109/200 - Fais
Today was a hot, humid summer day in Toronto and I was downtown at Yonge and Dundas Streets, one of the busiest intersections in the city and a corner which is usually filled with preachers, street musicians, political demonstrators, and an unpredictable mix of unusual characters.
Today was no different as there was a crown of onlookers surrounding a naked woman curled in the foetal position on the pavement with lettuce and other vegetables around her. She was covered just enough to not offend public decency but it was a very effective attention-getter for the vegetarian cause. Behind her was a phalanx of supporters carrying placards with messages such as “Meat is Murder” and “All Animals Have the Same Parts” and “Go Vegan.” They were obviously committed to the cause and their demonstration, understandably, drew a lot of attention.
As a Stranger photographer, of course I pictured meeting this woman, finding out about her, and recruiting her for the project (head and shoulders only, of course). Unfortunately, the scene was a bit of a circus and I realized it would not be feasible to approach her in this crowd to tell her about the project and I moved on.
Just a bit further down Dundas Street I spotted a man sitting on a garden ledge by the busy street, smoking what appeared to be an electric cigarette or “ecig.” For those who haven’t seen one, these are devices that mimic a cigarette and can be fitted with a cartridge producing vapour which looks like smoke but isn’t. Cartridges are available with varying amounts of nicotine to allow the “smoker” to satisfy the oral part of the habit and reduce the nicotine content gradually until the smoking habit is broken.
I stopped and asked this Stranger if he was smoking an electronic cigarette. He removed his headphones and said yes, he was and showed it to me and enthusiastically told me all about it. What an easy way to start a Stranger conversation. Soon I was sitting on the curb next to him and chatting about smoking and then about the 100 Strangers project.
Meet Fais. Fais was a two pack per day heavy smoker until just recently. He got the electronic cigarette and finds it is very helpful as he breaks his habit – much to the delight of his children and wife (who is a doctor). He eagerly told me that he looked at other ecigs but is convinced that this “Ego C” model sold by Joyetech company (www.joyetech.com/) is the best on the market and he explained its features. While I realize that different strategies work for different smokers in quitting, I’m really happy for Fais that he seems to be winning the battle with help from his “ecig.”
Fais knew of Flickr and was eager to help me with my project. We tried some poses but the light was challenging with too much sun on his hat and not enough on his face. Fais willingly moved around the corner and sat in better light. I remained standing and photographed from above to maximize the foliage in the mini-garden and minimize the noisy flow of traffic just behind him.
Fais, who is 43, is a computer professional who has designed networks for several high-profile businesses in Toronto including the CN Tower and the Sheraton Hotel Centre. He is thrilled to be breaking the smoking habit and hopes that any attention I can give the “ecig” through the 100 Strangers group might help another smoker to quit too.
Fais loved the photos and when I offered to send him the best as a thank you, he said he wanted “all of them.” He told me he has very few photos of himself and I agreed to send him “all that are worthy of being shared.” When I asked if there is anything else about himself he wanted to share for this photo story he thought for a moment and said “Well, I’m a biohazard.” Puzzled, I asked what he meant. He said when his wife wants to tease him she refers to him as a “biohazard” so he got a biohazard symbol tattooed on his arm. Laughing, he rolled up his sleeve and showed me (comment photo). Incidentally, I found the following on Wikipedia regarding this internationally recognized symbol: "The biohazard symbol was developed in 1966 by Charles Baldwin, an environmental-health engineer working for the Dow Chemical Company on the containment products."
We talked about my project and how challenging it was to start approaching total strangers and ask to photograph them. He said he knows the feeling. He was very self-conscious about smoking his ecig in public (today was his first time to smoke it in public). We laughed and I told him he should be proud that he is conquering his smoking habit.
Thank you Fais, for the interesting conversation in the middle of the swirling crowds and traffic of downtown Toronto. It was fun meeting you. I appreciate your willingness to be photographed and I wish you continued success in remaining a non-smoker. You are now Stranger #109/200 in Round 2 of my project.
Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page
To browse Round 1 of my 100 Strangers project click here: www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/sets/72157633145986224/
109/200 - Fais
Today was a hot, humid summer day in Toronto and I was downtown at Yonge and Dundas Streets, one of the busiest intersections in the city and a corner which is usually filled with preachers, street musicians, political demonstrators, and an unpredictable mix of unusual characters.
Today was no different as there was a crown of onlookers surrounding a naked woman curled in the foetal position on the pavement with lettuce and other vegetables around her. She was covered just enough to not offend public decency but it was a very effective attention-getter for the vegetarian cause. Behind her was a phalanx of supporters carrying placards with messages such as “Meat is Murder” and “All Animals Have the Same Parts” and “Go Vegan.” They were obviously committed to the cause and their demonstration, understandably, drew a lot of attention.
As a Stranger photographer, of course I pictured meeting this woman, finding out about her, and recruiting her for the project (head and shoulders only, of course). Unfortunately, the scene was a bit of a circus and I realized it would not be feasible to approach her in this crowd to tell her about the project and I moved on.
Just a bit further down Dundas Street I spotted a man sitting on a garden ledge by the busy street, smoking what appeared to be an electric cigarette or “ecig.” For those who haven’t seen one, these are devices that mimic a cigarette and can be fitted with a cartridge producing vapour which looks like smoke but isn’t. Cartridges are available with varying amounts of nicotine to allow the “smoker” to satisfy the oral part of the habit and reduce the nicotine content gradually until the smoking habit is broken.
I stopped and asked this Stranger if he was smoking an electronic cigarette. He removed his headphones and said yes, he was and showed it to me and enthusiastically told me all about it. What an easy way to start a Stranger conversation. Soon I was sitting on the curb next to him and chatting about smoking and then about the 100 Strangers project.
Meet Fais. Fais was a two pack per day heavy smoker until just recently. He got the electronic cigarette and finds it is very helpful as he breaks his habit – much to the delight of his children and wife (who is a doctor). He eagerly told me that he looked at other ecigs but is convinced that this “Ego C” model sold by Joyetech company (www.joyetech.com/) is the best on the market and he explained its features. While I realize that different strategies work for different smokers in quitting, I’m really happy for Fais that he seems to be winning the battle with help from his “ecig.”
Fais knew of Flickr and was eager to help me with my project. We tried some poses but the light was challenging with too much sun on his hat and not enough on his face. Fais willingly moved around the corner and sat in better light. I remained standing and photographed from above to maximize the foliage in the mini-garden and minimize the noisy flow of traffic just behind him.
Fais, who is 43, is a computer professional who has designed networks for several high-profile businesses in Toronto including the CN Tower and the Sheraton Hotel Centre. He is thrilled to be breaking the smoking habit and hopes that any attention I can give the “ecig” through the 100 Strangers group might help another smoker to quit too.
Fais loved the photos and when I offered to send him the best as a thank you, he said he wanted “all of them.” He told me he has very few photos of himself and I agreed to send him “all that are worthy of being shared.” When I asked if there is anything else about himself he wanted to share for this photo story he thought for a moment and said “Well, I’m a biohazard.” Puzzled, I asked what he meant. He said when his wife wants to tease him she refers to him as a “biohazard” so he got a biohazard symbol tattooed on his arm. Laughing, he rolled up his sleeve and showed me (comment photo). Incidentally, I found the following on Wikipedia regarding this internationally recognized symbol: "The biohazard symbol was developed in 1966 by Charles Baldwin, an environmental-health engineer working for the Dow Chemical Company on the containment products."
We talked about my project and how challenging it was to start approaching total strangers and ask to photograph them. He said he knows the feeling. He was very self-conscious about smoking his ecig in public (today was his first time to smoke it in public). We laughed and I told him he should be proud that he is conquering his smoking habit.
Thank you Fais, for the interesting conversation in the middle of the swirling crowds and traffic of downtown Toronto. It was fun meeting you. I appreciate your willingness to be photographed and I wish you continued success in remaining a non-smoker. You are now Stranger #109/200 in Round 2 of my project.
Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page
To browse Round 1 of my 100 Strangers project click here: www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/sets/72157633145986224/