Coco
This image has been hanging around in my camera for a couple of weeks now. I didn’t finish the roll until today. I’ve been wanting to tell her story, but wanted to wait until I had developed the picture. So, here it is:
This is Coco. She works for Bluegreen resorts, a timeshare seller, but not a very pushy one. She works in downtown Charleston at a place that was, I guess, formerly a camera store. It was called Kamera Korner. I was out shooting one day and noticed that my Leica’s battery had died. No light meter! Oh well, I’d have to wing it! I have since learned to place the shutter speed dial on “B” before placing the camera in the bag. If the shutter button is depressed, the light meter will not come on. Or, I could not cock the shutter, but I like to be ready!
I rounded a corner and happened to spy a store called Kamera Korner and figured that they would have batteries, but lo and behold, there was nothing there but the name, Coco, and lots of tourist information. Outside of the former store stood Coco. To say that Coco has personality would be, well, quite an understatement. Let us just say that she is vivacious and has much effervescence. She’s downright bubbly!
When I walked over she greeted me with a smile and we struck up a conversation. She was interested in my ‘old’ camera. 
While we talked, she continued to offer potential customers discount tickets, etc, as they were walking down the sidewalk. As I have noticed with most street vendors, or businesses, most people will give them a wide berth.
Coco told me that most people ignore her, some are very rude, others cross the street. She said that it didn’t bother her because she has a pretty thick skin and if someone was rude to her, she knew how to be rude back to them ‘in a nice way’.
While we were talking, a young man from Hyman’s Seafood Restaurant, a couple of doors down, came by. Coco stopped him and suggested that I try one of the free hushpuppies that he was giving out. I did and it was fantastic. Probably one of the best that I’ve ever had, honestly. She, as you can see, helped herself to two. She says that she probably eats at least a dozen every day that they give them out. She also made the guy give me a discount coupon to the restaurant, which I have in my wallet.
We had a great conversation and then just as quickly as she appeared, she disappeared, back into the Kamera Korner for a break or something. I went on about my business and continued to shoot without batteries.
Most of my shots were pretty spot on. I guess that I had a good idea about the light.
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13 Responses to “Street Stories: Coco”
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Wonderful portrait. Is this FP4?
@Chris: You know it! FP4 in Rodinal 1:50. My standard combination!
The one thing I really like about FP4 in Rodinal is that it looks a little softer to me (not less sharp, but maybe less contrasty) which works really well for portraits. Exposing at ISO 125?
Paul, it blows me away how, and I know I say this a lot, your writing skills improve with each post, it draws me into the story each time.
Can’t wait man, can’t wait…
Just wanted to mention that my wife and I both love hushpuppies and I think it’s safe to say that the best place to find really good ones is in Charleston. When we visited this past April we finally managed to get into Hyman’s for dinner (on previous visits there was always a line out the door). And of course we had to try their hushpuppies. Very, very good. As is everything else on their menu, apparently. I also noticed the Kamera Korner place, but unfortunately your friend Coco wasn’t there. Beautiful portrait, Paul.
@Chris: Yes. I expose all of my film at the rated speed unless I’m pushing it for some reason. I’m getting reacquainted with Rodinal once again. It seems to be pretty agitation sensitive. I started, initially, with the manufacturer’s recommendation of 15 minutes @20 degrees C, initial 1 minute agitation, then 10 seconds every 30 seconds. My negatives came out quite contrasty.
Through various trials and errors, I have settled on an initial 30 second agitation then 10 seconds every minute and I get really good tonality and good sharpness and contrast. Also, I wasn’t being very careful with my water temperature, so I think that I overdeveloped a little bit, but now my negatives come out the way that I like them.
@Tom: Thanks for your kind remarks and encouragement. I’ll be there soon!
@Paul M.: Paul, I’ve not tried Hyman’s yet. I’m putting it off until my wife can make it down here so that we can experience it together.
Admit it. You were making up the part about your light meter not working. Come on. Say you were. Make some of feel better.
Your portrait wonderfully captures Coco’s bubbly personality. Nicely done.
@Anita: I hate to disappoint you, but my light meter was not working. I just took a guess that it would be, based upon the light and my previous experiences, about f/5.6 @ 1/60 and it came out perfectly exposed. I was rather impressed with myself. Ha!
It was a great thrill to be able to keep shooting without batteries. Had that been my D300, the day would have been over, save for good conversation.
Lovely portrait and I really enjoyed reading about your encounter with this young lady. Sales people really have to develop thick skin, and I can tell from your picture she hasn’t suffered much from it. I wouldn’t last a day in her shoes.
Great street portrait Paul. I am drawn to these kind of people images you make so well and at times wish I was in the city to make them as well.
Funny thing about light meters after a while of shooting the same asa/iso it sort of becomes ingrained and the ‘sunny 16′ rules take over. If I get hazy there are a ton of apps for the iPhone that will get me in the ballpark even without a meter. Batteries are another reason to keep my film cams in good shape. Thanks for the reminder.
@Ray: Thanks! I find that I really enjoy this type of interaction. I guess that it is easier to meet people in a tourist city, but as Craig Tanner told me when I said that about Savannah, perhaps that is just my perception, not the reality.
Perhaps, since it is a tourist city and that is my belief then I’m more open to doing these types of photographs. I must say that I do enjoy ad-hoc portraits, people caught in their natural environment, regardless of why I am able to do them.
Also, you are very much correct about the exposure. I always use the same film and pretty much the same f/stop and shutter speed that it’s almost a no-brainer. If it’s sunny outside, I will get the camera out, set it to f/8 and 1/500 second and see how close I am. Usually I’m pretty darn close.
It’s always amazing how much the context that your stories provide change the perception of your photos. Makes them much more personal.
Hushpuppies…Hm, I don’t think we have them over here. But certainly sounds good! Getting hungry…
Darn it Paul. I haven’t had a hushpuppy in a long time, now I have a craving.
Good story!