Larry - $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
About to depart from my evening in Union Square, I spotted him approaching several groups of people wheeling his travel suitcase and carrying a large plastic bag over his shoulder. As each group shunned him, I decided to plant myself &quot;downstream&quot; to his path and see if he would approach me.<br><br>&quot;Excuse me sir, my name is Larry Daryl Jones. May I talk to you for a moment?&quot; Upon my approval, Larry began to tell me his story of military and prison service. Larry, originally from Richmond, VA, was in the US Army and served in both Desert Storm and Desert Shield, achieving the rank of corporal. After discharge he worked as a warehouseman. Larry talked about being in the Tenderloin and the target of an attempted robbery. With his military training as a martial arts specialist, he decided to teach his assailant a lesson and was subsequently charged and convicted of attempted murder. Larry served 8 years in prison and has been in San Francisco now for 2 years since his release. He then asked me if I could spare some money for something to eat. I told him about the $2 Portrait project and his face lit up. He immediately stepped in front of me and went into his military salute pose.<br><br>I took a few shots and we talked a bit longer. Larry was respectful and articulate. His demeanor and etiquette were totally disarming. Had I been in a more regular $2 Portrait mode, I probably could have talked with him for an hour. As it was, I was tongue-tied, not asking my usual questions about age, living arrangements and family. I gave him a few dollars, we shook hands, and I wished him good luck as he picked up his belongings and continued down Geary. In retrospect, it was a missed opportunity as I would have really liked to learn more about him.<br><br>Taken 12/11/12
Portrait,Geary,San,Francisco,Union,Square
Larry - $2 Portraits - Jeff Marcowitz Photography
About to depart from my evening in Union Square, I spotted him approaching several groups of people wheeling his travel suitcase and carrying a large plastic bag over his shoulder. As each group shunned him, I decided to plant myself &quot;downstream&quot; to his path and see if he would approach me.<br><br>&quot;Excuse me sir, my name is Larry Daryl Jones. May I talk to you for a moment?&quot; Upon my approval, Larry began to tell me his story of military and prison service. Larry, originally from Richmond, VA, was in the US Army and served in both Desert Storm and Desert Shield, achieving the rank of corporal. After discharge he worked as a warehouseman. Larry talked about being in the Tenderloin and the target of an attempted robbery. With his military training as a martial arts specialist, he decided to teach his assailant a lesson and was subsequently charged and convicted of attempted murder. Larry served 8 years in prison and has been in San Francisco now for 2 years since his release. He then asked me if I could spare some money for something to eat. I told him about the $2 Portrait project and his face lit up. He immediately stepped in front of me and went into his military salute pose.<br><br>I took a few shots and we talked a bit longer. Larry was respectful and articulate. His demeanor and etiquette were totally disarming. Had I been in a more regular $2 Portrait mode, I probably could have talked with him for an hour. As it was, I was tongue-tied, not asking my usual questions about age, living arrangements and family. I gave him a few dollars, we shook hands, and I wished him good luck as he picked up his belongings and continued down Geary. In retrospect, it was a missed opportunity as I would have really liked to learn more about him.<br><br>Taken 12/11/12