Portraits of Strangers. Boy with the Ball

Generally, life is good.

Portraits of Strangers. Conversation

 

Generally, life is good.

Facades. What They Taught Me

Not long ago, I tried photographing buildings for the first time and discovered I had a real talent… for failing spectacularly.

The buildings refused to speak to me—they stood smirking, stubborn, offering nothing. Still, their facades ended up teaching me a few unexpected lessons.

One of those lessons was that the best camera is simply the one you have in your hands—the one whose limits you’ve learned and whose strengths you know how to gently push.

The photographs that find us come from our connection to what’s in front of the lens, from patience, and from a willingness to see things as they are—no more, no less.  

And in the end, it’s failure that teaches us the most.

Generally, life is good.

 

Portraits of Strangers. Boy with Glasses

 Generally, life is good.

Facades

 Generally, life is good.

Portraits of Strangers. A Brief Encounter on The City Corner

 

There was a quiet dignity in this man stillness— a story I could feel but didn’t know. Sometimes a portrait doesn’t need a face; the hands, the posture, and the space around a person can tell enough.

Generally, life is good.

City at Dusk

 

Generally, life is good.

From Another Era and Still Here

 

1956 Chevrolet Bel Air. 

***

Yesterday, as I wandered through downtown with my camera, this beautiful old Chevrolet appeared, gliding down the street like a memory from another time.  

Generally, life is good.

Whirls of Color and Spirit

As my city prepares for Halloween, these dancers filled our main street yesterday with vibrant motion and joyful energy. Celebration and art came together in a radiant dance of life.

Generally, life is good.

Portraits of Strangers. The Young Man with Tatoo

Behind every face marked by time and ink, there’s a story quietly waiting to be heard. 

***

I have always been fascinated by faces — each one revealing itself in its own mysterious way. 

My portraits are made on the street, never planned, always born from a fleeting moment of luck and opportunity.

I never truly know whether I’ve captured the essence of a stranger or merely a passing expression, but each time I try, I do so with hope — hoping that something genuine and human finds its way into the frame.

Generally, life is good.

Portraits of Strangers. The Girl Behind the Window

 

I watched her absorbed in her simple task, unaware of being seen. The window softened everything—her face, the light, even time itself.

***

There’s something endlessly fascinating about windows—the way they reveal fragments of other lives while reflecting pieces of our own. Photographing through them, however, is rarely simple. Reflections interfere, angles deceive, and clarity often feels just out of reach.

This time, though, something unexpected happened. The photograph turned out far better than I imagined—perhaps because the dirty glass softened the world just enough to let a bit of mystery in.

Generally, life is good.

25th Street

 

My favorite photographer, Jay Maisel, once said that pictures are everywhere—if only you keep your mind and eyes open.

I’m not sure I managed that fully while walking along our only main street, yet something still caught my attention—the way the light touched the old facades, the quiet rhythm of the place.

Generally, life is good.

When the Night Puts On a Mask...

 

My city is dressing itself in shadows and lights, preparing for Halloween.

Generally, life is good.

Portraits of Strangers. The Beauty That Remains

 

There’s a quiet, timeless beauty, the kind that comes from wisdom, warmth and resilience. It's a beauty that doesn't fade but deepens with age.

Generally, life is good.

Portraits of Strangers. Concentration

 

Generally, life is good.

Notes to Self. From Now On...

 

Ending always has a beginning.

***

Over the past two months, I’ve often wondered how I could continue my photography without being able to visit my favorite places and photograph wildlife. 

A problem with my spine has made long drives difficult, and there were days when I couldn’t find a reason to keep going without causing myself pain.

But this morning, something shifted. I thought—why not begin again? Why not simply photograph whatever inspires me, wherever I am?

A dear friend recently reminded me of three little words that can light the way toward a new beginning: From now on.

---

The photo above was taken this evening on our historic 25th Street, where I once spent countless hours doing street photography.

And you know what? Life, after all, is still good.

The Beauty of Ordinary. Windows

 

Generally, life is good.

Numbers

Before I posted this photograph, I asked myself—what is it about the number "5" that draws me in? 

Maybe it holds a sense of inner freedom, something I deeply crave, or perhaps this number carries the promise of change—positive change, the kind that moves life forward.  Anyway, the number "5" is my favorite number.

Generally, life is good.

 

Notes to Self. Challenge

I was asked by my neighbor to take pictures of our neighborhood for his new website. 

Our neighborhood consists of several condos and they are not pretty at all. Actually, they are ugly.

This afternoon I took my old reliable Leica and went to create something of nothing. 

The evening light was on my side but everything was so boring. I thought what would happen if I lived only for a few years here and returned today just to revive some memories.  How would I see this place differently?

This is a field I used to walk in mornings and late evenings with my dog Tasha when she was alive. It's a big field and Tasha used to run there.

Right now on the field runs the unknown dog with whom we said hello to each other.  In my opinion, he looks great. Not sure that he will appear on my neighbor's website but here this puppy is very welcome.

Surprise, surprise... I even didn't know that this snowman happily settled on the field. Love him so much!  He is a fancy stylish guy!

Back to business.  Found an interesting shade on the wall of one condo.

You leave this road, turn to the left and in a five minutes you are in the canyon. To drive in the canyon is a challenge in the winter time. I don't have winter tires and try to stay away from the canyon.

I live in one of those condos. 

My neighbor Alex's feeders. In winter the Chickadees are permanent residents there. By the way, the feeders are under totalitarian control of a few Magpies.

The same road that leads to the canyon.

  


What I learned today is the best decisions are made by instinct, not by reason.  I didn't want to be involved in my neighbors' project and thought about many reasons not participate in it.  But... it didn't feel right. 

The end.

The Street - 6. Pigeons