lord take me away
man homeless and tired
san francisco
april, 2006

he stands in a doorway in the mission shaded from the sun. been homeless for a while now. name’s walter; from texas. he was living along katrina’s path when it struck. displaced, he returned to san francisco soon after. says he always liked it here.

says he has two daughters with three doctorates between them; one who teaches at columbia; the other at texas southern.

he was one of the original twelve black panther founding members, he says. i tell him my mother worked with eldridge cleaver at ramparts magazine back in the day. but he says he never liked cleaver: "he wasn't good to his woman."

says men are crooks. all of them… "you and me, we're men; but we know." he smiles with a quick wink.

he says we need to return to where we came from; women need to run the show. "just think", he continues, "who raised you? who took care of you? who managed the household? your mother, that's who. and your grandmother. i never disrespected a woman in my life; and i never will."

"we need a woman president" he insists; "to fix things. no more men. we only fuck it up."

"we need hillary " he says. "you think i'm foolin'; i'm serious!"

"me" he finishes, "i'm just waiting for god to take me away. i don't like what i see in this place."

(4/23/06)

RedArt photographer says: great portrait! -- 03:12AM, April 24, 2006.
ed rawady says: wow, yet another intense, amazing portrait; his eyes appear glassy, as if he's sad and crying. -- 03:14AM, April 24, 2006.
Ignacio LPM says: Excellent. -- 03:14AM, April 24, 2006.
Donna Sullivan Thomson says: Oh my God, Tomas! You tear my heart out with your portraits and stories. That's a good thing because we should never forget! God bless him! His eyes...there are no words! Magnificent work! -- 03:15AM, April 24, 2006.
ANOXLOU says: pardon my french... I love this fucken shot!!! -- 03:18AM, April 24, 2006.
doublecappuccino says: Stunning. -- 03:23AM, April 24, 2006.
sbaracchina says: This is a masterpiece... this man is my hero... and you're amazing, stoneth! Thank you for sharing these stories with us. -- 03:29AM, April 24, 2006.
jasperroz says: Just beautiful... He looks like he is about to drop a tear. -- 03:30AM, April 24, 2006.
pfflyers1 says: Gripping, insightful, full of conviction, a frim grasp on what he feels ails and stifles this country. Another gem! and they only get better as your inviews get more in depth. -- 03:36AM, April 24, 2006.
lakewentworth says: You are the master of portraiture. -- 03:38AM, April 24, 2006.
another story says: thank you for sharing these precious lives with us all. -- 03:39AM, April 24, 2006.
jeffhung says: wow, thanks for the description. very powerful photo, wonderfully shot. -- 03:39AM, April 24, 2006.
'SeraphimC says: Damn -- 03:44AM, April 24, 2006.
leeontheroad says: another fantastic portrait-- image and description both. -- 04:14AM, April 24, 2006.
Ravi Vora says: his eyes are absolutely AMAZING. great capture. -- 04:18AM, April 24, 2006.
* Ahmad Kavousian * says: Great capture, EYES..... -- 04:21AM, April 24, 2006.
bennyjewell says: lovin your stlyz im hooked on this series !!!!!!!!!!!!!! -- 04:33AM, April 24, 2006.
mekron says: Excellent ! Great portrait and amazing personality description. -- 05:15AM, April 24, 2006.
_Hans van de Vorst says: His eyes hit me instantly. You're not only a skillful photographer, you really get into their being. -- 06:09AM, April 24, 2006.
Moxette says: a wonderfully moving image and story. -- 07:26AM, April 24, 2006.
andrea francesco says: Amazing eyes... -- 08:45AM, April 24, 2006.
Eugenia Moira Angela Darling says: amazing portrait. -- 10:24AM, April 24, 2006.
J_B - Johnny B says: Speechless... -- 10:38AM, April 24, 2006.
