american savage
young drifter panhandling
san francisco
april, 2008

his face shows fresh violence.

"you been sleeping 'round here?" i ask, "gets kinda dangerous; lotta kids getting beat up."

"yep" he says, "but i'm dangerous too."

he's close with the scumfucks. so he does pretty good. his name is "stephen", but they call him "savage demon".

"'savage' cause i hurt people."

me, i'm not so sure.

was born in virginia, but is from oregon. his mom's there. his dad's in vegas.

"they're fucks; but i love them"

there's native american in him. he's proud of that. he's the only one of his family with any darkness in his skin to show for it.

been on his own since he was 14. five years now. gets around by hopping trains. mostly on the west coast; "up, down and back again." but wants to get to new york this time; never been. figures it will take him a few months.

spends time with his aunt when he needs his "solitude." she has some land in oregon. been having trouble with folks since her husband died; so he patrols the property with a shotgun.

but she has cancer and won't last so long.

"she cried when i left..." his thoughts trail...

"but she knows my heart's in movin."

OliveEyel says: What a beautiful face. Sad story...but seems to be a drifter. Wonder if people like that can adjust to a "normal" life. Wonder what his future holds. Excellent portrait shot. ; ) -- 08:04AM, April 09, 2008.
retired1234 says: Stoneth, hope your spirit doesn't become sad with such a great amount of human stories. Thanks for sharing, you're doing a great job. -- 08:06AM, April 09, 2008.
Weardale One says: wow...great picture and moving story...almost hard to believe a life like that actually exists... -- 08:06AM, April 09, 2008.
Trickypicky Pixie says: It's good to see you again. Thank You for sharing this piece of life. This portrait is touching. He has beautiful eyes " les yeux sont le miroir de l'ame" -- 08:13AM, April 09, 2008.
Sinsong says: i think it is a lot harder to get the story behind each person's portrait you make than taking the photo itself. so far u are doing really excellently on that. -- 08:13AM, April 09, 2008.
pfflyers1 says: well written last 3 lines the shot and story is ..... well .... Just part of life in the "big city" Your work is ":the real quality" here on flickr -- 08:31AM, April 09, 2008.
davieunited says: As always - great capture and captivating story! -- 08:41AM, April 09, 2008.
muskva says: It always amazes me how you managed to talk with these people but the photos never look like the posed ones. -- 08:52AM, April 09, 2008.
Ventus Terra says: Solid portrait. Thanks for sharing. -- 09:26AM, April 09, 2008.
Rui Ornelas says: Fantastic portrait. Moving story. -- Seen in my contacts' photos. (?) -- 09:34AM, April 09, 2008.
Mindstormphotos says: it's the photo it's the story it's social documentary photography !! and you are very good . seen in my contacts. -- 10:01AM, April 09, 2008.
original_ann says: It's so wonderful the way you flesh out the 2-D portraits and give them heart and soul. Bless him and his family. -- 11:12AM, April 09, 2008.
Paradise Regained says: as always - a great portrait... beautiful boy and sad story. what a waste.. -- 11:22AM, April 09, 2008.
iamnona says: the struggle in his eyes is very apparent. unfortunately, i don't think his story is a very unique one. very sad... -- 11:29AM, April 09, 2008.
AnToonz says: Very touching, as always. Thanks for posting -- 12:07PM, April 09, 2008.
civgirl says: wow. good to see you posting again. this is amazing! -- 12:34PM, April 09, 2008.
~BranchDesign says: beautiful eyes -- 01:00PM, April 09, 2008.
Marcela Faé says: nice shot... the model...amazing =o) -- 01:28PM, April 09, 2008.
.marcel bianchi says: hey, its been a long time. keep posting please. -- 02:05PM, April 09, 2008.
rex dart: eskimo spy says: he is beautiful. -- 02:26PM, April 09, 2008.
