Here are The People

Today's My Town Shoot Out is all about the people of our home towns. These were all shot at my local strip mall, where I spend an inordinate amount of time each week.

The above picture is of Darryl. He is our local homeless person. His sister used to live in our town, and occasionally he would stop there for a shower and food. He has been living in the MANY abandoned businesses around town. He's pretty quiet and harmless, and I shot this as he was coming back from peeing on the tree in the background, which was also in front of my car.

This is the back of Darryl on his way to the liquor store, walking past the gym and a guy just coming from a work out, completely tuning out the sights and sounds around him.

This is my kid's barber, Cindy. In fact, my youngest got his first haircut at this shop, by Chief who has since retired. On the day I was shooting this (Tuesday), I could not get anything without a client in a chair. the clients were pretty cool about it, most of the people in Dublin are pretty cool.

This is Jody. She recently bought the barber shop from Randy or maybe Jim, both of whom retired. She's made some pretty nice changes that have brought the shop from the 1970s. All the old clients still come in as do all of her clients from her previous shop.

This is the beginning of a Tae Kwon Do class. The students are studying, warming up and practicing their forms.

The mid-air person above is Andrew, the youngest son of the owners of the Tae Kwon Do Studio. On this day, the kids were sparing, he is very good. He was teaching the class to prepare them all for upcoming blackbelt testing and tournaments.

This is my oldest, reading a book while waiting for my youngest to finish his Tae Kwon Do class.

I spend at least 3 hours a week in this location, either visiting with the barbers, or sitting outside the studio.

I almost wished this was next week's challenge, as my town is gearing up for the St. Patrick's Parade and festival. I will be shooting all weekend, and posting those on some other day of the week. In fact, I need to pick that day. I used to have Photo Fridays, but I need another day and another alliteration. Any ideas? I was thinking Marvelous Mondays, but that sounds a bit insincere, or Wonderful Wednesdays, but there are SO many Wednesday things, I think I need to just pick one!