exhibitj says: This is such a sad story. This man is disenchanted with life through and through. I admire your courage for talking to the marginalised day after day, Tomas. When I do come to SF, I would like to see things for myself. This shot is by far the most touching for me. -- 10:43AM, April 24, 2006.
Tous les noms sont déjà pris... pfff... says: Moving... -- 11:19AM, April 24, 2006.
Romi S. says: I just want to give him a great big hug.I've actually got tears in my eyes...Damn. You do marvelously powerful things to me.thank you. -- 11:23AM, April 24, 2006.
Daniel Andre says: nice portrait. sad tale. -- 11:58AM, April 24, 2006.
L_Michaela_J says: Fantastic, moving.. Thank you stoneth. -- 12:51PM, April 24, 2006.
original_ann says: Life is so unfair... it seems. -- 12:52PM, April 24, 2006.
Merkur* says: Life is unfair by definition. You just have to live long enough to realize that. (I'm not very old though, :) ) As for the pic Simply another fav -- 01:02PM, April 24, 2006.
Angela Layana says: wonderful!!! Great capture! -- 01:50PM, April 24, 2006.
farbenblind says: deeply moving! -- 01:52PM, April 24, 2006.
Supervixen. says: Life is so unfair. -- 02:06PM, April 24, 2006.
Grace_L says: so hard to look. I'm sad. exellent portrait.... -- 02:20PM, April 24, 2006.
Jidz says: great shot! sad story! but i must say that nice women are not that easy to find. most of them are takin! -- 02:37PM, April 24, 2006.
fotoJENica says: Interesting! -- 03:34PM, April 24, 2006.
Ahimsa! says: terrific portrait. i love walter's beard, the lines in his neck, the intensity of his expression. the commentary was touching. great pic! -- 04:01PM, April 24, 2006.
aaron colon says: fantastic work. -- 04:10PM, April 24, 2006.
Mernas says: great portrait.. beautiful soft intensity -- 06:23PM, April 24, 2006.
alebao73 says: i can't believe what my eyes are seeing! it's like to have him here, standing in front of me! you're great, i'm not joking, you're really great!!! ciao, Alessandro. -- 08:43PM, April 24, 2006.
Primo Tacca Neto says: Lost man... Expressive... -- 10:27PM, April 24, 2006.
Lady Vervaine says: Incredible eyes. And devastating text. What you do is so special, Stoneth. Are you going to get together a book of this stuff at any point? I really think it deserves a huge audience.... -- 02:41AM, April 25, 2006.
Sandi Marie says: Brilliant moving story to go with an outstanding photo! -- 02:50AM, April 25, 2006.
Jim Dawson Photography says: What has been said is all that I would have said.....and more. -- 03:07AM, April 25, 2006.
JojoDee says: your photos are so unsettling, not in a bad way, but they leave me feeling so inadequate. -- 04:44AM, April 25, 2006.
Nevfeniel says: in everyone of this portraits, i can see almost your soul. Im really impressed of what your show here. Thank you! :) -- 07:23AM, April 25, 2006.
durhamcat2000 says: His daughters must be so proud, he is a very intelligent man. xx -- 09:22AM, April 25, 2006.
`yoshi says: great shot, great story. i'm really glad you do what you do. -- 10:56AM, April 25, 2006.
Sammeh says: wonderful shot, wonderful story. thank you so uch for sharing this. He is a beautiful soul, not onlyhis words but his eyes...refreshing feminist. -- 08:14PM, April 25, 2006.
Therapystudio says: wise man :) -- 11:06PM, April 25, 2006.
sMacshot-on semi hiatus says: hearbreak. Sorry! -- 03:21AM, April 26, 2006.
Lipsstick Gallery says: you tell wonderful stories stoneth -- 03:43AM, April 26, 2006.
e.v.r.i.e.l says: je suis d'accord avec lui,une femme comme présidente changerait peut être beaucoup de choses et de mentalités... -- 09:58AM, April 26, 2006.
k neva knows says: beautiful portrait -- 01:37PM, April 26, 2006.
FoToKobos says: You are a master of the portrait! -- 02:55PM, April 26, 2006.
