hard knock leif

marihuana?

maybe. or maybe hand-rolled tobacco, which is cheaper than cigs.

eyes are loooking amazing here !!!

(drifter leif with face tattoo in tenderloin, sf, 5/3/06)

homeless man from texas. he's off to los angeles as soon as he can scrape together the cash. got his tattoo done years ago at a place called the mystic mark.

when i first saw him, he was checking through some leaves by the curb. he has debris on his face.

his name is leif; pronounced "life."

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Comments

< Prev 1 2 3 Next >

(250 comments)

PhotoLab XL says:

Great portrait!
1-2-3
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Nicola Del Mutolo says:

When Numismatic have seen this photo, he said: "Oh..what a photo!"

Quando Numismatic ha visto questa foto ha detto: "Oh..che foto!"

P.S: I'm sorry if my english is not good.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

dos1598 says:

Powerful!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

calian says:

wow! Great portrait. Very dramatic.
123.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Claudio Ramirez says:

Love your work. Again, those eyes ...

Claudio
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

muskva says:

watta face!!!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

kelco says:

running out of superlatives...
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

neophone says:

great!!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

woman must dance! [deleted] says:

Another brilliant capture. Leif is a Norwegian name, by the way :)
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Glauka[deleted] [deleted] says:

Your portraits... Always so touching!
This one, with the tatoo on his face, is very original and wonderful.
Have a good day!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

acampm1 says:

Very striking portrait indeed...
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

PAX - nl says:

Beautiful, touching portrait....
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Norma Desmond says:

such sadness in his eyes.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

StRI says:

great unique portrait. 123
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

sengmo says:

Tattoos and piercings aside, the eyes just nail you - they are so human, so beeseching. I don't know how you do it but don't stop - every street portrait is a gem and brings us closer to an understanding of our fellow humans.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

BlackLove says:

Great expression. I love the tatoos.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

walk4fotos says:

I love your work. I started taking photos a month ago. So I learn by first looking at your work everyday.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

mirelamiada says:

oh
his tatoo is so cool like superheroes cartoons tatooes
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Carlos Ferguson says:

amazing, i love his tatoos
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Nekominn says:

Yeah that is hard core. Great job.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

dariuszka says:

what a face!! great shot!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

manuel@ says:

no word! only great
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

d200 dug No censorship! says:

Great shot

sad and proud

very human
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Abo - Julien Robitaille says:

Wow another great portrait !
Very nice.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

TobiTobi ( now www.ipernity.com/home/tobitobi) [deleted] says:

great humanism! wonderful processing!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

~BranchDesign says:

very interesting
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Jaevus says:

Lots of depth in this portrait, excellent shot! O_O
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

dave watts says:

what a character, amazing portrait!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Amelia PS says:

powerful portrait, true
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

paul goyette says:

stunning, as always. are you doing an exhibit of these anytime soon? you should.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

* WE * Ahmad & Graça says:

Great shot, and great art of socializing to get along with street people.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

helmut the horrible says:

Inspiring flotsam, the love of life
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

ignacio_lpm says:

Excellent. Very powerful. There is Life in Leif.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Mc Lau says:

Really impressive!!!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

acastellano says:

i second paul_goyette!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

zokete says:

Mamma mia....great portrait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

bigeoino says:

Wow, really striking shot.
and great that you actually took the time to find out a bit about the subject!
- 123
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

artpunx says:

some one made a comment about superhero tattoos. the pain in the eyes and the tattoo really make you wonder about this mans story ilove it. i love portraits in general and am always trying to catch a little something more in a person.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Lady Vervaine says:

My goodness, you are amazing, Stoneth. These shots take my breath away. So frontal, so direct, so honest. And so beautiful.

Much respect to you, sir - and to all those who stand before your camera.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Therapystudio says:

I like this picture, I think it's more because of the way his eyes stand out.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

damien_p58 says:

Awesome portrait !!!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

romanedirisinghe says:

Not all who wander are lost.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

isabella_s says:

wow changing perspectives, so nice portrait
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Llima says:

I love the debris and the freckles most. Great.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

alebao73 says:

i am wordsless!!! this is really great!!!
ciao
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

ojaipatrick says:

Great portrait!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

fotoattack says:

Excellent, my friend.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

patisfaction ~ censored [deleted] says:

impressive guy with that facial ink!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

nathalie booth says:

I love this portrait, I am always amazed by face tatoos like this one, this picture is so powerful
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

salgal says:

one picture is surely worth 1,000 words. at least this one is
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Photo_Aficionado says:

another great photo Stoneth!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

TjF Photography [deleted] says:

awesome shot!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

ANOXLOU says:

Mr. Stoneth you ROCK!

you ought to come down south
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

_sim_ says:

is it debris or remains of his joint? This is an awesome portrait!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Guillaume! says:

this is perfection!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

El Pupii says:

I feel the same way, sometimes
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

. Az says:

stunning...love this shot.

really dig your shallow dof and the sharpness of your subjects.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Faborito says:

Front page Explorer, congrats!!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

decembre says:

♥ you never disappoint me....
★ Thank you too for your post in
"Portrait★Faces"
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

LynkxsTCat says:

!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Ivan says:

Congratulations! This image is currently one of Flickr's most interesting photos for 04 may 2006. (It is on page one of the calendar view.) Would you please add it to the Interestingness pool? It would be a great addition!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

BOOJOO says:

you are having quiet a conversation with your people
great portraits
great stories behind them
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

P.S.Zollo says:

a beautiful portrait, tomas. there's something so amazing about tattoos in general, that people would have designs and colors injected into their skin permanently - but to do it to the face! Amazing. And great photo of it. Would like to see this in color.

