Woody... you really know how to use that Nocti! I wish I had the focusing skills you had! Great work, the one of the man in the jacket is my favourite... it shows so much detail in the in-focus areas... and such nice fallout to the out-of-focus areas.
Mike, great work
the landscapes are stunning and the street shots are full of life!
Today was an interesting day. Very eventful. It was Hillary's last day in Toronto, her dad was here for a few business meetings and to pick her up. He had a meeting downtown today, so I went to keep her busy, and to see her for one last time. I tried my best to be positive, stay happy, and act as if everything was normal, though I knew that in just a few hours, I wouldn't be able to do any of these things with her for the next three months. No more silly faces, no more hand holding, no more silly kisses and hugs. Hillary tried her best to be happy too, she laughed and smiled, though I could see that she was sad. I kept asking her why, even though I knew why. I tried to make things seem better, I told her that hopefully the 3 months will pass by quickly, that we could still see each other online... though it didn't quite cheer her up. It couldn't even cheer me up. I didn't want her to leave, and she didn't want to leave me.
Finally it came time for her to go, she left quick... her dad could only stop the car for as long as the traffic light let him. I gave her one last hug and sent her off. I tried my best not to cry or tear up. It was probably the hardest thing I've had to do this year.
I tried getting happy photos of her, though this was the best I could come up with. On the bright side... the Summitar is a sweet lens?
I also had an interesting experience today... it'd be cool to hear your opinions on this matter! Lemme copy and paste the story:
I took a photo of this man about 2-3 meters away from him. He looks at me for a bit, then turns away, doesn't seem to mind me too much. I get up and walk past him, then he man wearing dark clothes who's out of focus in the centre, scolds me.
"Hey buddy! Do you find the homeless interesting or something? Do you think they're interesting?"
"No I don't"
"Why are you taking photos of them then? You should ask for permission first"
"Yup, I'll ask next time" I'm getting a little nervous now, voice shaky... the guy looks like he's about to throw punches at me... or damage my camera.
"Do you find the homeless interesting?"
"No, I don't"
"Well, ask people next time."
He walks away... I'm glad he didn't throw any punches.
Then I hear the homeless man speak up, "Yeah buddy, that'll cost you five bucks." He's smart... he could care less if I asked his permission, he wouldn't have cared if I had just walked by without confrontation, though he cashes in on the opportunity.
"I'll give you everything I have in my wallet, I've only got a dollar" I hand him the dollar and show him my empty wallet.
"Thanks, why didn't you ask for permission? just do that next time"
"I used to," I explain, "though some people aren't so nice about it."
"Well, I'm a nice guy, you should've asked, I would've let you." he says.
Well.. what do you guys think? Is photographing the homeless rude? Is it an offense to them? Does it make them feel lower than other people? Can all that be remedied by asking for permission?
I usually ask for permission. When it comes to the homeless though, you need to becareful. Some of them aren't the nicest, safest people to deal with. I usually snap a photo, give them a buck or two, smile, and say thank you. They usually return the smile and thank you.
AND finally. I met stranger number 7 today.
I'll copy and paste the story
The story of Roscoe (the man in the first photo) can't be told in just one photo.
I was waiting for Hillary at Yonge-Dundas Square this morning. There was a preacher (the man in the second photo) with a megaphone, telling people that the only way to salvation was through jesus... that they would die and go to hell if they didn't go with the Lord... that if you weren't in the army of the Lord then you were in the army of Satan, and so forth. A man came up to confront him... swearing at him, telling him to stop shoving religion down people's throats. The preacher and the man argued, the man almost hit the preacher. The preacher called the man a devil, told him that the forces of Satan cannot harm him because he had the Armor of God. The conflict continued.
I noticed a man standing not so far away from the conflict recording it with his Blackberry. He noticed me taking photographs and said "it's funny how they change when they know they're being recorded." I look back and the two men have made peace... the preacher hands the man a pamphlet and he takes it. The man apologizes and walks off.
I ask the man recording the conflict for his name, he tells me it's Roscoe. Roscoe used to be a friend of the preacher's, though he began to realize that the preacher was holding false witness to the Lord, and was shunned after he told the preacher that. I asked him what he thought about all this. "He's always here, forcing religion onto people. I think that if Jesus were to walk by today and see him, he'd tell him that he's not welcome into his Kingdom. The bible does say that you should spread the good news, but you don't force it upon people. Jesus and the disciples went around spreading the word, though they left in peace if people rejected it. I understand why he's like that though, I've heard the story of his past." Roscoe didn't agree with the preacher's methods and views, though he did respect him as a former friend.
"He gets mad sometimes, like he did with that man, though it's understandable because he's so passionate about his belief."
I found that Roscoe was kinda like me. "I used to come here everyday, just to see what goes on here. It was about two years ago when this place got filled up with christian preachers, the Muslims soon followed. It's interesting." He was right... later that day, I saw a Muslim man with a cart of free Qur'ans.
All in all... an eventful day.