KT says that he is rich in his heart, not in money or possessions. He devotes himself to helping , finding pleasure in looking out for others, as some adults tried to do for him, even willing to give their life, when he was a young man. His faith in god drives him to want to protect others. Now, after 15 years incarcerated, he lives in an RV in the Wood St. area of Oakland. He feels lucky to still be around in spite of foolish and risky behavior as a young man. Some guys look and act hard, he says, but KT is not a hard guy, “That is not who I am. Getting older I now understand how short life will be,” which he relates to losing his parents in recent years.
Street Disparities
When I speak with unhoused people on the street or those who appear to be struggling with life’s essentials, I am frequently impressed by their sense of dignity and pride, in spite of their circumstances. They may be depending upon on small SSI checks, local food banks, city-supplied porta-potties, and donated tents, but regardless of material depravation, many still possess faith, hope, and gratefulness — not resignation. Some say, “One day at a time.” Many believe God is with them. I would like to know this God, the one who can comfort hearts and bodies that lie each night on pavement or cardboard.
I hear righteous anger, too. But it is often truth-fullness not bitterness over the difficulty of escaping past personal transgressions or dealing with bureaucracies that promise, but don't deliver. Rarely, do I ever hear resentment toward a white man with a camera, who represents a legacy of white privilege, exploitation, and indifference.
While making photographs on the streets of Oakland or San Francisco, disparities are obvious. However, these occasional honest conversations help me to recognize our shared humanity and to understand they are not “those people.” To place myself in situations that expose my privilege and prejudices, makes it more difficult to live in a bubble.
Street Stories
When I asked to make Dave’s portrait, we chatted briefly about his life. He was interested in mine, as well. He’s knowledgeable about music, photography, social media, design and other subjects. And has his own SEO business. He mentions decisions he has made inspired by visions that he’s had about his life, which seems characterized by deep religious faith, even preaching on the street at times. He is working for a virtual luxury room service company in SF now, but says that he has had success as a musician, writing music and playing guitar, offering up a line from a song of his, “tears in the rain, conceal the pain.”
Terry is pictured with his two dogs, Pickles and Pepe, along Geary Blvd. in the Tenderloin. He rescued Pepe from a very abusive situation in the neighborhood. His encounter with the owner was, shall we say, very unpleasant for the former owner, but Pepe was saved. He cowered in a corner of Steve’s apartment for several days, but one day he jumped on Terry’s chest where Pickles was laying, and the bond was formed. Terry’s in a wheel chair now because of a bad hip. His doctor says that Terry must drop from about 320 pounds to 250 before he can have surgery. He is optimistic that he can do it, “When I put my mind to something, it gets done.”
While walking on San Pablo Ave. in Oakland, I noticed Lee’s colorful shirt and asked to make his portrait. His daughter gave it to him and he says that he has seven grandchildren. Lee has been without housing for about 8 years, but is very happy to have transitional housing now in West Oakland, while waiting for a permanent place. He was an optical engineer. He also raced motorcycles as a young man, which (like every other cyclist I’ve known) resulted in blowing out his knee. He has a heart condition, but is very pleased with the care that he receives at Highland Hospital. He’s a man of prayer, thanking God each morning and night for each day and says, “you don’t have to go to church to be in church.”
Manhattan in Motion
Ironically, I planned to publish "Manhattan in Motion" for late January, just weeks before the "blur" of New York City came to a sudden halt. Tragically, the coronavirus "New York minute” is lasting months as it robs the city of both lives and livelihoods. Because the true spirit of NYC is still alive and vibrant, even without the usual motion, I decided to offer this photography zine as a gift to New York City friends and followers. Anyone with a New York City address can contact me and I will send a copy of "Manhattan in Motion." For others (U.S.) outside of New York City, please order a copy for $8.00 (includes $3 for postage) and $5 will be donated directly to the "Covid-19 Emergency Relief Fund" managed by the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City (www.nyc.gov). Thanks and be safe,
Street or Documentary Photography?
Some people say that Robert Frank or Garry Winogrand and some other well-known “street” photographers were not street photographers, but documentary photographers. I think they were both. Clearly, they enjoyed traveling across the country, walking through cities or towns and making photographs of what they saw or encountered. Sometimes they interacted with subjects, often they did not. Were they documenting America - a time, places, a particular vision? Yes. Did they pick particular subjects to “document” - as did Winogrand in his books Public Relations or Animals. Of course. But I believe the essence of their work was to be out in the world, on the street and making photographs. To me, that is street photography. Bystander by Colin Westerbeck and Joel Meyerowitz is a wonderful book on the history of street photography.
Photojournalism
I admire photojournalists. If someone had suggested that as a career path - or if I had had a “clue” as a young man, I might have taken that path. As it was, I was a broadcast journalist for several years following college. I also did feature writing and photo essays for local publications. During my corporate PR career, I wrote, photographed and produced print, multi-image and video projects. Images and storytelling is part of my DNA. Recently, I contributed to the San Francisco Bay View. I am always looking for these opportunities. I belong to the National Press Photographers Association, for what it’s worth. In a small ways I enjoy staying connected to my journalism background.
The Open Road: Photography and the American Road Trip
This book has been a great inspiration. It’s all here in three minutes - https://vimeo.com/105063589
Road Trip
Like other street photographers, so much of my inspiration comes from the work of the greats - Garry Winograd, Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange, Robert Frank, Inga Morath, Stephan Shore, and others - who explored America from the road. To leaf through "The Americans," by Frank, "American Photographs," by Evans, or "Twentysix Gasoline Stations," by Ed Ruscha, is to accept an invitation to hit the highway, which is what I will do within a week or so.
The plan is to follow US 40 from here in the Bay Area through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and then cut through Memphis and find another route back West for the return trip.
America is in a constant state of transition. That was certainly true in each of the decades in which the photographers above captured American life through their lenses. The American experience is nothing if not in perpetual motion, it always moves, whether predictably or unpredictably. The road, the car, the quest are more than metaphors for our public and private life. The images and the reality seem entwined, embedded in our politics, our culture, our souls.
With all the craziness in our country today, I can't think of a better time to hit the road and get a different perspective on what the heck is going on here. And, for me - to see, hear and photograph parts of our country that I've never witnessed.
"The Americans" was published when I was five. In the 1950's the world's biggest public works project to date was launched to build 41,000 miles of new roads. The more I reflect on and read about the '50s and '60s of my youth, the more I realize how the car and the camera influenced my life. The automobile provided freedom, adventure, thrills. Photographic images from Life, Look, and the news** threw me out of my middle-class neighborhood into the jungles of Viet Nam and the inner cities of Oakland, Chicago, Detroit. (**My generation recalls the impact of the images from TV news and daily newspapers on our lives before the advent of the Internet, Instagram, etc.,).
The road calls, the aperture responds. More to come.