I'll Be Around (Day 13 of 365)

I've begun a Photo a Day project, you can view and read about it here.

This was a homeless man in Pasadena. I work in Pasadena, and I have never seen this guy before. He was definitely not a regular. So, I was waiting for the bus to get my ride home, and I'm just taking pictures of different things that I will most likely post later. But, as I was taking pictures, I looked at him. I believe he noticed because he stood in front of me for about 4 minutes just kind of shaking, pulling his pants up, and mumbling to himself. I didn't know what to do, and also I was erasing my other card because I didn't do so the night before. So, as he was walking away, I pointed the camera at him. He turned around and came back in front of me. And I asked him "Do you want me to take your picture? I'd love to take your picture." He didn't answer, but kept standing there. So, I took about 7 or 8 shots. Most of them he was closing his eyes, because he was blinking a lot. But I got this photo. And it's definitely the best one. I love it. It's one of the best photos I've ever shot.

Oh yeah, and this is my first picture in Explore. : ) How awesome.

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Comments

← prev 1 2 3 next →

(206 comments)

AngeloDavidKevin says:

So raw! Great shot
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

kajatl says:

This is a GREAT shot Nathaniel. Wow
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Tom Andrews says:

nice!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Lucas Janin says:

Nice portrait !
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

nathanielperales says:

Thanks guys. I appreciate your comments.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

blackstock says:

awesome shot. Well composed. I like the background lights, definitely looks like the big city.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Kevin Lare says:

brilliant shot!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

robinbanks2008 says:

Brilliant. You're right to be proud of this.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

pattagon says:

this is a nice caption, actually I think he is the artist here, you just pushed the button. Thanks Mr. Anonym.!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

shamous says:

You did well in this shot!!!!! I says so much about so many!!!

Well done!!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

purplemattfish says:

wow he jumps right out at me, I can smell him from here!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Sesó says:

this is realy cool I love those photos that make you jump a bit, it´s like geting jumped, you get bit surprised when you see what you have coght.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

foshydog says:

nice shot.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Jesse Pace says:

Certainly leaves an impression. great shot.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

:.Mustafa.: says:

very full of character.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Nery Encarnacion says:

awesome!! very well captured!! wow :)

--
Seen on the explore page.

Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

CHERLY_DF_BRASIL says:

good !!!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

ñ!§häñt_rÖÄMËR© says:

Nice shot
looks just like from some movie of hollywood
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

*December Sun says:

very expressive.
Love the story behind it.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

bodatious4x4 says:

i have been trying for months too capture a homeless shot like this one. i had seen a guy that was picture perfect but did not have my camera i have been back too the same spot many times trying too catch him in the same place but no luck so far. this is a picture too be proud of. it makes a connection and brings a sense of realness too just how close we all are too being this man. with the economic situation in the usa anyone here could easily end up like this. so as we send millions too other countries we have so many here who need help!
on a happy note it makes me think of geico!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

nathanielperales says:

I love the bokeh and blurr of the lights also. They're really magnificent.

Thanks.

Seriously. I would have to definitely agree. He was the reason this photograph was taken.

Thanks, I totally agree.

Absolutely.

Thank you everyone for taking the time to view this photo and comment.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

bodatious4x4 says:

even a cave man can do it!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Klondike Kid says:

wow. this is a great photograph.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

andreacanon says:

Amazing shot! Nice bokeh
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

nathanielperales says:

Thank you very much for your kind comments.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

DeniseJC says:

Fantastic shot!
What a story!
Congrats on Front Page Explore!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Jay Banzia says:

dammit.
*fav.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Ivan Makarov says:

Great work. Turned out to be an excellent image.

Good luck to you on your 365 project. I've tried it before and gave up not too far from the midpoint, but I hope you can do it and enjoy you as you do.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

NewKidzOTB says:

Amazing capture, says so much.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

nathanielperales says:

Woah! How awesome. I didn't even know. Thank you so much.

Thanks Jay.

Thanks. I know, I'm only on Day 14, and I can understand how it can get tiring. It is a hard process to keep up with on a daily basis as well as work full time in a non photography field. I'm going to do my best. : )
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Myra 4646 says:

This is such a great picture!!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Billie Jane says:

Great capture !
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Dirk says:

#13 is fantastic, go on!

