This young man was watching a Christmas parade pass by in Murfreesboro, TN. He had a mouth full of candy while watching in hopes of more candy being thrown out.
Santa Baby
Santa honey, there's one thing I really do need,
The deed - To a platinum mine,
Santa honey, so hurry down the chimney tonight.
"Santa Baby" was written by J. Javits, P. Springer, T. Springer.
Crawling out from behind a tarp
Crawling out from behind a tarp the man looked at me... I asked, "Do you need any food?" He asked, "What do you have?" I said, "Well, let's go to the truck and see." He walked away with not only food, but also blankets, boots and more.
"To live without Hope is to Cease to live." - Fyodor Dostoevsky
My quiet life
This man quietly lives in the woods without bothering a soul. He sleeps on the ground under a tarp that is hanging between two trees. Each morning that lacks rain, he hangs his sleeping bag to dry (behind him).
Thanks to a kind friend, this man is now living in a tent. Prior to tonight, he was living under a tarp on the cold wet ground in 40-degree weather with the rain pouring down.
My thought... help others even if you think you look silly doing so.
“Live life as though nobody is watching, and express yourself as though everyone is listening.” ― Nelson Mandela
The stare of hard work and a hard life
For this photo, I relate it to a poem by Robert Frost called Acquainted with the Night...
I have been one acquainted with the night.
I have walked out in rain—and back in rain.
I have outwalked the furthest city light.
I have looked down the saddest city lane.
I have passed by the watchman on his beat
And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.
I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet
When far away an interrupted cry
Came over houses from another street,
But not to call me back or say good-bye;
And further still at an unearthly height,
One luminary clock against the sky
Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.
I have been one acquainted with the night.
Welcome to Nashville
Welcome to Nashville. Man, how I wish I knew what people were dreaming as they first step foot onto Broadway in downtown Nashville with their guitar in hand.
"When I first came to Nashville, people hardly gave country music any respect. We lived in old cars and dirty hotels, and we ate when we could." -Loretta Lynn
Details: Shot with my Canon Mark III, ISO 3200, 50mm, f1/2, 1/200sec, no flash and no prep - simple street photography like all of my shots.
The curious child
"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing."
- Albert Einstein
Hippies in Tennessee are nice
A photo I took of Hippie Tom at Hippie Hill in Tennessee playing a real, but very small, Hohner Harmonica. I shot this after he told me that homeless in Middle Tennessee are invited to Hippie Hill for a free Thanksgiving meal.
"Anybody can be unhappy. We can all be hurt. You don't have to be poor to need something or somebody. Rednecks, hippies, misfits - we're all the same. Gay or straight? So what? It doesn't matter to me. We have to be concerned about other people, regardless." - Willie Nelson
Would you like a haircut?
“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” ― Charles Dickens
In this shot, volunteers are cutting the hair of the homeless. This man lives in a tent located in a small wooded area near South Church Street in Murfreesboro, TN. To do this, we simply set up a tent at the site of a food drive on Wednesday night. The group that helped with this project was "Last Call for Grace" and the "Beehive Hair Salon" in Murfreesboro.
A stroke of bad luck
I met this homeless man in Atlanta, GA on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Despite a spell of bad luck and a short stay behind bars, he was upbeat about his future and the fact that his case was acquitted.
“When ill luck begins, it does not come in sprinkles, but in showers.” ― Mark Twain
Smoking just feels right
“Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I've done it thousands of times.” ― Mark Twain
Third World Journey: Life is relaxing
The laid back life in the Dominican Republic. Photo taken in LaRepresa with an older Canon T2i and a kit lens. Sometimes, you shoot with what is available.
“To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter... to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring — these are some of the rewards of the simple life.” ― John Burroughs, Leaf and Tendril
Third World Journey with New Vision Baptist Church
I recently went on a mission trip with New Vision Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, TN. We journeyed to the Dominican Republic and visited the small village of La Represa. The team I was on had a goal of teaching children how to play soccer (baseball is the main sport played in the DR). Needless to say, the children picked up on the sport extremely fast. They loved it.
Quick Facts:
- The Dominican Republic was explored by Columbus on his first voyage in 1492
- Population is over 10.3 million
- Capital is Santo Domingo with 2.1 million residents
- Degree of risk of obtaining a disease: High
- Food or waterborne diseases include bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
- Medical care is limited
- Water - not recommended to drink
- Official drinking age is 18
Third World Journey: Amazing Athletes
The children in the Dominican have some amazing athletic abilities. While there, I witnessed a 19-year old make a 20-foot jump from the side of a dam into 1-foot of water. As Gaba landed he made the perfect roll as if her were a stunt man practicing a movie shot. One teen can even throw a fast ball at 87 mph, according to some.
Third World Journey: Fishing, the old way
In this photo, you can see that fishing the old way with a net and a motor-less boat is still popular. The Dominican's are master fishermen.
Third World Journey: Children are the same
During my recent visit to La Represa, Dominican Republic it became quite clear... children can instantly relate to one another in a way that adults can never mimic. Children pick up on body movements, smiles, laughter very quickly. It is awesome to watch the Dominican children play with the American children from our church.
Third World Journey: Life and the welcome
I wish I could put into words the kindness and the welcoming of total strangers in the village of La Represa, Dominican Republic. As you walk the streets local residents will actually invite you into their homes and offer you their only chair.
The residents I met would ask for unselfish prayers and hand you fresh fruits they picked. One woman simply asked that I pray for the animals in her community and for them not to be abused or hurt. Another asked that we pray for her 100-year old mother.
Third World Journey: Unlike anyplace you have been
This photo was captured in a small village just outside La Represa, Dominican Republic. The majority of those living in this area get from point A to point B on small scooters or motorcycles.
Alcohol was extremely prevalent and the rules of the road were totally open to interpretation. You may see four people on a 100cc motorcycle or three people on a small scooter. The legal drinking age is 18, but that is seldom enforced.
Despite the poverty in this third world country, everyone we came in contact with was filled with joy and hospitality.
Couch surfing and okay with it
Clean, sober and polite. I would be happy if someone described me like that. This gentleman told me that he is homeless, but on the right track. During the summer months he lives on the street or with friends. When he earns enough money selling a local homeless newspaper, he treats himself to a hotel room. When November rolls around, he stays at the Room in the Inn of Nashville.
He was a very nice man to speak with as I cruised an old school 1985 Skyway freestyle bike through the downtown streets of Nashville shooting street photography. In fact, you can see the bike through his glass lenses. For this shot I used my small Fuji X100s. It is an excellent camera for bike rides.
I sell trees
I asked, "What do you do for a living?" He smiled as he sat back in his lawn chair... "I sell trees." I ran into this man at the Nashville Farmers Market. I thought to myself... When I get to be your age, I want your hair. "You look like a retired country singer," I told him. "Thanks," he stated.