• Candid Portraits,  Documentary/Street

    Tattoos and Cigarettes

    Hands, Tattoos and a Cigarette

    I walked past this young man as he sat inside the doorway smoking his cigarette. I turned around, went back and started a conversation, asking if I could take an image of his hands. Those hands with tattoos and the cigarette did not need a face of body to add to the story. They have their own story.

  • Candid Portraits,  coffee shops,  People/Portraits

    Coffee and Our Hands

    Holding Her Cup

    “Sometimes, reaching out and taking someone’s hand is the beginning of a journey. At other times, it is allowing another to take yours.” ― Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration

    As many of you know I spend a fair amount of time visiting coffee shops and not just for the coffee, I’m also a people watcher. I tend to sip on hot chocolates for that mocha fix that sometimes over powers me or a steamed chai latte over the past few months. This morning I spent time at Mug’s and noticed two young ladies in a heavy discussion at a table near by. I watched them add to their conversation buy including their hands for more details and expressions. Most of us talk with our hands and I enjoy watching people who add that to their conversation. Some research suggests we improve our conversations when we use our hands. Next time your at a coffee shop or even at home, watch how we use our hands to hold coffee mugs or beer mugs or how we express what we feel and think. And, the weatherman was right. we have about 1-2 inches of snow on the ground and predictions to continue throughout the day.

  • Self-portraits

    A Smile

    A Smile or maybe a Smirk

    “Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” ― Mother Teresa

    While taking this self-portrait my granddaughter was trying to make me smile. She succeeded. I needed to use one of the presets in Topaz Adjust to make me look handsomer. I go back to work today on another 4-day trip. So here’s a gift to everyone, a smile. 🙂