These are two of the portraits I took for my final portfolio in Photo 101 at Boston College. During the course of that semester I realized I enjoyed taking portraits (could you tell?) but I was not the type of person to approach someone I didn’t know and take their picture. In order to push myself I made strangers the theme of my final. I figured I would get some decent photos but was surprised at how often a simple “do you mind if I take your photo?” turned into a long conversation.
The man in the “Mobile Law Offices” hat was a Vietnam Vet who described himself as “essentially homeless”, living in the Veterans Quarters in Government Center. We talked to a good half-hour about everything from family to faith, work and war. He struggled to afford food to live off of but sent money to his son and son’s wife any time he could.
The man in the winter jacket with the hood up was blind. When I approached him with my request he was more than happy to let me photograph him as long as I returned the favor. As I started taking pictures he whipped out a disposable camera and took his own of me.
I finally went and got myself a much needed printer/scanner so these were the first things to get scanned. It’s hard to believe I took these more than two years ago. They have been hanging on my wall this whole time but taking the time to look at them for the first time in a long while is making me want to go meet and photograph people.
