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Hidden
An Uzbek girl shields herself from the bitter cold while tending to her family's outdoor stall in a public market in Astana, Kazakhstan. When I returned to talk to her and take her photo, she immediately pulled the sweater down so she could be a good employee. After I explained to her how exotic she looked with her fur and turtleneck, she smiled and pulled it back up for me.
Portraitmarketblack and whitefurturtleneckUzbekeyesAstanaKazakhstan
From Mere Humans
Modern Nomad
A Kazakh rancher waits patiently to lead his small herd safely across the snow covered road. At the time this photo was taken, he and his mount braved -35 degree cold as they stoically awaited the rest of the horses.
AstanaKazakhstanhorserancherladssnowcoldherdscarfKazakhnomad
From Mere Humans
Santa
I met this intriguing gentleman, whose nickname really is "Santa," while riding my bike on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. His eyes reveal a hard life lived, but he was as gracious and caring as the real Santa.
SantabeardhomelessFloridaFt Lauderdale
From Mere Humans
Winter Warmth
I saw this delightful woman walking home along a dirt road outside Astana, Kazakhstan. After we'd talked for some time, she told me I was the first American she had ever met. We stood talking within view of Astana's shiny, oil-funded sky-scrapers, but she had never even left her village. Her personality was even warmer than her outfit.
furblack and whiteportraitladyscarfKazakhstan
From Mere Humans
True Kazakh
I met this gentle soul in an old Soviet park in Astana, Kazakhstan. We talked for the longest time, sharing stories of our lives and families. He was wandering around the park while his wife and grown daughter did their thing, much like a husband in an American shopping mall while his wife shops! Approaching him, then finding the common bonds that all humans deeply share accentuated the intense value in the simplest parts of life. He epitomized the life, look and soul of the Kazakh people.
CandidPortraitKazakhblack and whiteshadowsfaceAstana
From Mere Humans
Oleg the Poet
I met Oleg while he was atop an old building in -20 F temperatures, disassembling the roof for scrap. After I'd been invited into their warm-up shed, another of my new friends informed me that Oleg was a poet. Oleg then started reciting Pushkin and Lermentov poems for us. After the others urged him on, he started reciting some of his own original poetry. It was an incredible experience to see both sides of such a man. The poster on the wall is of the President of Kazakhstan, of whom all present were extremely proud to call their leader.
From Mere Humans
Irish Coffee
While driving through Connemara in Western Ireland not far from where The Quiet Man with John Wayne was filmed, I noticed a weekend farmers market of sorts. The gentleman in the photograph was almost what I expected the real Sean Thornton was like. He was instantly engaging and was most interested in what the Yanks thought about "his" part of Ireland, which he said Americans rarely visited.
IrishPortraitmarketchickensQuiet Man
From Mere Humans
Bayan
This great guy plays his Bayan in the park in Astana, Kazakhstan about every night during the summer. He played all of my favorite old songs, and knew just about every song I challenged him with.
The Move
Chess is one of the great loves of the people of the Former Soviet Union. These men gather each day to play in the park in Astana, Kazakhstan. While they're serious about their game, it's a blast to watch them rib each other and debate the last move with each other. Just as anywhere else, each one thinks he's always right about which move the player "should" have made!
Simple Song
I met these men and their co-workers while they dismantled a small building in -20 F temperatures. After introducing myself and asking if I could take their photograph, they insisted I go inside with them to share snacks and the intensely warming, clear liquid that USED to fill the bottle on the table. After sharing a bottle and the accompanying stories, this new friend who had just been on a roof in sub-zero, windy conditions, pulled out his battered guitar and began singing old Soviet folk songs. It was one of the many times I've been blessed to experience when vodka and song revealed the common humanity in us all and led to enduring friendships.
Portraitguitarsingingworkersvodkafolk music
From Mere Humans
Proud Merchant
This Kazakh entrepreneur took great pride in his clothing stall in the outdoor market in Astana, Kazakhstan. The market runs year round, and in the winter sees temperatures as low as -50 F. The cold slows neither the business owners or the shoppers.
Time to Ponder
One of my favorite places to meet people is at a common well in any village or small town. At this one, in Astana, Kazakhstan, this dear lady made about six trips from her store over to the well. It's a hard life she leads, but that never seemed to deter her from getting the day started right.
The Lada
I met this auto mechanic outside his shop in Astana, Kazakhstan one day when the temperature was about -20 F. We talked about the old Lada he was working on, which he assured me would be back up and running in no time.
From Mere Humans
Hot Tea
People sell and shop in the outdoor Central Market in Astana, Kazakhstan despite the brutal cold. This man was always one of my saviors as he pushed his cart around selling hot tea and coffee. It was always a challenge for me to hold the hot liquid in the flimsy plastic cup, but I always managed to find a way.
Uzbek Herbs
Many cultures around the world have strange superstitions and practices, and they believe very strongly in them. This Uzbek woman burns an herb in her pot, then waves the smoke around kiosks, which the owners believe will bring them more business. This woman walks around the outdoor Central Market in Astana, Kazakhstan all day performing the ritual for various shop owners.
Hidden Strength
I noticed this woman and her grandson filling up water containers at a well outside Astana, Kazakhstan. The tap on the well ran constantly, and it literally sat on top of a mound of ice. As I approached to talk to her, I had a hard time climbing up the slick slope. She reached out and grabbed my arm, pulling me up to her with the strength of a bodybuilder. She looked frail, but had the strength of a 25 year old man!
From Mere Humans
