Hello! We're finished with week 10!
I met 7 great people this week! I always feel so lucky to meet such nice people and I hope that I'm able to leave them feeling a little better, the same way they've left me.
Day 63 - Alex
Meet Alex. He and a few others were tearing down and packing up their Rising River Farms booth at the The Vancouver Farmers Market. Alex's friend actually volunteered Alex to have his picture taken.
"A new girl," Alex answered, when I asked the happiest thing happening in his life right now.
Alex's recent act of kindness is that he gave a gift to someone.
"Do it well & have fun," Alex answered, when I asked if he had a personal mission statement.
I asked Alex something about himself which he would consider to be a success and he replied, "my jovial nature."
Day 64 - "Unotache"
This is Unotache. I spotted him walking down the sidewalk.
I asked Unotache the happiest thing happening in his life right now and he answered, "beer." He was on his way to meet a friend at Velo Cult. Sometimes I think I'm just destined to meet certain people. Had we not bumped into each other where we did, we would have bumped into each other outside of Velo Cult because that's the direction in which I intended to wander to find a subject for the day.
I asked Unotache if he's performed an act of kindness and he explained that whenever he sees a driver who is broken down or stalled, he always makes a point to stop to offer help. It's a trait and practice he picked up from his Grandfather and Dad, who were also good samaritans to stranded drivers in need. Recently, Unostache came across someone who had stalled in the road and as usual, he stopped to push them to safety. As he was doing so, an entire school bus full of football players stopped and also pitched in to help push the stalled driver to safety! I just loved hearing Unostache's story because his single act of kindness grew into something much bigger.
"Live Simply," Unotache answered, when I asked if he had a personal mission statement or a life's purpose.
"My family," Unotache answered, when I asked something about himself which he would consider to be a success.
Day 65 - Mike
This is Mike. I spotted him walking down the street and then had to chase him for about 2 blocks before I caught up to him. Mike walks fast! (and I'm a fast walker!) Technically, I didn't even actually catch up to Mike. I got close enough to where he could hear me and I let out a little yelp, "can I take your picture?" He stopped, turned around, and answered yes! "You walk soooo fast," I said. Looking down at his fitness band or pedometer, he said, "I'm trying to get lots of steps!" We both laughed.
I asked Mike the happiest thing happening in his life right now and he explained that he was on his way to sewing class, where they were going to learn to make a robe. We had to be quick with the picture and "interview" so that Mike could make it to class in time. I was so tempted to invite myself along to sewing class with Mike. I've always wanted to take a sewing class and I knew instantly, Mike would have been fun to hang out with.
I asked Mike if he's recently performed an act of kindness or if he's been on the receiving end of an act of kindness. Mike explained that in a recent leadership meeting, a co-worker complimented Mike's work and said nice things in front of the entire group.
I asked Mike if he had a personal mission statement or life's purpose. Mike answered, "to be enthusiastic about life and model that for others." Mike lives this completely! He absolutely oozes happiness and enthusiasm and meeting him left me feeling re-charged after a pretty intense day. I love this picture of Mike, and if you were to meet him for the first time - I'm sure this is also the same smile and enthusiasm you'd get from him.
This is one of my favorite pictures. Have you noticed my tendency to get up-close and personal when I take someone's picture? It's become even more pronounced since getting my new 50mm prime lens. I'm trying so hard to change things up a bit. I keep reminding myself to take a step back, capture more of a person's surroundings, and tell more of the story, but something inside me keeps compelling me to get closer. I love looking for, and capturing, a person's sparkle. I get concerned that if I get too far away, we'll lose the subject's personality. I was torn with Mike. He has awesome style and he was wearing a cool bow-tie. I had to make a decision to either step back to get his shirt & tie, or get closer and focus on his beautiful smile. When Mike smiles, his whole face smiles. His sparkle won out over his bow-tie.
"I'm an okay boss, and I'm getting better at it as I get older," Mike answered, when I asked him something about himself which he would consider to be a success.
Day 66 - Joanna
This is Joanna. We met in a parking lot where I had just parked to go out in search of a subject for the day. As luck would have it, the perfect person just happened to be right next to me!
When I asked Joanna the happiest thing happening in her life right now, she answered, "photography." Joanna then went on to say that she is a lover of photography, which explained why she didn't even hesitate when I asked if I could take her picture. Joanna was being modest when she said she is a lover of photography. Since meeting Joanna, I checked out her website and learned she's an amazing photographer. I appreciate her modesty, however, because it prevented me from getting overwhelmed and nervous like I would have, had I known she's so talented. And, in learning more about her, I also discovered how a random person I met in a parking lot, managed to present three separate "looks" in the three pictures I had taken. Joanna is also a model! You can check out Joanna's work on her website, cecipix.com.
