Wandering the other day around Santurce looking for street art, this guy told me I should take his picture. Did not thought about it twice. He started telling me "that's a great one you have right there" talking about the camera. Then proceed to tell me about different kinds and how he owned a couple, and talking pics around Orlando etc. Turned out this homeless guy is a 82nd Airborne Squadron proud veteran and an ex photographer. #walkingstories we are!!!
Every time we meet another person or come across someone on the street, at an elevator, wherever it is, is a whole world, a whole story. The curious side of us inevitably goes to that place were we ask ourselves: what will that book be about?
Now this one is one of my favorite accidents. I was there to photograph a concert given by an orchestra. I was not very happy with the setting and the pictures I had taken. Then all of the sudden, this guy showed up and it was a show in itself. Just his mere presence, without words, just his gestures and of course the laugh was highly interesting. I did noticed it was a shooting, there was a girl with him taking his pictures, but it was so great that I just could not let go of it. I just figured I will take pictures until they ask me to stop. They didn't. At one point I just went to the guy and told him, "you sir are the best part of the show!" and he politely smiled and said "I try." I was extremely happy with the pictures, and turned out, he did loved them too...
"Part of the theory I will use for my doctoral thesis is how chaos can bring virtue. Essentially and basically when we live in such a messed up society where corruption is left and right. Literally, you have to brake with that, just like Jesus when he broke the base to make it again, we have to brake everything that is hurting us as society and rebuild." The Jokerboricua, you can follow him on Instagram Luis Bordoy. Actor, performer and activist.
This story, this book right here is one you do not see coming. When you met this woman, is a character you won't forget. Part clown, part encyclopedia, and always laughing and positive. The kind of person that just by greeting and spend 5 minutes with, makes you feel happy. That kind of oddity. And is just when you learn that she is a cancer survivor, and not any kind of Cancer, it was a nightmares nightmare what she went through, not only physically but mentally. Imagine living life without the ability of eating solid foods, only liquids, literally. Can you? Losing parts of herself that were engraved in her soul, and finding herself with no other option than being a warrior for her two kids and herself. The kind of strength not many possess. I did a story on her on my final project when studying Photojournalism, but I wanted to show her again. She is the strongest and bravest woman I know!
I honestly don't know who this person was, I was driving and there she was, in come kind of weird meditating mantra state. It was weird and fascinating to see. I wish I could had interviewed her.