And is that a joint or a cigarette? For some reason,
it matters to me.
.
.
.
.
.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

the mighty jimbo says:

you do awesome work.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

great_sea says:

now that is a portrait... wow.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Amatuer critic says:

The cigarette is probably rolled from loose tobacco, which is cheap but people often mistake them for joints because a lot of disabled and street people twist
the ends.
Powerful catch of mans inhumanity to man. Why does this person not have a place to live or an extended family that will take him in?
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

DaveSinclair says:

fantastic!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

aviv lerner-beilis says:

this photo is truly touching... i just wanna ge to know this guy
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Amy Raa [deleted] says:

WOW! You have great portraits!
That's life,B&W photo.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

princess_sorrow_gerona [deleted] says:

Descubrí hace poco tu blog visitando a Fabio y estoy gratamente sorprendida con tu trabajo. Increibles fotografias. Tras esas miradas y esos rostros se esconden muchas historias y experiencias. Gran trabajo, felicidades.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

deletted [deleted] says:

live pop-eye
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

-nelma-f- says:

Did you see his eyes? O, man so sad. What has life given him for having such sad eyes?

The portrait shows also intrepidity and I had to stare at it for minutes. It touches me deep in my heart.
:)
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Hilde80 says:

Beautiful!

Sorry, no words.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

couleurs gm says:

tous vos portraits sont magnifiques!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Aristóteles says:

what a carismatic character, great foto
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Hudlu [deleted] says:

Great portrait!!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Nekominn says:

If you didnt know this photo is on front of Interestingness right now.
flickr.com/explore/interesting/
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Calico182 says:

incredible portrait
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Vmal says:

Great portrait. That face tells an interesting and tragic story.....
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Alisa J says:

what an amazing photo and story to go with it. His eyes say he's a nice genuine person.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

סּ-סּ says:

wow
amaing
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

dustin____ says:

Amazing set.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

plvheart1 says:

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AWESOME
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Jeff Clow says:

One of the finest portraits I've seen anywhere or at anytime.

Brilliant photo work.

....Thus, I've faved and tagged this one "QUALITY" and am hoping you will join and post it to:
www.flickr.com/groups/quality_photography/
where photographic quality such as this gets the recognition it deserves and inspires others...

QUALITY!
Please read (and heed) the comment entitled "YOUR Responsibility" on the Group's opening page.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

sara johanna says:

Your portraits are so great !
each of them have a long story.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Kris Kros says:

Man, this is just too cool.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

z-nub says:

impresionante!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

SophieMuc says:

I'm speechless!!!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

ayoye says:

Amazing shot...a fav.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

MrVerde says:

Great. As always.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Finiky says:

amazing. He had kind eyes~
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

J Diggity says:

He has very kind eyes, as Finiky says!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

rae marie1 says:

wow!!striking photo
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

auwa says:

his tatoo is like armour and it seems you may have gotten threw - this works brilliantly in B/W
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

m0xie says:

great capture. i love that you take the time to hear a bit of their story. it makes all the difference...
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

ladyloneranger says:

Yeppers, another stunning portrait! The eyes are so special!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Epizut_Scratch et Griffe [deleted] says:

more...
Posted 43 months ago. ( permalink )

dsthgrb says:

Brilliant
his glance,tatoo & cigarette
are the best
great shot! congrats
cheers! ^^
Posted 43 months ago. ( permalink )

ajr2309 says:

really impressive!
Posted 43 months ago. ( permalink )

♥ Unlimited says:

there's something in your pictures that always draws my attention: the shine in the eyes of the people you photograph...

it makes them so real, i love it.
Posted 43 months ago. ( permalink )

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Taken on May 4, 2006
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hard knock leif

Comments

PhotoLab XL says:

Nicola Del Mutolo says:

dos1598 says:

calian says:

Claudio Ramirez says:

muskva says:

kelco says:

neophone says:

woman must dance! [deleted] says:

Glauka[deleted] [deleted] says:

acampm1 says:

PAX - nl says:

Norma Desmond says:

StRI says:

sengmo says:

BlackLove says:

walk4fotos says:

mirelamiada says:

Carlos Ferguson says:

Nekominn says:

dariuszka says:

manuel@ says:

d200 dug No censorship! says:

Abo - Julien Robitaille says:

TobiTobi ( now www.ipernity.com/home/tobitobi) [deleted] says:

~BranchDesign says:

Jaevus says:

dave watts says:

Amelia PS says:

paul goyette says:

* WE * Ahmad & Graça says:

helmut the horrible says:

ignacio_lpm says:

Mc Lau says:

acastellano says:

zokete says:

bigeoino says:

artpunx says:

Lady Vervaine says:

Therapystudio says:

damien_p58 says:

romanedirisinghe says:

isabella_s says:

Llima says:

alebao73 says:

ojaipatrick says:

fotoattack says:

patisfaction ~ censored [deleted] says:

nathalie booth says:

salgal says:

Photo_Aficionado says:

TjF Photography [deleted] says:

ANOXLOU says:

_sim_ says:

Guillaume! says:

El Pupii says:

. Az says:

Faborito says:

decembre says:

LynkxsTCat says:

*Ivan* says:

*BOOJOO* says:

P.S.Zollo says:

the mighty jimbo says:

great_sea says:

Amatuer critic says:

DaveSinclair says:

aviv lerner-beilis says:

Amy Raa [deleted] says:

princess_sorrow_gerona [deleted] says:

deletted [deleted] says:

-nelma-f- says:

Hilde80 says:

couleurs gm says:

Aristóteles says:

Hudlu [deleted] says:

Nekominn says:

Calico182 says:

Ivan says:

BOOJOO says: