Topless Man With Bush

Still have a few un posted portraits from Thailand that I would like to share. This man came walking down the road towards me, dragging on a little mini tree. Considering the 30+ temperature, you can't really blame him for leaving his t-shirt at home. Curious about where he was going, I decided to show him my camera to start a conversation. Never got an answer to my question, but I think we talked about sun, smile and happiness.

The Bamboo Stick Man

For those of you who follows my blog; You might have noticed that CupOfPea has sadly been out of order for a while. Hopefully it's now back on track as normal, with frequent posts every other day.

After spending some time in thailand, I'm back in London, and will continue to shoot portraits in the South London area. This sweet man is actually staring in my blog for the second time. First time appearing in the far background of "Man With Yawning Dog". Blurred out in the background, it was then hard to notice his passion for the sticks, so I thought it was worth a second capture. 

Banana Bag Man

When I asked to photograph this man he must have thought I was really into his shopping habits, which is kind of true. Remembering back, I was fascinated by his white, see through bag, filled up with small version bananas, but at no point did I asked him to hold it up and show them to me. Nonetheless, I am happy he did. We walked down the street together, pointing and talking about bananas, apparently. After a few hundred meters we came to his stop. A tiny shop, where he passed on the bananas to someone else.  

City Center Pool Boy

Around Chiang Mai's city center, the old town, is a big moat. Of course, every now and then some small leafs drops into it. When I was walking along observing the city, I met the guy who's job is to clean it all up. His working tool, which I couldn't manage to fit all in the photo, is probably 5-6 meters long. Made from bamboo, makes it light weight, but I can still imagine it's pretty hardcore to maneuver it around the whole day in the burning sun. 

The Gatekeeper

Apperantly this road had restricted access. But to be honest, when I reached the gate, I wasn't sure if I was on the inside or outside of the restricted area. Non the less, the gate made me unsure about my onwards journey, so I decided to ask the guard if it was okay to pass or not. Resting in the shadow, the guy didn't understand much of what I was saying, but he opened the gate with a smile and sent me through. 

The Thai Boxer

One of the many good things about Chiang Mai is that it's full of small, narrow streets where I can easily walk around, uninterrupted by cars, to hunt for people. In this little passage, I got stopped by the man above. He was hanging out with his friends and wanted to show of his thai boxing skills when he saw my camera. I took it as an invite and started photographing. This was the last photo I took of him, and I think it symbolizes victory. After the opponent is beaten, you hush the applauding crowd.

Lady in Apron

I got eye contact with this little, old lady at a traffic light when I was about to cross the street in Chiang Mai. Since she looked so cute with her apron and plastic bag I thought it would be nice to take her portrait. I held up my camera, asked for a photograph and pointed at the green wall. She smiled, and went to stand in front of it, whilst I went out in the busy street to photograph.

Man With Yawning Dog

While walking through a back alley in Chiang Mai I met this man and his dog. From the looks of it they were going on a run together. I tried to ask, but his face was left with a question mark, so I decided to leave the subject and put my effort into pronouncing "khob-kun-Ka" (thank you in thai) correctly instead.

A Proud Man

This is not meant to be a travel blog, but since I'm constantly on the move now a days, I thought I'd include my latest location. Two days ago I left Bangkok and arrived in Chiang Mai. The people here seem to know even less english, but on the bright side, they also seem to be more relaxed and easy going about meeting foreigners. Sadly, my lack of thai knowledge and their lack of english skills results in fewer, cosy people stories. My meetings though, doesn't feel any less interesting. This man surprised me from around a street corner. I loved his outfit, the way it reminded me of a military uniform from the olden movies. Quickly I tried to catch his attention by showing him my camera and ask for a portrait.  At first he seemed confused, but without saying anything I kept pointing my camera at him, knotting my head. Suddenly he stopped and went into this position, without moving, just looking at me. I took a few steps back and snapped the photo.

Shy Looking Man

Since early Januar 2012 I've been mostly shooting my portraits in the southern part of London, Peckham and surrounding areas. The beauty of the people there is hard to compete against. However, a few days ago I left for Thailand to work on a people-project in Doi Saket, Chiang Mai. On my way, I've stopped in Bangkok and spent the whole day roaming around looking for subjects. Without a map, without a plan and without a clue on where I was going, it sure was a hot and interesting experience. Chalit, in the photo above, was one of the few people that actually agreed to be photographed. I thought Thailand, The Land of Smiles would be an easy target, but it turned out that people here are quite shy and more than average sceptic to curly haired foreigners with glasses. It didn't help that most people I felt like asking couldn't understand a word of what I was saying.  

Man With Scarf

From a distance I noticed John's outfit. It instantly intrigued me because it seemed like he still lived in the olden days, only this was Camberwell 2012. The 81 years old was fashionable,  old-school looking and classy all at the same time. I got closer to him and was about to stop him to have a talk, when I noticed what looked like tears running from his eyes. For a second I questioned myself if it was okay to ask a crying person for a photograph. We got eye contact and I decided to ask anyway. On a second thought, it might just have been the wind in his face, that made the tears, but I'm still to this day not sure. 

Woman in Yellow

In front of this partly painted wall I met Sandra. I instantly fell in love with the combination of colors and her beautiful head piece. I wanted to photograph her so bad that I think it made me a bit extra nervous when I decided to stop her. In general people are sceptic when I approach them, and Sandra was no different. She even confirmed this in an email she sent me today. After some stumbling, I kind of explained to her what I was doing, whereafter she made my day and agreed to be photographed.  

Man in Black

Tommy(69) had just exited the pub and came walking straight towards me. At the moment it felt like he was about to ask me something, rather than the other way around. This is always a good feeling to have when I'm out shooting, as I then kind of know already that he's up for being photographed. And as I thought, he gave me the thumbs up. Tommy was very interested in learning from me what to do, where to stand, how to smile, etc. I told him he was perfect as he were and asked him to hold his position. 

The Red Glow Man

It was early morning and I was walking around for hours receiving plenty of rejections from people too busy, on their way to work. The frustration was getting to me, but then on a small street just of the main road, this man got trapped between the wall and myself. I guess he felt the pressure, and kindle gave me a yes to be photographed. When I showed him a preview of the photo, he raised his voice in excitement, yet it didn't stop him from walking of. In a desperate attempt to maintain contact,  I shouted; 'what is your name?' With a turn of the head, I received the answer; 'Michael'.  

The Passport Man

This is the second Frank I meet in only a few days. Does the same name mean same look and personality too? In this case I would have to say no. Whilst the previous Frank was very neat and tidy, the new Frank had a more rough look going on. Long hear, beard and an old leather jacket. Our meeting was very short, yet we got to know each other quite well. He told me in anger how he had just spent £6 on new passport photos, and showed me them together with an empty wallet. I told him that I would be happy to send him some copies of the photo I took of him for free, and asked for his email address. Unfortunately Frank wasn't that much of an internet user and didn't have an email, so he asked if I could send it by post instead. After some writing problems, I got the address and hope to send the photo soon. 

Old Man Covering Face

Of Frank's 80 year old life, 50 of them had been spent living in Peckham. Clearly he knew a lot. As for me, having lived in Peckham less than a year, I felt inexperienced talking to him. Yet the more interesting it became. Myself I would describe Peckham as a very multicultural, up and coming area, filled with young people and artists due to the low prices (compared to Central London). Frank however, ensured me that it wasn't always like this. Over the years he had witnessed a lot of changes to the area, both in terms of local residents, culture and environment. If it was for the better or worse, he kept a little bit secret, but I didn't get the impression that he wanted to move anytime soon. 

Artist - Julie Verhoeven

Julie's yellow hair and pale face was quite easy to notice along the sidewalk. It made me curious and I  wanted to know more about her, so I decided to say hellu. Little did I know that Julie is a really great multitalented artist, working with a mix of fashion, illustration, design and video. After a quick look at her website (julieverhoeven.com), I found out that she had done work for pretty much all the biggest names in the fashion industry; Versace, H&M, Louis Vuitton, Dazed, you name it. As well as some beautiful decoration work for one of my favorite London restaurants, Sketch. 

The Seated Man

Derek(77) was just hanging out on a bench with his friend, when I noticed his characteristic face. It looked like he was about to say goodbye, so I felt okay with interrupting. At first he told me no to be photographed, but he didn't ask me to leave. Instead he asked me where I was from, and he seemed quite interested in what I was doing. After some quick lines about Norway and photography, Derek had changed his mind and felt comfortable enough to sit for a portrait. We ended up spending the next 20 minutes on the bench together, talking about his coach trip around europe, the Second World War, and a very lucky dentist appointment.   

The Escaping Head

Barry and I met when I was asking a sweet old man if I could do a portrait. He gave me what sounded as a no, and at the same time Barry showed up and started talking to him. Just incase I had misunderstood his no, and it was actually a yes, I decided to wait on the other side of the road until they finished their conversation. The elderly guy walked on while Barry tried to convince him to stay for a picture. It gave me good vibes and I ended up having a nice conversation and photo session with Barry instead. The former postman knew my own street and neighborhood better than me. And, when I think about it now, it make so much sense that he used to be a postman. Nice, talkative and friendly to everyone. On his way out, just a few hundred meters from his house, he had already managed to have a good talk with three different people. The old man, myself and a lady neighbor, which he also convinced to be photographed by me.    

Seemingly Tall

I was waiting at a corner in front of this wall, when John(83) came from his grocery shopping. Fascinated by both the wall and him, I asked if he could stand in front of it for a moment, whilst I took a photograph. Sometimes it impresses me how kind and helpful people are after a bit of explanation. For a man of average hight, not much taler than me (I'm not very tall), it intrigued me how tallish John looked. Happy with the photo, I gave him my CupofPea web address and asked if he could have a look online. John told me he didn't use the internet and then asked how to pronounce the three first letters i had written down. I willingly agreed that my handwriting isn't the best and explained it was the letter 'W' times three. He looked at me and said; 'Ah, World Wide Web!?'. I said; 'Exactly!'. Felt my whole body smile, thanked him and walked off. 

Help for Heroes

Believe it or not this will be my first post without the person's name. Maybe it was her sad story that threw me off. Or was it the lovely jumper that I thought suited her so well. She had lost her mums pills (some medicine) which she had just purchased from the chemist, and now she was desperately walking around trying to find them. As she said; pills can be expensive if you don't have a job. When she told me this I almost felt bad for taking up her time, but she explained how she used to do photography as well, and was more than happy to help me out.    

Hospital Worker vs Car

Will(30) might not have been my typical kind of subject, but I thought his outfit was quite original, so I decided to interrupt his walk. He worked at a local hospital and was on his way to lunch with some fellow colleagues. In lack of another nice place to shoot, I asked if we could take the photo in the middle of the road. When I was photographing I noticed how Will liked to be in front of the camera. Even when a car was approaching fast behind him and his colleagues were shouting at him from down the road, he held this exact position. 

The Urban Warrior

Scared by his sword and armor, I passed Jake(5) three times before I dared to ask (him and his mum) if I could take his portrait. And this was even before he was wearing his helmet. He gave me his blessing, placed the helmet over his head and got into position. Looking at the photo you might assume that Jake was on his way to a costume party. But in fact he was just on his way to the bank, followed by some fun in the park.

Woman with Invisible dog

In the front-garden of an apartment complex I met Mary(80) and her little dog Kerry. They were out strolling for some fresh air and didn't seem too busy, so I went over to have a chat. My original plan when approaching was to do a portrait of both of them together. However, I don't think Kerry really liked to be photographed. She was constantly running out of frame, fully extending the red leash. Mary on the other hand, insisted that her dog loved to be photographed and kept pulling Kerry back.     

Man with Caged Cat

When I was out walking today a bus stopped next to me and out came Jeremy(42) with his cute cat in a little cage. He placed the cage on the ground for a second to light up a cigarette, so I walked over and asked if I could take a photo. Although the cat looks slightly worried, I like to think that they both agreed on being photographed. Out of curiosity, I asked where they were going. I didn't manage to get all the details, but Jeremy told me the cat had to go away for a while. Lets hope for a nice holiday resort of some kind.

Woman with Luggage

It's not often you walk down the street and see 80 year old ladies carrying bags around like this. Pauline(80) was on her way to the local club for a day of fun and games with the girls (as she put it). She was wondering why I wanted to photograph her, and told me a joke about how her husband used to say her presence ruined photographs. That was of course not true! I thought she looked really lovely, as made for an intriguing picture. The bag looked heavy and I felt like giving her a hand, but the weight of the bag didn't seem to bother Pauline at all. She insisted on holding it throughout our little photo-shoot, and as we were heading the same way I offered to carry it for her, but she refused to take my help. It was nothing left for me to do than to wish her a great day and best of luck with the game-playing.

Hipster Shoe Lady

Mary was almost too cute to be true. I crossed my fingers when walking towards her, hoping she would agree to be photographed. She seemed a bit strict at first, but she wasn't at all. In fact, she laughed about me wanting to photograph her, and asked if it wasn't expensive for me to take so many photos. Happy as a smily-face, I explained to her about the digital age and how I could view the photos straight away. Mary was obviously up to date with the latest fashion. Her shoes can be found on youngsters all over London, and her jacket I thought was quite trendy as well.

The Coming Architect

Today I met another fellow Bushey Hill neighbor on my way home from coffee. When I saw him, Kwame(23) had just tuned in to his music and was about to pass me, but with a little hello, I managed to catch his attention. We talked for a bit and I found out we had some common interest. Kwame studies architecture, but also has a deep interest in fashion, design and art. He gave me the address to his blog, which I have to say is pretty cool, hence the name: The Vault of Ultimate Cool. Check it out!!  

The Earmuff Guy

London is getting colder as we speak, yet it's not everyday I meet men wearing earmuffs. I've always been fascinated with this piece of "clothing". Was it made to keep the hair cool and the ears warm? Whichever, I thought they suited Michael quite well. He's been living in the Camberwell area for more than 20 years, and I'm sure I've already past him lots of times, so I thought it was about time to ask for his portrait. More interesting facts about the earmuffs can be found here. Little did I know that they've actually been around for ages.

Man with Apple

Today I met a new neighbor, Blatton Slavick, who lives just a few houses down the road from me. Actually it was another neighbor pointing him out, when he left his house in Bushey Hill. His colorful scarf and round glasses caught my attention, so I approached him to have a little chat. He kept eating on his apple, but he didn't seem to mind me photographing him at the same time. It turned out that Blatton is an artist as well, working mainly with paint. After our brief talk, he invited me to drop by his house later with a copy of the photo. Maybe it will give me the chance to see some of his work too. I'm excited!

Man with Laptop

Asking strangers to stand for a photograph is not always easy. I hope for a yes, but prepare myself for a no. When I asked Patrick, he gave me a no, and continued on walking down the street. It was a shame because I really liked his white outfit with a dash of red and the laptop under his arm. However, a few meters down the road, Patrick stopped and called me over. Luckily for me, he had changed his mind and asked me where to stand. After the photograph we talked for a bit and he pulled from his wallet a picture of his girlfriend, which he said would have been perfect for my blog. She had bright red hair and a very interesting look. I thanked for his suggestion and gave him my card incase they wanted to look me up.

Man in front of bars

Lost in between huge council estates in the South of London, I felt very lonely on the street. Why don't I just hang around on busy street corners, where people pass by all the time? The thing is, you never know when and where the next interesting person will show up. It is something about the quiet atmosphere that gives photos a different mood. Alan(76) was about to exit this barred gate when I saw him. He was on one side, and I on the other. At first I thought he might be scared by my approach, thinking I was an intruder or something, but Alan wasn't scared at all. He opened the gate and was happy to be photographed in front of it. He was on his way to visit his stepdaughter, who lived just across the street. I didn't feel like taking up too much of his time, so I thanked him and continued down the quiet road alone.  

Tom, 81 - Ladies Man

Tom is not a difficult guy to find. 8 hours a day, 7 days a week, he spends in his little car outside the Snappy Snaps store in Camberwell green, London. It might sound a bit crazy, but when you're 81 years old and sick of spending your days inside a empty apartment, it's actually quite nice. Tom has chosen a busy spot, which makes people-watching easy. All though, after talking to him for 10 minutes, I got the impression that he was mostly interested in the ladies. Tom had a great sense of humor and he told me that one of his biggest joys in life was to make other people smile. He kept honking the horn, calling over elderly ladies, and wishing for snow, so he could install skis under his car. 

Brasileiro in London

Apparently Tarcisio was on a cigarette-break / salad-pick-up. I thought it was an interesting combination, so I asked for his portrait. He answered me; 'Brasileiro, no english'. As he didn't understand a word of what I was saying, I pointed at my camera, and then pointed at him. He smiled and nodded his head, so I assumed he was okay with it. I got a few shots and what I think is his name, before he went back to his bakery shop. 

Man with gold tooth

Patrick(72), aka Pedro was busy talking to a lovely lady when I noticed him. I didn't want to be rude and interrupt them, so sadly I decided to walk by without asking for a photograph. Luckily for me, another guy walked up to the lady and asked her for directions, so I grabbed the chance to have a chat with Pedro. The lady was watching us, and she kept joking with Pedro, saying he was famous. Looking at him now, it wouldn't have surprised me if he was. Not many 72-year-old beats Pedor's sweet coolness.  

Mark & Louise - An outside bet

I noticed Mark and Louise when we were walking towards each other on the sidewalk along Southampton way. I'm not sure exactly what it was, but it was something about them that fascinated me. Maybe I felt they had a typical english look going on. The photo makes them look quite serious, but my impression of them when we met, was the complete opposite. They were wearing same button tags on their coats saying 'outside bet'. I wish I had asked what it was for. Our meeting was very brief, and I'm still to this day, curious about how they were related. 

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Later I've been told that 'Outside bet' is the title of a film that will be released this April. The film is based on a book Mark wrote called 'The Mumper'. 

Joan, 46 - Her earrings made me happy

When I met Joan I instantly knew it was going to be a nice meeting. I think her earrings describes her  personality well. Warm, lovely and colorful. We talked for a while and I felt a really good connection. She kept saying things that made me smile, and I think I made her smile too. She admitted to me that she was very happy about being photographed. The reason for this, she explained with a simple image on her phone. It's fair to say that Joan used to be bigger than what she looks like today. I don't remember the exact details, but she had lost a lot of weight over the last months. It was hard for me to believe that the lady in the image she showed me was the same as the one standing in front of me. 

David, 34 - Long hair in the morning sun

David was on his way home when I saw him. He was a few meters in front of me, so I had to increase my speed, in order to catch up. Just before he entered his house, I shouted; hey, which was enough to make him turn around. It was early morning and the light in the street was really nice, so I asked if we could take a photo there. He explained to me that he had just woken up, but despite that, he didn't turn me down. What first intrigued me so much about David was his super long hair. It didn't seem like he planned to cut it any time soon. When I asked for how long he had been saving, the answer was; 17 years.

Ja'far, 52 - The friendly henna beard guy

From across the street I noticed Ja'far's ginger beard. I thought it was too good to let go, so i decided to run after him. Ja'far was originally from Canada, but had spent the last twenty years living in London. Of course I had to ask about his beard. When I look at it now, my question might have come across as a bit stupid. But anyways, I asked if it was his natural color. He laughed, and said it was the same color as mine. I told him mine was the real deal, and he started explaining me all about the henna tradition, and how he colored his beard. As beard grow fast, you're supposed to dye it quite often. For Ja'far, often meant one month ago, and he excused his rough look. I thought it looked perfect! Lesson learned; Henna dye is a lot more healthy than normal dye.

JayKAy, 77 - Afrobeat musician from Nigeria

Today I walked for almost two hours without meeting anyone to photograph. It was cold, rainy, and I even questioned myself why I bother to do this blog. Then, on a street corner close to Peckham, I found my answer. Jay Kay used to play the drums in a band producing similar tunes to the great Fela Kuti. Looking at his outfit, his musician background didn't surprise me. Unfortunately Jay Kay had to retire a few years ago after suffering a stroke, but I can confirm that his ability to spread joy amongst people was absolutely still there. He promised not to forget me, and I will certainly not forget him, so hopefully we'll meet again soon. 

The Bushey Hill Postman

This portrait was the result of a knock on my door yesterday morning. Postman Steven(47) was trying to push a package through my letter box. Unfortunately, it got stuck half way through, and he wasn't able to deliver the rest of the mail. When I opened the door, we both had to work together in order to get the package loose. After a few words, Steven went on with his route and I went back in side. Though, regretting not to have talked more with him, I quickly got dressed, grabbed my camera and went after him. Just up the road I found him talking to another neighbor. It really showed his true postman-spirit; nice to everyone! We talked about his 17 years working for the Royal Mail post service, his regular route up Bushey Hill, and my letter box, which is way to small. He didn't complain, but I got the feeling I should try too do something about it.  

Bendik, next issue of playboy?

Bendik(64), was also one of the friendly people I met in the woods last Sunday. And,, he was also one of the few that I had the chance to talk with, as he stopped to repack his bag, and spent a second to enjoy the beautiful nature. I instantly fell in love with his hat, which didn't seem to serve much purpose. Bendik agreed to be photographed, but he kept fiddling with his bag, so I thought maybe he was a bit shy. However, after I finished photographing, he asked if I was submitting the photo to the next issue of playboy. I told him yes, laughed, and gave him the address to my blog.

Unknown cuties, in a hurry

Unfortunately I don't know much about these two lovely ladies. They looked slightly scared and sceptic when I approached them, but after some convincing, they agreed to take a quick photograph, though, on one condition, that they didn't have to tell me their names. For me it made the meeting more mystical, so I told them not a problem. Our conversation was very brief, as they both had more important things to do than hanging around chatting with me. Can't really blame them.

This is Norway - 'Søndagstur'

As many other Norwegians today, I've been out, walking in the woods. It is sort of a tradition in Norway, that when it comes to Sunday, you put your skies or walking-shoes on, and go for a trip in the woods. We call it 'Søndagstur' (Sunday-trip). It was plenty of people out today, but most of them were skiing fast by me, so difficult subjects to catch. Then, after an hour of walking, I met Morten(57). He was having a little break at one of the view spots along the track. When I was photographing him, I noticed that he had a genuine interest in what I was doing, so I asked if he was a photographer too. It turned out, he is a great cinematographer, with experience beyond my imagination. He had a couple of tips for me and as we shared common interests, the talk went really easy. The portrait couldn't have described a 'Søndagstur' any better. He had the look of one of those classic Norwegian character from a Hollywood movie. And, he was eating an orange, which is one of two mandatory snacks when your on a Sunday-trip. On top of that, he shared his orange with me, which I thought was pretty great and really kind. What a lovely day!

Tex(51), great name for a mechanic

Tex was standing more or less exactly like this when I saw him outside his car garage in Peckham. I liked his rough worker look, so I crossed the road, to go and talk to him. Before I had finished my little introduction, a customer came over and payed Tex some money. It was a slightly awkward moment, where I was just standing next to them, not knowing if Tex wanted me to leave or not. I decided to hang around, looking up into the air, so I din't seem too nosy. When the customer left, I asked for the portrait. I don't think Tex cared too much, but he gave me a nod and said it was cool. First when I got home, I noticed his fly was open, but knowing Tex, I don't think he'll mind.      

Laurence, from the heart of Peckham

Laurence was way a head of me when I noticed his awesome hair. I was unsure if I could catch up with him or not, but decided to give it a go. I picked up my speed and followed him down an empty street. As I was about to reach him, to my big surprise, he suddenly turned around and asked if I had any money. It's not an unusual thing in London that people ask for coins to take the bus or something. Unfortunately I didn't have anything on me, so I kindly said no. Normally I'm the one that starts the conversation, and after turning him down, it felt a bit harder asking for his portrait. However, I felt the good vibes, so I asked anyway. After a few snaps, we were both happy. Laurence asked me one more time for change. I apologized and said no again, thanked him for the photo, before we walked of in separate directions.   

Leif & Marit - Couple on tour

I was being lazy driving down the road, when i passed the sweet couple, Leif and Marit. It was something about them that caught my eye. Maybe it was the walking poles and the lovely combination of colors. Well, I decided to park my car, and walk back to have a chat with them. It turned out, they were really nice locals from Kjelsås in Oslo, out for a exercise/walk in the beautiful weather. The sun was shining, and with temperature just below 0 degrees, it keeps the snow in perfect condition for a beautiful trip. As per usual, I had to ask for their age. I won't go in to details, but added up, they are soon turning 170 years. Looking at them, I find it hard to believe. If only I can be in this great shape, when turning their age.

The former lawyer, Reidar(84)

Today I've been in Oslo and helped out at a local volunteer center. Driving out groceries is one of the daily duties, and my first stop was 84 year old, Reidar. The former lawyer had a small back problem, and shopping in the snow, was no longer easy for him. Apart from this, Reidar was still going strong. I entered his house, and the first thing I noticed, was a laptop in the living room. When I asked if it belonged to him, he looked at me and explained how he couldn't live without it. Reidar didn't strike me as the typical laptop user, but email, internet and online banking, was all part of his daily routine. When I was about to find my way out, he insisted on following me to the door. At the doorstep, I noticed the beautiful light that was shinning through the house, and I asked to take his portrait. He accepted with thanks. 

Second meeting with Robert - True kindness

The first time I met Robert, I was actually photographing Ron, 77 (on the left in the photo below). I was explaining Ron what my blog was about, and how I liked to photograph people I found interesting. At the same time, Robert walked passed and overheard our conversation. Without me knowing, he stopped behind me, and as I backed up to photograph Ron, I bumped into him. A bit offended and disappointed, Robert questioned how I could photograph interesting people, but not wanting to photograph him? I explained that I would love to take his portrait after I had finished taking Ron's. Robert must have been in a hurry. Instead of waiting for us to finish, he decided to jump into the frame. I love how Ron had one of those smiles where you can't tell if he is comfortable or not. Before we knew it, Robert was already on his way, and I didn't get the chance to talk to him. Luckily, a few days later, our tracks passed again. Robert remembered me, and I asked him if I could take a proper portrait this time. He removed his hat and placed his hands on the back. It was a perfect moment! Although he had some very sad life stories to share, I thought he was quite positive. I believe his face showed his true kindness. Hopefully we'll meet again, so I can give him a copy of this photograph.