Max photos on Flickr

She stood out from the crowd of students who were filling Gould Street in downtown Toronto as Ryerson University came to life for the fall term. It was not just her impressive height that made her stand out; it was also her beauty and great sense of style. When I approached her, she was conversing with friends but she politely listened to my introduction and my request to photograph her for my photo project. She smiled, looked at my contact card, and said she could spare the couple of minutes I had requested. “Where do you want to do it?” she asked. I pointed to the space between campus buildings next to where we were standing. Coincidentally, it was the same location as the one used for my most recent project photo a week ago. I told her a bit more about the project as we walked. Meet Max.

Max handed her coffee to her friend who had accompanied us to the narrow, backlit space between two brick walls. He waited patiently while we did the photos. I didn’t ask if Max had modeled before but her ease in front of my camera, and her striking presence suggested she may have. After a test shot, we could both see the potential of the brief session and I pulled out my reflector to balance out the light and make the most of Max’s great eyes. She held it as I clicked off a half-dozen more photos.

I explained I would like to ask her a few questions to complete the interpersonal aspect of the project and told her she could decline answering any questions if she wished. She said “No problem” with a smile. Max is 20 and came to Toronto for university from Barrie, a city an hour and a half north but considers Toronto her home now. She is studying Fashion Journalism and is in the Creative Industries program. I told her I had met another student in this interesting program which is described by the university as follows: “Unique among Canadian universities, Ryerson’s Creative Industries program studies the creative fields from the perspective of enterprise development and entrepreneurship, and blends artistic, media, communication, cultural and business studies to prepare students for employment opportunities or advanced education in today’s creative economy.”

Max’s advice to her younger self is “don’t share everything about yourself on social media.” She went on to say she used to have a tendency to overshare which I know to be an issue these days. A challenge she has faced in life is “Identity. Reconciling the difference between who I want to be and who I am.” I thought it was an interesting and thoughtful response which would have been interesting to pursue if I wasn’t aware that her friend was waiting with Max’s rapidly-cooling cup of coffee. Her message to the project is “Don’t let compassion become a lost art. Care about others.”

In our final shared moments, Max said she has had to do projects that involved approaching strangers and asking for cooperation and is sympathetic to how difficult it can me. This motivated her to want to help me with my project, for which I am thankful. I told her that I’ve become much more comfortable in approaching strangers as I’ve become more experienced with it but I still go through times when I get a “project block,” something I have been experiencing this last couple of weeks. “The reasons for this are somewhat mysterious” I said,

“but I’m sure they are internal. Thank you for helping me break through the block today.”

We parted with a warm handshake and with Max wishing me much success with the project. I thanked her friend for his patience. This is my 531st submission to The Human Family Group on Flickr.

You can view more street portraits and stories by visiting The Human Family.

Mad Max RockaStarsky by Brandon Ortwein

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Find Art Prints here:

www.society6.com/studio/bortwein/Mad_Max_RockaStarsky

There was a reason he was so mad... that is not the right door for the Interceptor.

Max by Manny Esguerra

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Max at Tempe Studio

Elena Di Cioccio su Max 04 by Elena Di Cioccio

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Elena Di Cioccio

fotografie di Settimio Benedusi

Servizio sul mensile Max, Novembre 2009

Max Sansing by LurrkGod

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Mad Max "Yellow Interceptor" by Tamotsu Nobusawa

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4-wide Lego Yellow Interceptor. Mad Max. Halls of Justice.

Max by Justin Waits

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A big part of so many things in the Plaza District of OKC. Max works at the Bomb Shelter in the neighborhood and is responsible for the t-shirt designs each year and so much more. The next time you see him, you should give him a high five and thank him.

Max-37 by Cayce Wegman

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max-1-17-2014-b-small by Corset_Kitten

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Max by michael_hamburg69

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Hamburg

Max Cartier by Olivier MANSUY

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Max's feet by Teeny!

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Max's feet after spending the day in the dirt. This is what he does while his sister is playing ball.

MAX to Stoughton by Surrey Transport Photographer

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Arriva MAX 3734 (GN54 MYT) is Seen leaving the Bus Station on route 26 to Stoughton. No LED Evidence to Support this but i think the board (501) and the fact there is a Citaro behind is enough evidence.

Maxity by Dennis Matthies

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A Renault Maxity in Ganderkesee.

Max power by Elisabeth Threepwood

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Full custom by me <3

Max Verstappen wave by José Kroezen

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Taken at the Jumbo race dagen (day's), Zandvoort, The Netherlands. Made with the K30 with the Pentax 55-300 mm lens

Max Taylor Photography by The Aspen Institute

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The Atlantic Washington Ideas Forum at the Harman Center, Tuesday, September 27 - Thursday, September 29, 2016, Washington, DC. (Photo by Max Taylor)