Journal Image - Candid Street Photo & Motion Photography

I was wandering about downtown San Jose a few weeks back, with my camera slung on my shoulder, trying to get some “people” shots when I met this gentleman.

He was seated on one of the bus stand benches, clothed wearily in rags and was carrying his paraphernalia around. I am used to such people since they make good portraits in exchange of usually a few cigarettes, or at the most a pack of Marlboro lights! He glanced at me with a “what’s up man” in the leo style (for those who watch “the 70’s show”). Very soon we got talking. I offered him a cigarette with my left hand and brought out the lighter with my right. He refused!

I usually dont offer money (mostly because I dont carry much with me on such situations) and I was quite on the verge of leaving, thinking that he may not be interested in anything as trivial as a smoke. As I was about to leave, he waved his hand asking me to sit and in a very calm yet paternal tone said “offer me with your right hand”! He was undoubtedly offended at my mis behaviour. And we got talking.

A few smokes and an hour later the stage had changed quite a bit. To my surprise, he was a college graduate, a passionate hippie (pardon me if that is an insentitive use of the word), an avid traveller and a full time beggar! Yes a beggar! But as he liked to put it “a beggar by choice”!

In his early life he had moved from one job to another, picking up enough money to keep him mobile and fed, gone through the era of social change in the seventies and finally decided to beg, at his own will made sure that he doesn’t get trapped in the claustrophobic cubiclism of modern day blue collar jobs.

It got me thinking more! Is it a misery when we limit our dreams in three by three feet of space and enough money to buy milk, bread and a carton of beer a week? When we make a choice, do we know that we have considered all the options? If am in no way preferring the choice of being a beggar, how could I possibly limit my choices to a three by three or even a corner office by any chance?

Filed under: Black & White, Culture, Humor, Life, Lifestyle, Street Photography, Writing