portraits of a tough guy (updated 11/5/2007)

Feb.20, 2007: Manila Philippines - DonnieBoy sat for an informal portrait.

Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/60s f/3.5 at 14.0mm iso100

I had come back to Manila and went to check on Donnie, who's always been a good friend to me there.
...we went to a cheap local canteria where I like the coffee, and where he likes the soups - we always eat there.

One of the toughest people I know, Donnie is quiet, soft spoken, homeless & sleeps on the streets - I've seen where he sleeps in a back alley and it's just so damn dangerous there; I don't know how he survives it.

I always get Donnie his meals when I see him, and while we sat I was looking at the scars on his forehead, while he started telling me about how his Father used to beat him when he was growing up - but once he got to that part of the story he stopped talking.

And I never asked him about it again.

Good Sunday evening to you all,
PJAMES

ps: the particular locale of where Donnie hangs out is not the safest of neighborhoods - when I go to find him I always have to wrap the huge neoprene camera strap around my wrist several times, in case someone would try to run by me & snatch it (robberies, cell phone snatchings, muggings are prevelant there)

I have always looked after my own personal security very well in that neighborhood - I know it well, I know how to watch my back; I know the local vendors and who the gang-bangers are (they know me as well) and I know where to bail out to in case the need arose, but no one's ever given me an issue there.

Donnie does not let anyone bother me in that neighborhood - many times when other street-toughs or wanna be thugs would walk by and give me a stare, and he'd look them dead in the eye & just tell them to piss off.

...and they always would.

When I look at this image, I get the feeling that if anyone would ever try to hurt him or steal from him, that he'd probably use his hands to snap that person's neck in two.

When I see him, I always get the feeling I'm one of the very few people who've probably ever shown him any respect or kindness in his life.

November 27, 2005: Donnie joins me at 1:21pm for lunch & his portrait, Manila Philippines

Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/125s f/3.5at 54.0mm iso400

...he'd just woken up from who knows where (I didn't ask) so let's call it breakfast.