spring rain
young drifter girl panhandling
san francisco
march, 2009

she's pretty in a way that draws a crowd. so i wait for the last to break.

it's a beautiful day. she's spanging on the sidewalk with her pitbull and two boys. they're trying to make a few bucks for lunch. she's been traveling two years now; ever since her granddad kicked her out for the pound of pot.

he's got cancer now. she calls him every week so's he knows she's ok. was just a kid when her mom died in a car crash. dad's in jail. he writes her a lot.

headed north next. been all over. liked dc best; but florida was good too.

name's rain from bakersfield. talks like one of the guys but doesn't smile that way.

dana-kate says: that is an amazing story, you wouldn't know it by her face. Great shot ! -- 07:51AM, March 20, 2009.
disgustipado says: Great sad smile. Great portrait. -- 07:58AM, March 20, 2009.
EOS Boy says: Beautiful woman, beautiful portrait, poignant story. -- 08:02AM, March 20, 2009.
paladinsf says: love her eyes -- 08:14AM, March 20, 2009.
Brent Houston Photography says: Fantaastic capture : ) beautiful smile!! -- 08:49AM, March 20, 2009.
[my name is ludo] says: Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Stories retold, and we'd love to have this added to the group! -- 09:08AM, March 20, 2009.
[my name is ludo] says: Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Fight Club - Politics & Society (project mayhem), and we'd love to have this added to the group! -- 09:08AM, March 20, 2009.
dogsy says: So good to see another upload from you, has been a while yet worth waiting for. Thanks so much again for a fine job done. -- 09:42AM, March 20, 2009.
* Ahmad Kavousian * says: Beautiful smile, beautiful portrait as always -- 10:00AM, March 20, 2009.
wimdejonge says: Heartbreakingly beautiful. Your drifters/homeless series is so good. I've been reading all the stories -- 10:16AM, March 20, 2009.
andriz says: Gorgeous! -- 10:25AM, March 20, 2009.
francesca.mazzucato says: Moving, Great work made as usual with compassion and awareness. You are a " necessary" artist and you help me to see reality and poverty and people with much precision and attention Thank you -- 10:26AM, March 20, 2009.
Thompson Photography says: Outstanding image and story. As always. -- 10:50AM, March 20, 2009.
Cedric Canard says: Sweet shot, sweet smile, sad facts. -- 11:15AM, March 20, 2009.
garylr says: Again, you touch our hearts. -- 11:44AM, March 20, 2009.
original_ann says: Within the confines of your framing, she could be anybody - - someone with a life full of promise and opportunity... protected, educated, giving, overflowing with good friends and family, healthy, never hungry (in any sense of the word). Then you blow your framing wide open like a panorama with just a few words. (again, and again, and again...) -- 12:11PM, March 20, 2009.
.btezra says: good to see a new face, a new story from you I hope all is well on the Left Coast these days -- 12:53PM, March 20, 2009.
sarah ... says: Great image, great story -- 01:16PM, March 20, 2009.
lymang says: Ah yes... this is one of my favorite reasons to come look at pictures on Flickr, the hope that you'll have a new portrait up. -- 01:22PM, March 20, 2009.
Daniel Desjardins says: Nice ! -- 01:30PM, March 20, 2009.
qheolet says: Good portait -- 01:34PM, March 20, 2009.
NikonWitch says: What a sweet soul. -- 02:19PM, March 20, 2009.
likeyourhandle says: Stunning! Reminds me of this homeless woman I saw 15 years ago. -- 02:24PM, March 20, 2009.
the mighty jimbo says: good to see you back. -- 02:48PM, March 20, 2009.
YC Liu Photography says: so sweet smile... -- 02:52PM, March 20, 2009.
.marcel bianchi says: its been a long time. good to see you back. great portrait btw. :} -- 03:05PM, March 20, 2009.
