Ken - $2 Portraits - Jeff Marcowitz Photography

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$2 Portraits

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A street photography project founded in 2009 by Thomas Hawk in San Francisco. I joined the project in 2011 and it has forever changed my outlook on interaction with strangers on the street.

Superman
Superman = Robert
Robert
Unnamed
Brian
Jonathan
Cedric
Ron
Harold
JR
Sam & Roy
Kirk
Top Cat
JR + 2 Weeks
Marco
Marco
Quincy
Barbara
Unnamed
Gary
Isom
Michael
Unnamed
Ricky B.
Ricky T.
Ryan
Tyrone
Donna
Monsieur Violin
Paul
F.R.O.G.
Josh
Darryl
Stephan
Harvey
Unnamed
Wilma
Navin
Robert
Marcus
Jerry
Richard
Kewu
Gerald
Svetlio
Aaron
Larry
Francis
Roderick
Henry
Robert...Two Years Later
Zack
Walter
Bob
Frankie
Frankie
Czech Guy
Bradley
Roma
Jonathan
Joe
Robert…Three Years Later
Pablo
Kenneth
Robert & Me
Ken
Troy
Amelia
Robert C.
Josh
Jason
Jeff
Ken
Tomas & Tara
Kevin
Michael
Doris
Brian
Brian
Jeremy (Elmo)
Connor
Papa Bear
Juanita
Frank
Spanky
Ron
Robert (and Jeff)
Joaquim
Frank
Charles
Little Holland Wolf
Willie
Mike
Robert
Kev
Andre
Marcus
"I Believe"
Gene
Deacon Robert
Lynn
I saw him sitting on his cardboard boxes, cup in hand, and when I walked by, he called out “whatcha doin’ brother?” I dropped to tell him about the $2 Portrait project and he immediately began a negotiation. “My name is Ken, what is yours? My portrait is worth $5.” I told him my name and we shook hands. Knowing I only had two singles on me and the rest $20’s, I told Ken, all I could do was $2. “How about $3; two for the portrait and one for the tip? That’s all I need for a room tonight and I’m tired of sitting out here.” Apologizing, I began to walk away, telling him again all I had was $2.<br><br>He called me back after a few steps and agreed to let me take his picture for $2. “You have to be more flexible, man”, he told me grumbling a little. I took a few shots and all I learned from Ken is that he’s 56 years old and originally from Brooklyn.<br><br>About 20 minutes later, after breaking a twenty, I walked by the same spot where I had met Ken to give him an extra dollar. He was gone, so he must have picked up the extra cash needed for his room that night.<br><br>Taken 6/26/14
Portrait,Mason,Street,San,Francisco
Ken - $2 Portraits - Jeff Marcowitz Photography
I saw him sitting on his cardboard boxes, cup in hand, and when I walked by, he called out “whatcha doin’ brother?” I dropped to tell him about the $2 Portrait project and he immediately began a negotiation. “My name is Ken, what is yours? My portrait is worth $5.” I told him my name and we shook hands. Knowing I only had two singles on me and the rest $20’s, I told Ken, all I could do was $2. “How about $3; two for the portrait and one for the tip? That’s all I need for a room tonight and I’m tired of sitting out here.” Apologizing, I began to walk away, telling him again all I had was $2.<br><br>He called me back after a few steps and agreed to let me take his picture for $2. “You have to be more flexible, man”, he told me grumbling a little. I took a few shots and all I learned from Ken is that he’s 56 years old and originally from Brooklyn.<br><br>About 20 minutes later, after breaking a twenty, I walked by the same spot where I had met Ken to give him an extra dollar. He was gone, so he must have picked up the extra cash needed for his room that night.<br><br>Taken 6/26/14