Eric P. Olson says: How sad that he is so lost, it is sad how he refers to his parents. They obviously did not nurture and care for him as parents should, and it is such a shame. Children are a precious gift from God, People look at him and say what a waste, but the truth is that his parents are the waste. -- 02:53PM, April 09, 2008.
leone. says: write a book. this is another great story. -- 03:51PM, April 09, 2008.
Anuradha Sarup says: He's only 19?!?!?! -- 04:25PM, April 09, 2008.
BikerBlue2 says: great portrait ,great history fantastic -- 05:18PM, April 09, 2008.
marce_garal says: Great great work!!!!! -- 05:27PM, April 09, 2008.
cashhold says: What a beautiful child. I love to see your photos and read the stories. They are forever with me. God bless these people who live on the streets, for whatever reason. I cannot imagine what their life is like and the hardships and pain they endure daily. -- 05:29PM, April 09, 2008.
Joy is a Joy says: what beautiful eyes! you can almost see the color in them. great shot!! great job! :)))))) xx -- 05:47PM, April 09, 2008.
* Ahmad Kavousian * says: Amazing portrait Tom, good to see you around. -- 05:50PM, April 09, 2008.
.Surya. says: so strong! great capture, love the b&w! -- 05:51PM, April 09, 2008.
Steini Vigg says: nice dude. Real nice. -- 07:41PM, April 09, 2008.
matt's life stroll says: Great story, both the image and the text. I figured out that one aspect of your photography that I enjoy a great deal is the lack of posing. I've always loved candid shots of real scenes. You capture that well. -- 09:13PM, April 09, 2008.
[] bichito [] says: another stunning one, you are one of the few who makes portraits talk and words look -- 09:34PM, April 09, 2008.
¥∑Ñ$kŸ says: sad story...love your work -- 11:10PM, April 09, 2008.
RIAFACEE89 says: amazing person. i love your works -- both narrative and photographical. it's what i wish to do, but i don't know where to look, or where to find the courage to talk. -- 12:10AM, April 10, 2008.
brents pix says: one thing i always notice about your shots..the subjects eyes. really pull you in. -- 12:49AM, April 10, 2008.
Lys∫∫ says: i love the random street phoography out there. is to natural and raw. fave -- 01:41AM, April 10, 2008.
rhutch says: Another amazing photo and story. Thanks for sharing -- 02:03AM, April 10, 2008.
rdmsf says: You have a poetry which you use beautifully in speaking of the lives of others. Thank you for sharing. -- 06:18AM, April 10, 2008.
jinxmcc says: You say so much with your spare real words and your honest caring portraits, and I find it hard to think of anything that seems worth adding as a comment. I am moved, beyond language. Your work is profound, a legacy. -- 06:18AM, April 10, 2008.
Luna Soledad says: You amaze me every time with the amazing souls your introduce us to... Thank you. -- Seen in my contacts' photos. (?) -- 12:42PM, April 10, 2008.
{wyethhouse} says: souls... they're real and hearing these stories puts a face on the significance of each one -- 01:00PM, April 10, 2008.
metini says: you are a real photographer. big respect for what you do and the way you do it. -- 07:57PM, April 10, 2008.
Diane.Reichert says: I love how you capture the true person in your pictures and in your questions. Thank you for showing us this side of life. My son spent 6 weeks on the streets of Philadelphia, because he hated himself, his life, the world around him, and struggled with mental illness... I see a bit of him in some of your portraits. They really move me. Although he still struggles with mental illness, he is living in a safe place now. (not sure why I shared this, but felt I needed to.) Thanks!!! -- 08:55PM, April 10, 2008.
como_un_pez_en_el_agua says: Oh, You are always great.....how lucky we are, innit?? how easy we complaint about our lives..and afte all,,,,shit!, tehere is a lot of people so really fuck! -- 09:31PM, April 10, 2008.