Mario M.R. says: Long time since your last masterpiece.Because you don´t make portraits,you make masterpieces.Wellcome back -- 05:59PM, March 20, 2009.
gordy1 says: what a great story , your images are superb . -- 06:26PM, March 20, 2009.
optimaver says: Thanks for sharing her (their) story, situations such as you bring to our attention should spur us into action, not content ourselves to tend to our bleeding hearts. We all need to realize there are people living in poor and very rough conditions outside our sheltered lives... And, yeah: don't dissapear for so long!! :)) -- 07:17PM, March 20, 2009.
Tom Lowe @ Timescapes says: beautiful. -- 08:45PM, March 20, 2009.
justjjoke says: It is so good to see another of your beautiful photographs and the stories that give them purpose / meaning for me, an outsider.. Thank you. -- 10:05PM, March 20, 2009.
s t r a t e d says: the stories and images are really good -- 11:43PM, March 20, 2009.
Miguel A. D. says: Precioso trabajo, una estampa perfecta. Un saludo. -- 07:42PM, March 21, 2009.
Kim The Star Princess says: Wow. What a little gamine. -- 09:30PM, March 21, 2009.
jonbrown13 says: Like original ann says, your stories make us stand on our heads. Scratch the surface....watch the light come shining through. -- 11:04PM, March 21, 2009.
Paul Presnail says: thanks, as always, for the amazing shots and touching stories. -- 04:15PM, March 23, 2009.
alvazora says: beautiful -- 09:26PM, March 23, 2009.
Joy is a Joy says: you captured her light. :)) pretty. -- 06:21AM, March 28, 2009.
Sue, Toronto says: As always, exceptional insight. Thank you for sharing once again. -- 12:56AM, March 31, 2009.
PatL says: Tom, great job with her personality; there's some trust in that image. -- 03:53AM, April 07, 2009.
Blue*Butterfly says: AMAZING photo. As always. Curious to what lens you primarily use? -- 06:21PM, April 09, 2009.
Manny Flores says: Great photo & story. -- 05:39PM, April 10, 2009.
laSilvi says: so good you are back. thank you!! -- 07:10PM, April 26, 2009.
freelancebush says: Beautiful girl. wonderful story, great capture. Awesome shot! -- 05:50PM, June 30, 2009.
oddzen1949 says: Street people do smile... in spite of everything. -- 04:40AM, September 24, 2009.
Massimo De Dominicis says: Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Un'altra perla nera! / Another black pearl!, and we'd love to have this added to the group! -- 09:04PM, September 25, 2009.
DebShiny says: I hate to sound ignorant, but, does anybody do anything about these people after you "find" them" ?? -- 03:05AM, September 30, 2009.
ChaiPaniEtc says: Salute for her courageous smile -- 09:30PM, October 18, 2009.
catzinahat says: really gorgeous. love the story. even though it's so sad. -- 09:37PM, December 08, 2009.
Digital Snaps says: awesome work! -- 12:52AM, December 20, 2009.
dr.snitch says: Beauty!! -- 03:51AM, January 07, 2010.
Miss Bliss 55 says: Please post this wonderful smile picture at * One Million Smiles *. -- 05:25AM, February 01, 2010.
D☮va says: Great Portrait! -- 06:34AM, March 03, 2010.
SherrieSaint says: Such a beautiful girl! You captured an expression of joy that juxtaposes my ideas of street life. I have so much admiration for your work. Have you compiled a printed work? Book?? -- 02:44AM, April 02, 2010.
meredith markleigh says: Hi, I'm an admin for a group called the kids are all right..., and we'd love to have this added to the group! -- 02:20PM, April 03, 2010.
Mario Bertocchi says: great nice wonderful bw..........!!! -- 05:32PM, April 04, 2010.
Photo--Graphy says: Very cute ! Lovely shot ! View my photos at bighugelabs.com -- 02:09PM, March 20, 2011.
zizwe says: ;ovely image -- 03:02AM, June 10, 2011.
decembre says: ______ ★ Thank you too for your post in Portrait★Faces Continue... ______________ -- Seen in the group"Portrait★Faces" (?) -- 10:10PM, October 16, 2011.
[~Bryan~] says: hope she's fine. -- 04:21AM, February 15, 2013.