--
Seen in the interestingness archives. (?)
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

newfrainds says:

A
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Mike at Sea says:

It's a good one alright.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Marcovsky08 says:

Nice story, that's more than phtography, that's life. congrats.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

A.Alwosaibie says:

very nice shot!!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Salva Mira says:

Wow !!
This is an excellent picture, I really like it ++++

Congrats
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

-sina- says:

Wicked portrait! Amazing work!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

zoom in tight says:

Congratulations on your very low number Explore...this deserves it.
Absolutely excellent portrait, and your added description make this magic. I like you you were respectful of him, asking if he wanted you to take his picture. Who knows what he understood?
Truly excellent.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

bachmont says:

Sin más, un gran retrato.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

LexWil says:

To hell with the photographer! I said, no recent pictures of me! Well, damn it! You got me. Gotta light? 'a change you can believe in'
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

SurfaceSpotting says:

Great shot!!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

anhsechoem_1996ht says:

Aj
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Sébastian Dahl .com says:

I am soooo faving it!
This shot would have been nice in Black and White also I think, but I'm glad you let it this way! Very very nice shot ma'am!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

salmi_pawi says:

Very real nathaniel! The expresion on his face is also real. I like this. Job well done :-)
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

arthur.is says:

That's an incredible shot!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Patiblue says:

Daily Interesting Top 100 Photo Game
Congratulations! Please join today's game thread.
(vote 2 times if you accepts, please see rules)
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Panos Voudouris says:

Nice shot and I really like the story behind it.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

nineball2727 says:

Amazing. Makes me want to carry my camera with me everywhere.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

D. CS. Kari says:

It is really a bery good shot..............
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

hyacinth50 says:

wonderful...you should be very proud of this...looking at this photo brings the reality of how human homelessness is...and how sad...but somehow there is dignity there as well
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

kayakeverywhere says:

His look is so deep, yet vacant at the same time. I'm never sure whether to have empathy for someone in this state or to dismiss them as bringing on their own miseries.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

chris paltzat says:

Great image! Seriously.......i love it.....got such a "real" feel to it.

I've been wanting to get some similar shots around my city.....but i'm too chicken to do it...

maybe that should change
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

dougthorsen says:

very nice picture
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

BlogCochaJovenFlickr says:

iggy pop goes on a downhill haha
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Julie Foolie says:

great story, and great shot
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

bikemoments.com says:

Really good work! Such a strong picture. Like the "expression" in the eyes.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

koo_bao says:

that good ,great shot, the old man is feeling, i like it ^^
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

point zaca says:

No Offense, but even though he didn't say "No don't take my picture' From your commentary it doesn't sound like he gave you permission either.It's kind of explotive to take pictures of people without their explicit permission. How would you like it?
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

David E. Starr says:

What a stunning character.

--
Seen in the interestingness archives. (?)
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

James Mans says:

he just jump off this page , amazing photo
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Sami T says:

Great shot
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

° fotobicchio ° says:

Really impressive, strange but intense expression. Congratulations!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Nolleos says:

Great shot!. Nice DOF.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

samy3696 says:

Brrrr. Uhhh chalt
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

samy3696 says:

I'ts Cool-Man! Roger Keel.!!!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Richard Martin. says:

Now I'm envious; actually I'm inspired. These are some of the types of shots which grab people's attention. I saw this on flickriver.com and had to stop.......excellent shot: his stare is absolutely perfect!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

toomasp says:

superb
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

nathanielperales says:

I completely agree. Good luck finding that guy. These opportunities only come around so often.

I agree. It's definitely life.

Thank you! Yeah, I know. I think I could tell by the look on his face. It was interesting, it was as if he wanted his photo taken. Like he was standing there waiting.

I tried processing it in Black and White and the textures didn't come out exactly the way I wanted them to. I may go back and reprocess it after I get the Silver Efex Pro 1.001 plug-in for Aperture. It has amazing power to create stunning black and white images.

: ) That's the reason why I do it.

Completely.

It's hard for me too. Working in Pasadena we have quite a few homeless kids just sitting outside on the street. If you've ever been to Haight Street in San Francisco, it's like that but on a much smaller scale. And I don't know whether to feel empathy for them or to let them be. I mean, I'm young, I have a job, I'm getting shit done. Why can't they? I'm of course talking about the homeless kids, not the veterans who really have no choice.

Maybe, the only way that I've been able to get some shots is because of this new camera bag that I have. I bought the LowPro SlingShot 100AW. It's so small and so easy to carry around. It's really boosted me to take my camera with me everywhere.

I actually don't mind if people take my picture. If I'm out in public, there's no law saying that that person can't take a picture of me. But either way, if in someway my description did come off like he didn't give me permission, let me explain. I'm pretty sure he didn't talk. Or doesn't usually talk to people. He probably isn't used to people giving him attention. So he did most likely the only thing he knows how to get people's attention and that is by standing in front of them for 4 or 5 minutes until they acknowledge him. When I asked him if he wanted my picture, he fixed his hair and kept pulling up his pants. I'm pretty sure he wanted me to take is portrait.

Thank you very much.

