$1 portraits – All Narfed Up

A skeptic

I’m taking $1 portraits as long as money permits. (See Thomas Hawk with his $2 portrait project and Justin Korn with his $1 portrait project.)

What’s the premise? I’ll offer $1 to anyone who asks me for money in exchange for their portrait. I’m a shy person, but I’ll do my best to find out a little about the person. You never know if it’ll make someone’s day for at least talking to them a little bit.

While I was on the escalator at Wilshire/Normandie, this man asked me if I had a dollar.

“What do you need it for?”

“I’m need to get a ticket for the bus, man.”

I awkwardly told him about my $1 portrait project. At first, he hesitated. I reassured him that it was only a photography project, allowing me to interact with people.

I noticed his eyes were slightly yellow. Jaundice? Sad.

At the top of the escalator, he finally agreed. He walked to a spot away from foot traffic, then I snapped his portrait.

“Where you off to now?”

“I gotta get some food, man. I’m hungry,” walking in the direction of the bus stop.

“Alright, take care.”

I never did get his name.

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Rick

I’m taking $1 portraits as long as money permits. (See Thomas Hawk with his $2 portrait project and Justin Korn with his $1 portrait project.)

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Rick stopped “briefly” talk to me while I was waiting outside Regent China Inn. He told me that someone took his photo a few days ago, even though he didn’t give him permission.

Trying to decipher a myriad of his tangents (over the course of 10 minutes), I learned that he was from Culver City.

A Metro bus driver refused to honor a monthly pass he just purchased. (No idea how long ago that way.)
He had $2,000 while in Glendale. Down the street was a Shakey’s, but he told some guy that he wanted to go to the one closer to home.
Save that card from Surf City because you can get a free smoothie.

Rick was on his way to a facility down the street to see if they were giving out food.

He never did ask me for money, but I offered him a couple bucks anyway because he seemed pretty nice. Other than that, I didn’t really get a chance to get a sentence in. He was a talker.

Before we parted ways, I asked him if I could take his photo. He positioned himself in a better light – and away from the front of Phillipe’s – but the bill of his hat blocked most of it. Oh well.

Sidenote: My cousin, Cheryl, is a psychology major. She suggested that he could have a mild case of schizophrenia.

View on Flickr / View more $1 portraits here or at Flickr

Juan

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I’m taking $1 portraits as long as money permits. (See Thomas Hawk with his $2 portrait project and Justin Korn with his $1 portrait project.)

Juan meekly asked me for fifty cents (in Spanish) as I was walking towards the entrance to Pershing Square station. I asked him if he spoke English, then told him about my project.

He basically agreed. I pointed him towards this spot with better light. When I held up my camera to take the photo, he was turned to the side. I guess he didn’t want a straight on portrait or something.

I snapped a couple, then thanked him. I took out my wallet, but found that I only had five dollar bills. Gah! I told him I’d be back with change. I walked to Taco House nearby, ordered a burrito, then came back to him to give him the dollar I promised. He thanked me and walked off.

As for me, I sat on the corner to eat the carne asada burrito I had just bought before going to the subway. (It was delicious!)

View more $1 portraits here or at Flickr