Roberto
This is Roberto Ciaro. Probably one of the most interesting people I’ve met so far. A homeless guy who lives in Chinatown, originally from Mexico. He set up his table with flowers and a little buddha, the reason for which I’m still not quite sure. He obsessed about getting his Disney poster up in the backdrop. We talked for about half an hour, he tells me how he doesn’t think the US takes care of its own people and how television and technology have changed and hindered so many things.
He let me take pictures of him. In fact, he invited it, as if he wanted to make sure it was recorded that he existed. I saw him crop up in so many other of my classmates work, in full knowledge he was being photographed. Later on, he left me with his table with the little buddha to get a bicycle so I could photograph him with it. I felt a little bit like an insane person as people stared at me, thinking that his living area was mine. Then he came back and I snapped probably one of my favourite pictures to date. The one with him and the smoothie. He offered me his extra papaya smoothie after that, telling me it was fate that on that very day, he bought two smoothies. I declined, I hate papaya.
As I was about to leave, he asked whether I could write him a note and I did. He also didn’t want to let me leave without a gift. He gave me a pilot precision pen.
I’m not sure how I feel about the photographs. Looking back at them, it was as if another person had taken them. For some reason, in New York, I invite stangers to talk to me. Something I’m not the least interested in back home. Staring at all these strangers faces, I can’t help but wonder why I took pictures of them at all. Are they important? Will I remember them? Well, now, I have to.
what makes your photographs stronger is that you get to know your subjects to a certain extent with their names and background. The middle one of Roberto is an epic photograph. I love how everything is set up in the frame and knowing that he set up this space by himself makes it even better. The bottom one really shows how you were having a conversation with him, theres a lot of emotion in his face. I cant wait to see your final exhibition, i think you should stick with the strong portraits you have done.
michael
June 9, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Same thoughts with Mike. I loved these when you first presented them. I also love the color tones you used. I think they match perfectly with him and his characters.
oscar
June 9, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Yes! They are important! By talking to these people and acknowledging them you make them human. You most likely had a big impact on their day. These portraits are fantastic.
k.p.
June 10, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I loved the way you captured his expression, because you can perceive the life he is living. Always a portrait comes in a better way when you know the person, and you are very good at it because you talk to the people and then you take photographs which makes your pictures more interesting, real and representative.
Rosy
June 10, 2008 at 6:40 pm
I like the portrait that you draw with him. I also prefer the one where he is drinking his smoothie because we can see a part of his life. And through your pictures, we can notice that the guy is always happy despite the fact he is homeless. And rosy is right, it’s really good that you speak with the people tat you wanna take in picture because it’s not “just a guy” , you know a little more about his life, his past, his state of mind , so you can really represent what you feel through your images.
margot
June 12, 2008 at 1:09 pm