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My name is ?

Sometimes in life the question above is one that people ask.  I often ask the exact same one when I'm photographing the homeless.  I've met homeless people from all walks of life and even in the most inhuman moments I try to imagine people at their best.  It was kind of ironic when I grabbed these two shots that a colleague and I were on our way to interview Myron Rolle the 2009 Rhodes Scholar recipient.   

In that moment, I was like we are on New York Ave. entering our nation's capital and I have to separate reality from hope... something to think about. 

I have no idea who this gentleman was but I'm sure he has a name.  That day he was Mr. Thomas.  He reminded me of one of my college professors so I gave him that name.  He looked as if there were a million thoughts brewing on the other side of his glazed eyes.  As do many of the homeless people that I photograph.  Sometimes I shoot with the hopes that someone will be recognized by a loved one and get rescued from the streets.     

So these two shots are my salute to Mr. Thomas.  It may not be your name but I know and believe that he's somebody's, somebody.       





"Find Yourself 2009" Al Turner 

Comments

Big Sis said…
WOW..VERY POWERFUL
May 6, 2009 at 6:20 AM
GECWA said…
Phenomenal...essence of humanity.
May 7, 2009 at 9:25 PM
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