"My name is Matthew, don't you dare call me William."

[tekisui]

He traded a photograph for a pack of cigarettes. He said, "You can take my picture, even though I'm ugly. I don't have time to make myself look good, but that's okay." I told he wasn't ugly.

It is really worth stopping and talking to your fellow man. Even just saying "How are you, what's your name?" makes a difference in their day.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

1. and if I called him william

what would he do?

but why would I do such a thing?

[tekisui]

6. Don't you dare do it, if you see him.

I don't know what it means or why he said it, or how he would react. But, don't you do it.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

7. Okay, since I am just that kind of

weird-0... I am going to find him and call him william.

where did you find him?

I have to know what he has against such a noble name

[tekisui]

8. He was just down from Malaprops.

I was out taking shots, and he asked for cigarette money. I asked him his name, and he said exactly, "My name is Matthew, don't you dare call me William."

We talked a little more, and he told me he hated the guy that he appeared to be with. Another tortured soul on Asheville's streets.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

9. thanks... I have to know more

this is fascinating

besides that, I am sick of taking lousy shots of little birds, I need a break

[tekisui]

10. The people on the city's streets are an endless study.

You never know what stories they have to tell.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

17. so, I went looking for him... no luck

then this evening, when I was in a hurry, and getting garlic bread which I had earlier forgotten at Ingles, I turned a corner, and there he was... arguing with the manager about something, and clearly quite in a psychotic rage

I did not call him William

[superconnected]

2. Was this a homeless man? You're right, he isn't ugly at all.

[tekisui]

4. Yes, he is.

It was obvious he has been overlooked and looked down upon for so long that he thinks of himself as "ugly".

[mth44sc]

3. there is a dignity to this photo

that speaks louder than any protestations by the subject to the contrary. You've captured a man's soul! You can see it in the eyes...

[tekisui]

5. Yes, the eyes.

That is what got me, too.

[Blue_In_AK]

11. That's a wonderful portrait

Msybe he often gets mistaken for someone named William whom he doesn't like. :shrug:

I'd like to be able to take pictures of street people, but being female I'm kind of nervous about approaching men I don't know asking to take their photos. That's where you guys have an advantage, you can just go anywhere you want to go, walk right up and talk to people.

Maybe I'm just too timid.

[superconnected]

15. It's probably a normal mistake he runs in to a lot. My name is Kelly and I've been called Kathy

right after introducing myself, dozens of times.

[ConsAreLiars]

12. A very compelling portrait.

It is easy to read a lot about him and his life into it, true or not. Have you thought about making a print and, if you encounter him again, giving him a copy?

[tekisui]

16. That is a great idea.

I'll do that.

[JeffR]

13. I just noticed ConsAreLiars' response, which used the word "compelling"

and that's exactly right. Every day of struggle for this man has registered on his face, and it's made him beautiful and tragic. Ulysses returning home from his years at sea must have looked much like this man. I hope Matthew finds his welcoming port soon.

[ConsAreLiars]

14. Thanks Jeff. I had also wanted to add a bit but couldn't quite find the right words.

It was that I hoped that if tekisui had the opportunity to give or show that man a copy of the photo, he would be able to counter the "ugly" in some way. "See, you are not ugly" seemed pretty inadequate, and "pretty" wasn't going to sell very well.

Your post mentioning Ulysses kicked loose the descriptor I was missing: "heroic." The strength and courage and guts that it takes to survive the challenges that face those at the bottom of our stratified economy, especially the most dysfunctional, the drunks and addicts and crazies, is something that few even imagine, but that is what this portrait shows, for any who are able to take a honest look.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

19. heroic? don't know... epic

i would go with

[ConsAreLiars]

20. Language is funny in that way.

I've seen words change their meanings over time, and also seen how the same words carry different meanings to different people. "Epic" to me connotes "world-changing," and "heroic" maybe for you means "sacrificing-to-save-others." Neither secondary meaning fits. Sometimes a photo is better than a thousand words, because those words could not be as effective in conveying the message as the photo itself.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

21. thus the addage

a picture is worth a thousand words

[Maestro]

18. Every one else has covered it.

Compelling, dignified, somber, melancholic. Truly, it is a great portrait showing how hard this man has had it lately.