Chiqui (Kat•Shots) Pineda-Azimi says: AMEN TO THAT! beautiful and painful capture. thank you for sharing his story. -- 07:25PM, April 26, 2006.
Franc-tireur says: Love this shot!! Wow ! -- 08:00PM, April 26, 2006.
antiguan says: good shot and description. hate when people don't write anything. this site isn't just about good pics. good pics need good blurbs with them. thanks! -- 11:01PM, April 26, 2006.
Leandro Bugni says: Extremely sad and beautiful. Thanks for this moment. -- 11:21PM, April 26, 2006.
akaiam says: so much gravity -- 01:38AM, April 27, 2006.
jzc17 says: wonderful shot. please keep taking these photos and reminding people of the lives and hopes and dreams that we too often simply walk by on our way. -- 07:09AM, April 27, 2006.
Noë says: So expressive ! -- 09:18AM, April 27, 2006.
Harpersbizarre says: No words.... -- 02:13PM, April 27, 2006.
asimpleheartcrying says: So much pain in his eyes. -- 10:50PM, April 28, 2006.
GaryBrownePhotography says: Oh my God Oh my God -just discovered you-absobloodylutely brilliant-can't get the image/story out of my head!! -- 11:03AM, April 29, 2006.
Linda B (Wine Diva) says: I was referred to your photostream by J_B. I'm glad he told me about you, your work is incredible! This is such an emotional photo. -- 08:09PM, April 29, 2006.
www.orlandohenriques.com says: Amazing series! -- 10:32PM, April 30, 2006.
kathalijne says: hi, the eyes are really amazing, cool! -- 07:22PM, May 02, 2006.
Bailey_Blue_Photography says: "we need a woman president" he says; "to fix things. no more men. we only fuck it up." THIS GUY IS GOLD =) I dunno about Hillary though...but a woman pres. its TIME!!! -- 06:28PM, May 03, 2006.
PortugePunk says: really moving story with this shot. the last line is chilling. -- 08:01PM, May 03, 2006.
artpunx says: the things he said are incredibly poignant for out times. mounted w/ a powerful portrait it is a fabulous work of art. -- 04:49PM, May 04, 2006.
It was only me. says: This is a very moving photo, I'm deeply touched, so wise. Although I may not agree with anything negative, walters views can be true and has a lifetime to know what he can see. His eyes tell a story,one we could all take to heart. -- 08:00PM, May 04, 2006.
W.i.l.l.i.e. says: The photo is excelent but you give us another gift, the story behind all those eyes. Thank you. -- 06:26AM, May 05, 2006.
Eva Pena says: I can't get his eyes out of my mind. -- 02:37PM, May 05, 2006.
Miss Loisy says: Wow, so beautiful portrait! I can't get his eyes out of my mind like Eva Pena too... This one really, really grabs me. -- 04:21PM, May 08, 2006.
Melissa Wax says: love this portrait along with his quote at the end. Very engaging. amazing work. I have been sitting here for a while now reading and looking at all of these and am enthralled. -- 10:02PM, May 09, 2006.
Belltown says: This image has been selected for other's eyes, a serial exploration of the flickr stream. [homeless series] Thank you for letting us see through your eyes. -- 12:21AM, May 10, 2006.
enjae says: OMG. -- 12:58AM, May 11, 2006.
Trinimoi says: I love all your b&w portraits - but this one, and this story brought tears to my eyes. So much life captured here, so much pain. Excellent, excellent work! -- 03:14PM, May 17, 2006.
anandajoy says: incredible, simply incredible -- 03:59PM, May 18, 2006.
applemoy says: Very, very good. I hope it will make me look more people in the eye in the street instead of walking by. -- 10:27PM, May 18, 2006.
djune says: "he is right!" -- 02:49AM, May 21, 2006.
last love says: it's too bad that I can favourite it only once. -- 03:08AM, June 01, 2006.
toneirenlund says: makes me wanna cry! -- 05:36PM, June 11, 2006.
Carrie Taylor says: He's right and real. -- 07:15PM, June 16, 2006.
thomas lieser (thomas-lieser.smugmug.com) says: Extremely good. -- 07:00AM, June 20, 2006.
