Triple Drag

I met these three amigos while wandering the streets of Lisbon. I'd seen them asking passers by for a cigarettes earlier in the day, so I figured they might appreciate an entire pack from me. After a bear hug of thanks, they sat and struck this pose for me. Each time I saw them after that, they would yell and wave as I passed. It always amazes me what a little good will can do for others.

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From Mere Humans

Cliffside Grin

I met this gentleman one morning while traveling the off-season, seemingly deserted island of Santorini. He was so gracious and patient while he smiled for his portrait.

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From Mere Humans

Riverside Stare

On my maiden wander with my "new" old Mamiya 645 medium format film camera, this gentleman watched as I fumbled my way through a re-load of film. After a moment, I asked if I could take his photograph. He leaned against the railing and struck this pose, seeming as though it wasn't his first time in front of the lens. I love all the great characters I meet wandering around Prague.

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From Mere Humans

Morning News

I met this man outside the train station in Bratislava, Slovakia. He had been down on his luck, but still took the time to read the paper each morning.

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From Mere Humans

Invisible

I noticed this man while riding the tram in Prague. I felt his loneliness deep into my soul when I looked into his eyes. Countless people got on and off the tram, never noticing him. I spoke with him only briefly, asking if I could photograph him. He nodded, and put his head back against the glass. While I will probably never know his story, I felt as though it was written there on his face.

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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.

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From Mere Humans

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.

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From Mere Humans

Selling Memories

I met this friendly gentleman at the Kolbenova Flea Market in Prague. It was the last day of the flea market in that location, and one could feel a sense of disappointment among the sellers. It felt like an era coming to its end, the approach of what some knew was inevitable, but had chosen to ignore.

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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

Duet

These partner street musicians in Asheville, NC immediately opened up when we started talking. It was as if we'd known each other for years, and their immediate connection with people was readily visible in their music on this warm summer night.

MusiciansPortraitstreet performerbekihorneryahoo.comguitartattoostreet musicianmusicanAshevilleNC

From Sounds

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.

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From Mere Humans

Roman

When I saw the fishing boat pulling up to the dock near Dunvegan, Scotland, I was hoping to find some weathered Scotts to photograph. Initially, Roman and his co-workers seemed a bit stand-offish, but as it turns out, only because they didn't speak English. Finally, I asked what language they did speak, to which Roman replied "Russian." Well, we were off and chatting at that point. Roman and his buddies are from Latvia, and come to fish the plentiful Scottish waters three months out of the year.

LativanFishermanNorth AtlanticScotlandFishWaterOceanfish pots

From Mere Humans

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!

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From Mere Humans

Morning Light

While searching for early morning photo subjects in Santorini, Greece, I stopped in for a quick cup of coffee to go. These two locals were enjoying their morning coffee and smoke, and I couldn't resist asking if I can photograph them. A serendipitous stop!

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From Mere Humans

Romanian Stare

I met this Romanian Gypsy while wandering the streets of Glasgow, Scotland. After communicating through broken English and Russian, he told me I could take his photograph. I love the intense stare into the lens.

This photograph won 3rd Place Best in Show at the Greenville, SC Artisphere Competition.

This photograph was one of 30 finalists in the 2015 Digital Photo Pro Magazine's "The Face" competition.

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

Gypsa

I met Gypsa walking down Broadway in Asheville, NC. She explained that she was a photographer in a previous life, and felt more comfortable behind the camera than in front. I finally convinced her to let me take her photo, and she struck this pensive, shy pose.

MusiciansPortraitstreet performerguitargypsaliahgmail.comtattoostreet musicianmusicanAshevilleNC

From Sounds