Thank you all for your kind comments. I truly appreciate them.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

mbiresch says:

Harrison Ford Broke and Homeless! Great Shot!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

temancurhat_temansejati@yahoo.com says:

Wa jgn gla dnk
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

holapenguin says:

I love his expression and bokeh in this photo! Reminds me of a photo I took of a homeless guy in San Francisco www.flickr.com/photos/holapenguin/2959371645/
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Jesse J. says:

wow. awesome capture.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

nathanielperales says:

Definitely. Thanks a lot.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

okthavio says:

Great shot
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

sandro47 says:

Wonderful portrait!!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Brian Auer says:

This is awesome dude! Pretty brave of you to ask for a photo and start shooting after no response. Then again... he probably had no idea what what going on -- it sounds like he was out of it.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

robinseggblue says:

This is such a poignant image. It makes me want desperately to know his story.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

nathanielperales says:

Yeah, it didn't seem like that in the moment. I really felt that there was a connection between the two of us. I really felt as if I was meant to be there to take his photographs. While he was standing and waiting for my camera to stop erasing pictures, I could feel him begging for me take the photograph. It was an intense moment. It was as if it was meant to happen.

Thank you, I feel the same way.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

the-earth-colors says:

definitely the best street shot i've ever seen, too.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Dougass says:

So much depth in this picture w/ the background info. I'd be really proud of this photo, too!

(found you on Broderick's page).
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Ally Jade says:

amazing capture!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Balandon says:

Very charismatic man! and his eyes definitely don't belongs to homeless. Great work!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Romulo fotos says:

brutal, magnifica
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Romulo fotos says:

Hola, soy el administrador de un grupo llamado Un instante, una historia y nos encantaría agregar esto al grupo.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

nathanielperales says:

Wow, thank you very much. I really appreciate that.
Nice to meet you. Thank you. : )

Thank you very much. I really appreciate it.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Mara - Mx says:

excelentísima

un instante,una historia
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Riccardo Casaroli says:

homeless number one!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Female One [deleted] says:

absolut perfekt....
many greetings from greenland
tina
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

twentytwofourteen says:

was für ein portrait!!!
einfach toll
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

staz512 says:

Amazing candid. Great work.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Ricardo-S says:

Wow what a great capture!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

MA.LUISA GABRIEL PHOTOGRAPHY says:

Good Shot---amazing work and timing!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

soymamen says:

Premiada en

un instante,una historia
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

RED TANGO - Live Your Dreams NOW! says:

Great shot. There's intelligence in those eyes. Too bad he's either chosen the wrong path(s) or has fallen into trouble.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

gabonezu [deleted] says:

Perfect!
The PHOTO! (my respects...)
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

kajka* says:

:) SuPEr sToRy ANd GrEat EffEct! cOngrATS
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

zalbu says:

Brilliant shot!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

nathanielperales says:

Thank you all very much. All of your comments are so immensely appreciated. : )

Wow, Greenland. : ) Tell Greenland I say hello. Tell Greenland I think it's quite beautiful over there. Also, your photos are fantastic!

It's quite unfortunate. I saw that also.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

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Taken in Downtown, Pasadena (map)
Taken with a Canon EOS 5D.
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Taken on November 9, 2008
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I'll Be Around (Day 13 of 365)

Comments

AngeloDavidKevin says:

kajatl says:

Tom Andrews says:

Lucas Janin says:

nathanielperales says:

blackstock says:

Kevin Lare says:

robinbanks2008 says:

pattagon says:

shamous says:

purplemattfish says:

Sesó says:

foshydog says:

Jesse Pace says:

:.Mustafa.: says:

Nery Encarnacion says:

CHERLY_DF_BRASIL says:

ñ!§häñt_rÖÄMËR© says:

*December Sun says:

bodatious4x4 says:

nathanielperales says:

bodatious4x4 says:

Klondike Kid says:

andreacanon says:

nathanielperales says:

DeniseJC says:

Jay Banzia says:

Ivan Makarov says:

NewKidzOTB says:

nathanielperales says:

Myra 4646 says:

Billie Jane says:

~~Dirk~~ says:

newfrainds says:

Mike at Sea says:

Marcovsky08 says:

A.Alwosaibie says:

Salva Mira says:

-sina- says:

zoom in tight says:

bachmont says:

LexWil says:

SurfaceSpotting says:

anhsechoem_1996ht says:

Sébastian Dahl .com says:

salmi_pawi says:

arthur.is says:

Patiblue says:

Panos Voudouris says:

nineball2727 says:

D. CS. Kari says:

hyacinth50 says:

kayakeverywhere says:

chris paltzat says:

dougthorsen says:

BlogCochaJovenFlickr says:

Julie Foolie says:

bikemoments.com says:

koo_bao says:

point zaca says:

David E. Starr says:

James Mans says:

Sami T says:

° fotobicchio ° says:

Nolleos says:

samy3696 says:

samy3696 says:

Richard Martin. says:

toomasp says:

nathanielperales says:

mbiresch says:

temancurhat_temansejati@yahoo.com says:

holapenguin says:

Jesse J. says:

nathanielperales says:

okthavio says:

sandro47 says:

Brian Auer says:

Dirk says: