A sign of the times…
I don’t think this is what they meant by “Authorized Vehicles Only”.
Driving home alone at the end of a long day, I saw this scene – and it set my brain on fire. I flipped a quick u-turn, parked, grabbed my camera, ran to the scene, snapped a shot before the light faded completely and ran back to my car – all in less than five minutes.
Honestly, it was the dark humor, in the contrast between the official government sign and the homeless people’s shopping carts, which initially caught my eye. But then I couldn’t let go of the questions burning in my brain. Clearly there’s a story here, or more likely, three stories. Where were the owners of the carts? What do they do at night? When it rains? When it’s cold? How did they get to the point where a shopping cart held all their possessions? What do they miss about their old life? Are there things that they like about this life? What lessons would they have to share if they could tell us?
They say “every picture tells a story” but maybe it’s more accurate to say “every picture holds a story” – it’s up to us to find out what it is.
Beautiful sad words. It’s funny how photography can set your mind in motion like that, isn’t it. At first it’s about composition and timing and all the mechanics of the shot, but then later, looking at it, it’s about the picture itself, the moments that led up to it and what comes next… for them and you.
Thank you for sharing. xo
Exactly. Thanks for noticing. In better hands (such as yours) a story could be written for that picture, I’m sure. But for me — it’s pictures and a whole lot of curiosity.
I’m not sure if this is just a TN thing or if you have it there also, but, there’s a “homeless paper” and the homeless people sell it everyday on corners all over Nashville.
Everytime I pass someone selling, I think of their story, what it could possibly be and how fortunate I am that I went to college and have a career and can support my three kids because some weeks, I feel like I’m about one bill away from being that person. So, I volunteer at “room at the inn” (food and shelter place) — I make up stories that I’m sure don’t compare to their reality.
Not to take up too much more space but, there’s a girl, she can’t be more than 20. Beautiful… strikingly beautiful — and she’s at the same corner everyday. I wonder about her most of all.
Wow — your picture just sent me on a ramble!
Great picture and thoughts.
Thanks for sharing. I’ve heard of a “homeless paper” in San Francisco; I don’t think we have one here. Maybe we should. Yes, we have several “regulars” on my route. I think about them most because I see them almost every day. And then one day they’re gone and I wonder what happened to them. Always more questions than answers.