faces in time 'Lonnie'

This is 'Lonnie' at work, a photo chosen for his color, features, and how

he relates to his background. Your ratings and critiques are invited and

most welcome. If you rate harshly or very critically, please submit a

helpful and constructive comment, please share your superior

photographic knowledge to help improve my photography. Thanks!

Enjoy! John

You may be the original 'cool and original' photographer on Photo.net, so when I see those words directed from you to me, I am especially flattered.

Lonnie works in the 'shoe trade' (which you can 'read things into' if you wish, and was seated outside, ready to continue plying his trade, in front of some reclamen (advertising).

When I saw the potential, at the end of the day, in waning light, I stopped in my tracks and almost whistled out loud at how kind the Lord had been to me that moment.

It took a few shots to work on subject placement and a little touch to Nikon Easy Exposure Adjustment (I seem to recall), and since Lonnie here was merely a 'bystander' and not really posing or a real participant, I could not get the absolute optimum pose I wished, though he was nice, cooperative and did appreciate this photo (and other, similar ones) on my digital camera back.

It takes the wonderful cooperation of one-time strangers like Lonnie, and Bruno the huge black man on the bus tonight, or Abrahim (also tonight) from Ethiopia, or even Sergei from Russia (actually my last wife's home town, Ryazan), who came to the US to visit his dying sister, to make my life whole.

I don't take photos of everyone I meet or converse with, but life as a photographer is immensely rich and full of experiences.

Bob, knowing your work and being critiqued by you is a very nice part of that richness.

Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know your feelings about this photo.

John (Crosley)

For the sake of clarity, this is a pure 'street' photo, bordering on a 'street portrait'.

I was walking past this guy, saw this juxtaposition, walked over and started taking photos, receiving in the process this fellow's permission (after I already had taken a photo or two).

I do not always get permission, even up close, when taking photos such as this, as the first photo shown often will convince the subject to disregard me as I take more, zeroing in on the best capture. So, I may often just walk up and take one or more photos without asking permission, even though obviously this is very wide angle and I am VERY CLOSE to the subject (and both below and to his right).

(He's on a 'riser' of sorts)

John (Crosley)