A poor man I met in downtown Knoxville. I asked if I could take his photo, he said no at first, but kept showing interest in why, and finally submitted to the job.
I see this image somewhat differently from Lee (palmetto) - I think the harsh/high-contrast processing is a perfect reflection of the life of the person in the picture. His bristly beard and care-worn face speak of a life that has not been easy. I see his smile not so much as an expression of happiness, but as an instinctive reaction to having a camera pointed at him: you're supposed to smile for cameras. Behind the smile and deep in the eyes there is a sadness. Despite whatever hardships he has endured and disappointment there have been in his life, he is expected to smile along with the rest of us whose lives have been luckier.
A very thought-provoking image, now among my favorites.
What a great shot! It's interesting how the post-processing clashes so much with the expression. I do not mean this in a bad way, just that when you see high contrast "grungy" images like this, they are usually attached to a somber/sad image. Your subject looks genuinely happy and carefree. Even though the technique and the subject do not go hand in hand normally, I think it's a wonderful blend for this particular portrait. Wonderful portrait, I wouldn't change a thing.
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