StanD70 says: It's been a while since you've posted. This was worth the wait. I love how you personalize your pictures. Everyone has a story worth telling. -- Seen in my contacts' photos. (?) -- 11:31PM, April 10, 2008.
quantumlimit says: excellent work - glad your work is in flickr -- 10:22AM, April 11, 2008.
mpgarascia says: Every photo and story you post I get that feeling in my stomach like when my favorite author comes out with a new novel..Beautiful photo, touching story. Thank You. -- 02:29AM, April 13, 2008.
lymang says: I've run out of superlatives to describe your portraits. I so want to emulate you. Sigh. -- 07:05PM, April 15, 2008.
Harpersbizarre says: thank you for this one -- 02:09PM, April 16, 2008.
MadameSeverine says: woow -- 08:29PM, April 17, 2008.
laSilvi says: hello tom. haven't been here in a while. you still amaze, and as someone (kind of) pointed above, your writing is as awesome as your photos. -- 01:02PM, April 25, 2008.
foxfjord says: His eyes belie his claim of savagry - a shame what society has done to our youth, GBH. As ever, your work is a masterpiece in so many ways. -- 12:35AM, May 01, 2008.
billpusztai says: Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Fine Art Male Portraits, and we'd love to have this added to the group! -- 12:14PM, May 02, 2008.
An_Drew_ says: these portraits of yours are so beautiful and so sad at the same time...thanks for sharing all of this -- 04:30PM, May 02, 2008.
basilly says: What a poignant and evocative shot. I don't know what to say. Your shots leave me f'n speechless. -- 07:01PM, May 17, 2008.
SkyShaper says: an exceptional piece of work -- 09:32PM, May 18, 2008.
Chris Beauchamp says: Hi, I stumbled onto your work from a link on Metafilter: ask.metafilter.com/91660/How-do-I-photograph-help-and-res... Instant fan. Excellent approach, and excellent results. Love the honesty. -- 09:45PM, May 19, 2008.
gordy1 says: what a fantastic set of images , we can never really know what goes on in some peoples mind , but if they are not hurting anyone ..... why not ? wouldn't we all like to drift for a while . -- 10:55AM, May 24, 2008.
Double_Nickel says: So sad that he would waste his life like that. So many came from circumstances like his and made something of themselves with hard work and perseverance. -- 01:49PM, May 28, 2008.
dk79 says: Your photostream is incredibly powerful. You do a great job telling the stories of human lives in words and images. -- 08:59PM, June 18, 2008.
Ok More Photos says: your work is amazing, you should write a book about all of this, just pictures and stories... it would be a way of giving them back a bit a respect and perhaps sort of a place in the world, even if for a few minutes only and a small bunch of people... -- 11:11PM, June 18, 2008.
PixelHoundSF says: Tom, you remain an inspiration. Great Work! Cheers, JT -- 05:54PM, July 11, 2008.
YC Liu Photography says: very touching story. great shot as usual. -- 02:46AM, July 24, 2008.
Kriptonite in real life Samoamax says: Hola, soy el administrador de un grupo llamado Emotional - Emotives and Fashion y nos encantaría agregar esto al grupo. splendid -- 03:07PM, August 10, 2008.
Anas Bukhash (nascity) says: Very interesting... -- 06:14AM, August 27, 2008.
urtaur says: great gallery -- 12:02AM, September 03, 2008.
Tizzy! says: Fantastic shot, he's gorgeous! -- 10:28PM, September 25, 2008.
h_ _ o d_ p_ta says: increibles retratos -- 03:34PM, October 08, 2008.
picaccino says: different but great as 'northern drift'.. -- 09:33AM, October 28, 2008.
Iris Syzlack says: Incredible eyes! -- 10:55PM, October 31, 2008.
VIRGO - Christian C. says: very incredible portraits great work -- 01:54PM, November 07, 2008.
aquababe says: wow - you make the faceless homeless so human and real. Thank you! -- 07:54PM, November 07, 2008.
A. Spence says: your portraits are amazing and haunting. I can't help but wonder what could have been for these folks. -- 01:02AM, November 10, 2008.
