Comments on: Justin : Living on your own is expensive!

By: Thanks all around! : Paul Lester Photography

Thanks all around! : Paul Lester Photography — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:01:43 +0000

[...] Justin – Thanks for sharing your story with a complete stranger that was toting a camera. [...]

By: Paul Lester Photography » Blog Archive » Camera and Persona

Paul Lester Photography » Blog Archive » Camera and Persona — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:05:15 +0000

[...] Unfortunately, I couldn’t catch up to him. Just was was the guy that I talked about in this post. Not to fear though, I did catch up with him later on another street! After I finished my tea, I [...]

By: Robert LongprÃ©

Robert LongprÃ© — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:06:26 +0000

Damn, don’t you just love it when life throws interesting people into your life, even if for only a few moments? Somehow, I don’t think that these moments are accidents. As for advice, it seems we both give the same advice when asked. As Joseph Campbell would say, “follow your bliss.”

By: Don

Don — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:53:08 +0000

Paul great story I agree with everything Monte said, there are so many of these stories out there whether the big city or the little country village. Breaking the ice with people and getting them to relax for photos and talk is what it is all about.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:39:06 +0000

@Ove: The odd thing is, Ove, that here, in some people’s eyes, if you are satisfied with you have, you are considered as lacking ambition and unmotivated. There’s something wrong with you. You need to ‘make something of yourself’. It can be a stressful culture if you buy into it.

@Earl: Thanks, Earl. Wait until you meet Dave, tomorrow! He was quite a character!

By: Earl

Earl — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:21:33 +0000

Paul, great story and photos!

By: Ove

Ove — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:59:43 +0000

Yes, it’s surely a cultural thing if ‘most’ people thinks this way. I didn’t know about the expression with keeping up with the Jones, but we have the corresponding kind of people here as well. It’s not that polarised, though, and I believe there are much, much more people that actually are quite happy with what they have and not strive to get more. It’s cultural, for sure, but also political, where our conservatives in many North American eyes would be considered socialists. It’s good there are people like you to make a balance, spread your seeds well.

By: Monte Stevens

Monte Stevens — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:54:48 +0000

I think this is what street photography is all about; connecting with people, finding out about their life history. Well done, Paul and looking forward to more.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:21:05 +0000

@Ove: I don’t know if it is a cultural thing, but I’m pretty sure that it is. So many people have bought into the idea of “The American Dream”, which is basically one of consumerism, living life unconsciously, and keeping up with “The Jones’”.

If you are not familiar with that expression, it means that I have to have what you have. You have a big house; I have a big house. You have 2 new cars, I must too! I must have the right house, car, wife, job, degree, etc. to be respected.

Given that, so many people pour their lives down the drain giving it ‘all’ to the job, taking little time to think, or feel, what kind of life that they might like to live until it’s almost time to die, then they figure out. Too late!

So, it doesn’t really surprise me at all that he’s never heard of this. I never heard of it until I was in my 30′s when my wife brought home a book about living simply, or simply living, if you will. I’ve been enamored with that thought ever since, though admittedly, I’m not there, yet, at least to what my ideal is.

I try to spread this ‘gospel’ whenever I have the opportunity. To plant seeds, if you will. Nothing forced, just a few ideas sprinkled here and there.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:49:57 +0000

Holy cow~~ Your photography and writings grow every single day! I really love reading you in the morning. Photographs are bang on amazing.