Sidewalk Face 868

This wet stain was calling to me from the driveway of a single unit home. My neighborhood has both four-plex apartments and individual houses. It’s easier to make faces in the yards and driveways of apartments, as it seems less like trespassing. People are always going in and out and nobody really cares. But it’s more awkward on personal property obviously.

I saw the stain and felt really compelled by it. I was going to just go for it when I sensed a woman crossing the street. I turned in her direction and saw she was headed for the front door, so I moseyed along very slowly trying to ascertain how quickly she would get inside and hoping I could start back up. Boy did it take her a long time to enter that home. What the heck!? I walked about two houses away, collecting the nose and mouth. I already had the eyes.

As soon as the front door closed I turned around. But wait! Out the front door came an ancient white man with a walker and an Asian companion with a very long white braid. What to do! I called out a friendly hello and the ancient man reciprocated with warmth. We talked briefly and I was about to just pass by and give it up when I looked hard at the stain again. Ohhh, I really wanted to work with it.

So I say, “Would it be okay with you if I quickly make a face out of this puddle in your driveway?” I start before they answer. I had to create the face while narrating what I was doing and why. They both seemed curious and the man with the braid ambled over to see it from my perspective. At the far end of the driveway three people emerged, the women from before and two others. They had no idea what I was doing so I made my speech more animated so they would know I was talking to the old men and hopefully not come over.

I’ve never made a face this quickly. I like making the faces quickly. It guarantees certain weirdness, no time to smooth it away. I had no idea what I had captured as I don’t normally chit chat while photographing but I quite like him. I am sure that if I had had more time he would be different and I am glad he is not.