I asked Joanna if she's performed an act of kindness or if she's been on the receiving end of an act of kindness. On the receiving end, Joanna was pleasantly surprised when she received a refund from a "corporate entity," that she wasn't expecting to receive. On the giving side, Joanna recently gave some of the cards she makes to one of her friends.
"Life is short...do that which makes you happy," Joanna answered, when I asked if she had a personal mission statement or if she could make one up on the spot.
I asked Joanna something about herself which she considers to be a success and she answered, "everything I do that makes me happy."
Joanna is one talented woman!
Day 67 - Shannon
This is Shannon. She was waiting for the bus at that "one spot" that always gives me trouble. However, on this day, I was quite pleased with the results. This was a good day because a few things were working in my favor. Not only is Shannon as beautiful as Snow White, but after having had nearly a dozen "bad days" with subjects in that same area, I'm finally starting to learn how to work with the light instead of against it. Yes!
"My relationship," Shannon answered, is the happiest thing happening in her life right now.
I asked Shannon if she's recently performed an act of kindness. She explained that she and a friend are helping one another to find 2nd jobs.
"I just want to be a good person," Shannon answered, when I asked if she had a personal mission statement or life's purpose.
One thing about herself which Shannon considers to be a success, is her self-motivation.
Day 68 - Wendy
This is Wendy. We met outside of Whole Foods.
I asked the happiest thing happening in her life right now and Wendy answered, "things are pretty good...I have a good home life with my boyfriend, a dog and a cat." I loved hearing Wendy's answer. It was a good reminder that a happy life really is as simple as that.
When I asked Wendy if she had a personal mission statement or a life's purpose, she explained it's been something she's thought about, but she was feeling like her mind was going blank. Of course your mind would blank when a stranger approaches you on the street to ask a question like this. I'm still always so amazed when people somehow manage to articulate these beautiful statements of their life's purpose, or personal mission statement. Wendy, even though she was feeling like she wasn't able say what she wanted to say, answered beautifully when she said, "to be as educated in my field as I can be, and to have a diverse life."
"Going back to school for the second time," Wendy answered, when I asked something about herself which she would consider to be a success. Wendy is pursuing a second degree.
I was happy to have met Wendy because I had been feeling nervous when I was wandering around in the rain that day. The rain caused me to think back to the first 365 Day People Picture Project and wonder how in the world I had ever managed to stick to it during the winter months. Meeting Wendy was a good reminder that the tough days were worth it. I always met someone great who left me feeling inspired to keep going another day. And, unknowingly, my interaction with Wendy helped me figure out a rainy-day trick of how to manage my camera, journal, an umbrella, and take a picture of the person. The trick is to give the umbrella to the person/subject, which not only frees up my hands to take the picture, but it gives the person shelter! Why didn't I figure this out last year? I know what you're thinking... what if the other person already has an umbrella? It's Portland! For some reason, people refuse to use them!
Day 69 - Tambor, Tina, and "Muscle Racing"
This is Tambor (bottom), Tina (upper left), and "Muscle Racing" (upper right). Normally, downtown Vancouver on a Saturday afternoon is a little sleepy, other than the Farmers Market. As I was looking for a subject in the park, I could hear live music coming from Loowit Brewing, which is just down the street from the park. I decided to walk down in search of a subject. Loowit was celebrating their second Anniversary and I met these three just as they were about to go back inside.
I asked them each just one question.
"Brewery tour," Tambor said, when I asked the happiest thing happening in his life right now.
I asked Tina if she's either performed an act of kindness or if she's been on the receiving end of an act of kindness. At first, she was having trouble thinking of something, but "Muscle Racing" helped remind Tina that caring for a child can be considered an act of kindness. Tina agreed, saying, "my act of kindness every day, is caring for my boy."
I asked Muscle Racing if he had a personal mission statement or if he could think of one on the spot. Muscle Racing answered, "to beat Zangief with Zangief." Don't worry, I didn't understand either. Muscle Racing explained Zangief is a character in the video game, Street Fighter.
I thanked the trio and we went our separate ways.
Here's the summary of the wisdom we gained from this week's subjects:
- Do it well & have fun.
- Live Simply.
- To be enthusiastic about life and model that for others.
- Life is short...do that which makes you happy.
- I just want to be a good person.
- To be as educated in my field as I can be, and to have a diverse life.
- To beat Zangief with Zangief
Thank you to each and every subject in the project. If you would like to receive your picture, please don't hesitate to e-mail me and I'm happy to e-mail it to you!
Thank you for following along this week!