Thyago Rodrigues says: excellent work!!! -- 03:36PM, November 17, 2008.
AH in Pgh says: hard to look, frightening to read his story... -- 05:04PM, November 17, 2008.
(deaf mute) says: So drifters still exist? He sounds like a character in a Gus Van Sant movie and his eyes are so expressive that he should probably star in it. Remarkable shot. -- Seen on your photo stream. (?) -- 04:11AM, November 18, 2008.
Sleepless Aquarius says: (Arty, drifters will always exist). Beautiful portrait. I love your work. -- 05:57AM, November 18, 2008.
NYCArthur says: Your work continues to bowl me over -- 03:03AM, December 05, 2008.
JSDouble says: Hi, I'm an admin for a group called International Gothic, and we'd love to have this added to the group! -- 03:46AM, December 06, 2008.
sarah saxon says: these are amazing -- 09:32AM, December 27, 2008.
exergue says: savage sadness savage preacher dumb in young soon no teacher can bust through his vitriol hadicol skull duggery what am i not sympthetic course iam i am sympathethtic to all men in the lurch sans church avec la bouch la grand bouch avec le boost boast coast to coast he dah host or da toast frie him fast keep him blast such bullcrass -- 01:21AM, April 23, 2009.
Paul Fenis says: Fantastic!!!Bravo! ---------------- WINNER Your fantastic black and white picture is my winner! Please add this photo to flickr.com/groups/bwphotoaward/ invited with SICI (2009-03-08) -- 04:37PM, April 26, 2009.
Starbuck05 says: Incredible shot and story! WOW!! -- 03:02PM, May 07, 2009.
Loretta Stephens13 says: Great portrait- a very moving story as well.. You do great work! -- 10:41PM, May 08, 2009.
Che troiaggine. Che schifo tu. says: Beautiful eyes -- 04:24PM, May 10, 2009.
pcorp2009 says: breathtaking ive rarely ever seen a photo like this. -- 06:53PM, June 11, 2009.
jellis629 says: I do a lot of volunteer work in SF, helping those who truly need help. The "homeless" thugs in the Haight, though - they need to go. Read more: www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/16/BA48... FYI - most of the "homeless kids" in the Haight live that way because they want to. Posers. -- 01:20AM, January 18, 2010.
Harpersbizarre says: Jellis- what I love about tom's work is he really isn't here to defend it or to seek sympathy. he is simply telling a story, and giving voices to those "thugs in the Haight" who really don't have much of one. now I know many are there by choice. but the real question is- what choices of others played a role in them being there in the first place? my guess is that very few of them had a childhood like mine- complete with a meal on the table, a college fund, and parents who made me feel like I was pretty fantastic....but that's just a guess. But I love that you are there volunteering- that is not easy and comes from a big heart. I hope, though, that if one of those "homeless kids" ever did turn to you- - you could treat them like you treat the ones who "truly need help". -- 01:33AM, January 18, 2010.
xkimdaisyx says: Great capture, love that you get to tell their stories! -- 01:00AM, February 09, 2010.
mskogly says: Sounds like the story of Jack Kerouac. -- 08:33AM, February 10, 2010.
MandyJayneBeck says: such a beautiful face -- 12:54PM, March 31, 2010.
lemonhoney says: Beautiful photo for a beautiful person. Painful eyes. I'm enjoying looking at your photos. They are amazing. -- 06:08PM, April 14, 2010.
Healed By Art says: Beautiful -- 11:40AM, June 06, 2010.
` Andrew PL says: Hi, I'm an admin for a group called A Portrait Group, and we'd love to have this added to the group! -- 12:59PM, June 14, 2010.
☠ #VinauM# ☠ says: Great Style! -- 12:45AM, December 29, 2010.
amandajcain says: Wow, stunning work! -- 03:16PM, July 01, 2011.
decembre says: ______ ★ Thank you too for your post in Portrait★Faces Continue... ______________ -- Seen in the group"Portrait★Faces" (?) -- 08:29PM, December 26, 2011.