The first thing I notice is the beard. Long, grey, and untamed in the way that says it’s been part of his life for years. But it’s the smile that makes me walk over — warm, open, and unhurried.
I explain the project, how I’m photographing people who’ve been homeless and people who haven’t, so the viewer can’t tell which is which. He listens, nods, and says, “I’ve been there before.” Then he tells me about the years where it all fell apart — job gone, relationship gone, nowhere to stay. He talks about the streets without drama or self-pity, just as part of his life’s timeline.
I take the shot while he’s still smiling. The beard frames it, but it’s the expression in his eyes that makes the image. The kind of look that tells you this is someone who’s been through it, come out the other side, and still knows how to laugh.