hollow legs says: My God; all of your b/w photos have this pungent ethereal quality to them...it's really hard to explain, but it's...intense. When I enlarged this particular one and read the background of this man with his eyes filling in the emotional blanks these words literally flew into my mind: "...any man's death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." Random, perhaps, but true. You 'get' the moment...in both senses of the word. Envious, a little. Grateful, most definitely. -- 02:38AM, July 07, 2006.
bellyface says: awesome! -- 07:17AM, July 22, 2006.
I Spy ... says: absolutely magical pic - walter sounds like a gem -- 08:24PM, July 26, 2006.
naashna says: Superb!! You are invited! ------------------------------------------------- !!! THE FACE !!! Please add this exceptional image to: www.flickr.com/groups/theface/ ------------------------------------------------- and add " theface" TAG: -- 03:58AM, August 14, 2006.
www.orlandohenriques.com says: "Would you please consider adding this portrait to GREAT PORTRAITS? www.flickr.com/groups/greatportraits/ Please tag it with "greatportraits" If you agree, send us a message. We will then accept you as a new GREAT PORTRAITS member. Any image posted without invitation or tag will be removed". -- 03:35PM, September 03, 2006.
jack80 says: F a n t a s t i c !!!! -- 01:40PM, September 22, 2006.
jack80 says: Add to : www.flickr.com/groups/B&W -- 01:40PM, September 22, 2006.
yaxchibonam says: Please consider adding this to: www.flickr.com/groups/gusto/ Gracias! -- 05:42AM, September 27, 2006.
yipeenikki says: amazing. -- 04:29PM, October 11, 2006.
Christine Lebrasseur says: ╒═════════╣╠═════════╕ This Masterpiece would deserve to appear in : " Art Libre - Free Art - Arte Libre - Freie Kunst" (invite only) group . tag with : "ArtLibre" and consider to join us :o) "Unexpected til we came & saw it Unbelievable as soon as seen Hit the mark despite not aiming for it Is'nt that how things have always been ?" [Bertolt Brecht] - German Poet and Playwright ╘═════════╣╠═════════╛ -- Found in your popular shots. (?) -- 06:10AM, October 14, 2006.
utopiahpony says: the portrait and the story are both amazing. Your poverty set is amazing. You capture people in a great way, far from what is usually shown in the press ... -- 02:43PM, October 18, 2006.
TimSchuler says: wonderful portrait -- 10:01AM, November 15, 2006.
decor8 says: i added this one to my flickr faves. I love the emotion here. -- 10:43PM, November 23, 2006.
HandiBabyTGirl says: gorgeous photos. "broken spirals and virals of pretense, foldable like tents shaken off like dusty mops clicking heels and classifieds with circles made in red a nest of boom and cough ominous the roar in the distance, far away and close collection of the damned and God damned" Handi/2006 Keep shooting. Keep holding the social mirror up to the eyes of the world, let them see the reflection. You are walking a long road, and there are holes, at both ends. -- 07:49AM, December 25, 2006.
°DonJoel° says: great! -- 10:47PM, January 05, 2007.
ROTANG says: Wow...I think that this is one of my favorite pictures/storys that you have posted. I love hearing about their pasts....its amazing to find out what they have endured -- 03:05AM, April 13, 2007.
Palmtreefreak575 says: i love these quotes lol "we need a woman president" he says; "to fix things. no more men. we only fuck it up." "we need hillary " he says. "you think i'm foolin'; i'm serious!" "me" he says finally, "i'm just waiting for god to take me away. i don't like what i see in this place." i find the first one funny and the last one bitter sweet...would that be the right word? i just find it sweet but sad -- 03:42AM, April 14, 2007.
