Need food

I took this picture the other day and noticed that several people stopped to speak with her. One passerby told her, "Free food is being given away one block from here." Instead of walking her to the location, another man went and got her food and actually brought it to her. At times, strangers are awesome. 

What song would you like to hear?

This man understands music. This is not to be insulting, but he communicates better with music than with words. He is very talented. He sometimes plays on street corners in Nashville. 

I have worked many, many places

This woman was very kind and outgoing. She told me that she has had an interesting life and has worked at a variety of factories all over the country. She said that she is now living in Nashville, TN and likes it very much. She said that she was originally from here to begin with. 

I don't like Nashville at all

I asked this man where he was from and he told me Westmoreland, TN. I told him he reminded me of Hank Williams, Jr. He said, "I get that a lot." I said, "Do you like it in Nashville?" He raised his voice, "I HATE IT HERE." I said, "Then why are you still here?" He said he was saving up for a bus ticket to leave. 

Interesting faces

I love to search out interesting faces when shooting street photography. If someone has lines and depth to their face, it makes a much more interesting photo. I took this shot in Nashville, Tennessee on Broadway near 2nd Avenue. 

I'm not fixed up!

This man started waiving his hand at me as I took a picture. "What," I asked? He said, "I'm not fixed up baby, don't take my picture." I then heard him on the phone, "They can't take your picture, you're on the phone and you're not here with me." 

Would you like to see my baseball pose?

As I approached this man he told me that he was once in the Army "Special Forces." He then asked me to put in a good word for him at the recruiting office because he just re-enlisted. I told him, "Of course I will." He then said that major league baseball players are paid by the federal government and they are responsible for marijuana. He said that marijuana comes in strands that you carry on your shoulders. He then asked, "Do you want to see my baseball pose?" I said, "Sure." He then showed me (above). "Can you tell the coach I want to play?" I told him I would. He thanked me and I walked away. 

Beat with a 2X4

The night before I ran into this man, he was hit over the head with a 2X4. The entire left side of his face and ear are swollen. He has stitches next to his left eye. You can actually see the mark that the 2X4 left. He was rushed to the hospital after he lost consciousness. He was released after receiving the stitches. He told me the incident occurred under a bridge with other homeless persons in Atlanta. He said they were all drinking when it happened. 

The bike ride

This man rides a BMX bike all over downtown Atlanta, GA. His bike has a trailer tied to it to pull all of his personal belongings. His entire life is in his trailer. 

Street Music

These two guys were under a bridge near the Atlanta Braves Baseball Stadium (Turner Field). They were fantastic!

I want to be a country singer

I captured this photograph as this man was sitting on a park bench along Music Row in Nashville, TN. He told me that he has a dream of becoming a country singer. He sometimes visits the restaurants on Music Row and see's songwriters who recognize him because he has been visiting the establishments for so many years. 

The shelter is closed

"Where will you sleep tonight," I asked? "Probably out here on the sidewalk," he told me. "Do you mind that?" He said, "No, I'm use to it. The shelter does not open for another 6-months," he replied. 

I once worked in a factory

"I once worked in a Jewish factory, but I'm not Jewish. They treated me so well and were some of the nicest people I have ever met. That was in New York," he told me. I asked, "How old are you?" He told me, "69." He then said, "Today, I am retired."