trunks and slipped off a slipper to show me a badly swollen foot. I asked him if he was getting good medical care and he assured me he was.
When I asked him for a message he would like to share with those who see his portrait he said “Encourage your children to get as much education as possible. It will serve them well in life.” He then added, almost as an afterthought “Don’t smoke or drink in front of your children. If you have to smoke or drink, do it away from your children.”
I thanked Mohammad for participating in my project and wished him better health. I offered to send him a copy of the photo but he declined, saying he could request it later if he changed his mind since I had given him my contact card.
This is my 842nd submission to The Human Family Group on Flickr.
You can view more street portraits and stories by visiting The Human Family.