thomas lieser (thomas-lieser.smugmug.com) says: FFP Award You are my favorite,please add this great 5+ faves photo to Flickr Favorite Photographers(5+ fav/comment 3/invite 2) -- 10:15AM, May 05, 2007.
Ronen M says: reward from One Of A Kind group This is one of a kind piece of work !!! please take a moment to join One Of A Kind we'd love to have your photo added to our group. -- 01:51PM, May 05, 2007.
jalalspages says: Stunning shot - portraying lack of hope, poverty and helplessness Had poverty as a child It followed me to adulthood And now clings on me like A refrigerator magnet Someone de-magnetize me Please. -- 10:51AM, May 13, 2007.
Mrs. Wheel says: This is breathtaking. Thank you for telling this man's story. -- 02:41AM, May 30, 2007.
Stacy Miron says: What you do for these people is so important. You give them a voice and a beautiful face to go with it. These intelligent, caring, sometimes troubled souls deserve to be seen, not ignored. I applaud you for your Humanity. Thank you for the awareness you bring with your beautiful portraits. -- 07:44PM, June 02, 2007.
thomas lieser (thomas-lieser.smugmug.com) says: This brilliant photo is like a shooting star, fabulous! shining star invitationshining star invitation SHINING STAR - Post 1- Invite 1- Give 5 Stars -- 04:49AM, June 19, 2007.
Nyota Black says: Natural Beauty Please, join Natural Beauty - Portraiture Group... your picture is a perfect fit! -- 03:08PM, June 26, 2007.
leggacy7777 says: What sweet sorrows you have, I love them but can hardly stand to look anymore.. -- 12:25AM, August 04, 2007.
DVill says: this has a special touch. very good -- 09:53AM, August 17, 2007.
fancyfebruary says: Just today I've stumbled upon Stoneth and all his great glory and talent for photography and I'm TOTALLY hooked!! I love every snap shot, every word, and every emotion coming forth through his work! Keep it up!! I'm a BIG BIG FAN!! -- 08:04PM, August 25, 2007.
ShawnXian (Busy Healing!) says: Haunting image. Your words gave me goosebumps. I am rendered speechless.... -- 09:20PM, September 02, 2007.
Waleed123 says: Why would a Black Panther support Hillary Clinton? -- 11:32PM, September 02, 2007.
J.Valldaura says: Your portraits are stunning, really great work. -- 08:04AM, October 20, 2007.
Karen Rea says: Can't think of anything to add. Most powerful, dignified, sad shot I've ever seen. So glad I found him - thank you x -- 01:56AM, November 22, 2007.
Glynn Lavender says: excellent emotive capture -- 12:09PM, November 26, 2007.
Kerri's Pics says: What a powerful photograph! This man has seen and felt too much in his life, you can see it in his eyes......I believe that he has a lot to teach the rest of us in this world! -- 12:58AM, November 29, 2007.
thomas lieser (thomas-lieser.smugmug.com) says: This is EXQUISITE! EXQUISITE IMAGE Invitation This photo has been selected for www.flickr.com/groups/exquisiteimage/ And tag the photo with "EXQUISITE IMAGE" -- 04:20PM, December 06, 2007.
richies says: amazing portrait and story -- 04:26PM, December 31, 2007.
Becca6296 says: wow stunning moving and should link to the campaign blogs for the candidates who consider this an ISSUE~~ -- 03:21PM, January 09, 2008.
quarxdmz says: Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Interesting Eyes, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group. -- 03:31PM, March 08, 2008.
delmarlatch says: If you'd talked to him longer, he would have told you about his days serving in Napolean's infantry, because he's craaaaazzzzyyyyy! -- 05:58PM, April 07, 2008.
[deleted by administrator] says: Hi, I'm an admin for a group called All People Are Equal, and we'd love to have this added to the group! -- 11:00AM, August 28, 2008.
tricky baggins says: those eyes...they know what life truly is, i guess -- 01:58PM, April 10, 2011.