Friday, January 6, 2012

We're Hobos Ma'am Part I - Guitar Man


About a month ago, my friend Patty and I took a Saturday afternoon to go out for lunch in Five Points South and then we walked around the area looking for photos. We walked up on a small group of men and Patty and I started chatting and she asked, "What are ya'll doing here?".  One answered, "We're hobos Ma'am." I'll be honest,  I haven't heard that term used since I was in elementary school, and we dressed as hobos for Halloween when we didn't have a costume.  One played his guitar, another cuddle his dog, another made bracelets and rings from twine, while we took their photographs.  No one asked us for money.  Apparently they move from city to city and it's a way of life that they have chosen. It's not for me to judge their lifestyle. I wish them well.  Today is the first of a short series of photographs from that day.

10 comments:

brattcat said...

an excellent start to this provocative series. looking forward to more.

Daryl said...

Like European Gypsies

Unknown said...

This is a lovely portrait - looks like it could be his album cover!

Anonymous said...

"We're hobos, Ma'am." I absolutely love that line.

Luis Gomez said...

Virginia a beautifully capture portrait! Love it.

TheChieftess said...

And a handsome hobo, I must say!!!

You continue to amaze me with your fabulous portraits...

Bob Crowe said...

He doesn't look very hobo-ish - reasonably clean cut. And he looks gentle. I imagine hobos as being hard bitten. Nice street portrait.

Petrea Burchard said...

My senior year in college I had a boyfriend who wanted to be a hobo after he graduated. It made me sad (I had so much ambition!) but of course it was the difference between us. I wonder where his adventures led him.

Dina said...

Do hobos still have freight trains to ride?
Their dog looks like pretty good protection.
Good for you for documenting a part of their journey.

SRQ said...

He has sweet eyes. And, clean looking fingernails. Makes me wonder how long he's been on the hobo trail. Great title for this series, by the way.