27/03/2023
| ππππ§ |
Wandering lost around the sleepy midday streets of Vilaflor Tenerife, I notice a man sitting alone in the shade.
He seems to be there without reason or concern, he seems calm, patient & I am curious. The camera in my hands offers us an opportunity to begin conversation.
Between puffs of smoke from a well used & stubborn cigar, he tells me in a thick accent & broken English that his name is Jean. Heβs from France & is seemingly a vagabond of many lives & homes. For this moment Tenerife is one of them.
As he notices the watch upon my wrist, he shows me the lack of one on his own & we begin to talk about time as a perception.
We talk about the future, about wanting. He shares with me that what we want cannot be taken, instead, one must be open enough to let opportunity inside.
Our conversation is punctuated by Jean greeting strangers & locals as they pass.
I ask if I can take his portrait, he agrees, only pausing his thoughts in attempt to relight his cigar.
Jean is the first stranger I have approached with my camera. And in return for that moment I was gifted a connection, wisdom & a story to remember.
I hope these shots offer a window into this mans many stories. I wonder where he is now?
PSB / March / 2023
π·π
