Winnipeg Street: Tim
Went out for a Sunday photo walk, taking advantage of some beautiful weather (finally!) we’ve been having; if you can call -8C beautiful! For Winnipeg, that is a heat wave right about now. It was also part of an event organized by Nicole Small.
I noticed Tim from across the street, taking this position about to enjoy his coffee and a cigarette. I approached, and went ahead and snapped the photo you see below followed by the second, which was more “permission asked”. He was a great guy to talk to and our discussion included cameras and rangefinder focusing, the weather and smoking. He had stopped smoking for 5 years but recently purchased a pack but said he’d quit again after that pack was finished as several of his family members had passed away due to cancer.
Another photographer, Doug, also stopped by and took his shot as well (final image).It’s always great meeting other photographers, especially those interested in street! You can check out Doug’s work on Flickr.
After reviewing the images again at home, I kind of wish I framed the shot better because on the other side is a large photo of a coffee cup from above, which might have looked interesting :)
Mike Pratt Photography Blog 
Nice set. Beautiful portraits as usual. He must have felt like a star.
Thank you! Yeah, we joked about that! Making him a celebrity :)
Once again capturing an entire lifetime of stories in the subject’s face . If you had framed the coffee cup you could have entitled it Tim & Joe (insert giggle here).
Thank you so much :) Haha ~ I always like your humour! Actually, the coffee he’s drinking is called “Tim Hortons”!
Beautiful shots…the one of me taking Tim’s pic is well balanced with the person in the middle!
Thanks Doug! I thought so too! It was great meeting you.
I love this serie (and the story too)!
So sincere and honest feeling in all of them.
Nice work, Mike!
Thank you always, Malin! Always encouraged/inspired to get out there and keep shooting when I read comments like these.
Thanks for sharing Doug’s link, that’s so cool of you. I checked his pics very quickly and they are sooo different than yours. Yet you both paint a funky picture of Winnipeg, with a playade of interesting characters and settings – I am sure even the locals would be surprised :) xox
Thank you so much! That is what I love about doing this type of photography – or photography in general. Each person see’s a scene / subject differently, even when they’re shooting the same thing! As much as I complain about Winnipeg, it is a city of diversity, with many interesting areas and people.
You may think I’m nuts, Mike, but that’s ok I’m going to tell you my immediate reaction to your photos anyway . . . this collection to me is gritty-real-chic. I don’t know if that makes sense but the realness of the shots, the gritty-cool black and whiteness of your photos, and the beauty of Tim’s expression – his eyes and hair – to me is elegant and raw at once. The warmness of human connection set against the steel and concrete of the city street. Thank you for your talent! And so glad you are having a “heat wave” so you can get out and create! ~ Allison
Thank you Allison and I really am happy that you’re expressing exactly how you feel about the images! I try my best to capture people as they are. I don’t single out only the beautiful or glamorous, but those who might be down and out, or just regular folks. A nice blend of diversity! There are a lot of good people from all walks of life.
Once again, I’m impressed … and again by the rugged brick charm of Winnipeg, which provides a perfect backdrop for photos of this sort (or so I think, I’m not a photographer). I have a hankering to visit Winnipeg, once it gets warm … I trust there are plenty of gay men there, and not just one of two sitting on benches?
Thank you for your continued support of my work! Much appreciated. I think Winnipeg, as Allison put it, is a rather gritty place at times, especially during the winter months. Agreed, it creates an interesting backdrop for portraiture. Winnipeg is definitely a much better place to visit when it’s warm, during the summer months. As for your question about gay men, I wouldn’t know, re: “plenty of..”, however we do have a fairly large gay community.
HA! 8 below??? I think we had 12 today! Anyway, I specially like the 3rd photo :)
LOL ~ yeah, 8 below, and that is definitely warm for Winnipeg! Especially after having so many weeks of -30C. Thank you Cathy!
I love this Mike! I’m not sure why but he seems very intriguing
Thank you Dalia! Sometimes I just get a feeling that someone will be great to talk to and make an interesting subject. I don’t know why either, but he was definitely intriguing.
Nice set Mike.Beautiful portraits,You are awesome!
Very much appreciated Nicole! And likewise :)