New York Minute 137 - Street Scene

One evening last week, I was taking pictures on a lively street near Washington Square Park. I set up my camera and composed a scene featuring a jazz club and a busy pizzeria. Just as I was about to make the exposure, a guy who looks like he lives on the streets walked slowly into the frame, stopped and stood there.

The guy was looking over at me; he saw the camera and probably stopped there just to get a kick out of messing up my shot. No worries. I’m patient. 

To make things interesting, the guy didn’t just stand there. While smiling at me, he took off his belt, slowly and deliberately. Next, he unfastened his pants.

I didn’t care to see what he was going to do next - I figured that he might take a leak in the street, and I didn’t want to deal with that. But I wasn’t about to leave, either. I had spent time setting up this shot, and I wasn’t going to be dissuaded by an obnoxious, exhibitionist bum. 

I turned forty-five degrees to my right so I was no longer facing the guy. Leaving the camera set up, I pulled my phone out and started to type an email to friends. I figured that he wanted attention; if I didn’t give it to him, he would get bored and move along.

A few minutes later, the email was sent and the bum was gone. My stalling tactic had worked. I didn’t see the guy anywhere on the street. He The guy must have ambled on and walked around the corner. Maybe he found someone else to annoy. 

The street was clear, and the camera was focused and ready. The picture came out beautifully. 

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