Yesterday looked like a classic late December day, dim and dreary, with a sky full of clouds and no sign of the sun. Didn't feel like a classic late December day though, with the metaphorical mercury flirting with 60F. Couldn't stay inside but couldn't decide where to go, so I just headed out.
Wandered about until I found myself outside Pizza King, where I made somebody nervous loitering outside. Was waiting on a semi to come by for a reflection shot when someone came out asking what I was doing. Not sure what they were worried about but telling them I was a freelance photographer calmed things down and they left me alone after that.
Ever heard of a volunteer run bookstore? Me neither. Apparently we have one here in the neighborhood, wandered in after seeing folks heading for it. They were the volunteers. Cozy little place, will have to come back when I'm not hunting photos. Did good, left there with only one book.
What's that weird noise coming up behind? Oh, just somebody riding a motorized bike on the sidewalk. Welcome to the neighborhood!
My Spanish ain't too great, could one of y'all that is actually fluent call our friend David here and tell him the internet says hi? It'd be like the 21st century version of pen pals.
Don't they look a little young to be crashing the gate of Smoker's Heaven? Iroquois Manor is an interesting place. It looks like it has long since seen its better days but is still a sort of nexus for the community.
Mohamed here was hanging out in the parking lot with a friend when the friend hollered at me to take his picture. The friend didn't want me posting his photos to social media but Mohamed was cool with it.
It was a rather curious interaction, they'd let me snap a single shot of each and then want to see. We'd look and talk for a minute and then they'd let me take one more. Lather, rinse, repeat. Think they let me take a grand total of six shots but they're definitely going in my street portraits folder.
That was still enough picture taking to attract attention. "Take my picture!" Never going to say no to that. It never ceases to amaze me how a random wander can turn into an impromptu photo shoot in a shopping center parking lot with total strangers.
When in doubt, wander about!