Name

Age 10 yrs. old

Hometown/Residence Salem, NH

Occupation Student

Location of Photograph Boston (TD Banknorth Garden)

On my mind I hope that the Celtics will... [More]

I can't tell you how cool it is to live in a city with professional sports teams. Particularly ones that are doing so well. And despite the comments from friends who prefer watching college ball to the NBA, you just can't ignore the sheer athleticism and agility of some of the league's best players. The ability to watch it live is just priceless.

So, standing outside of the TD Banknorth Garden I saw a sea of green...hats, jerseys, oversized clovers. Then I spotted Fiona. This was the one time I wished the column could have run in color. She was dressed from head to toe in green, and even had greenish eyes. Her mind speaks for the town - we want a championship.

I also have to thank my friend Channing who showed up after deciding to buy a ticket last minute to watch game 2 of the eastern conference semis. He's cool. He reads the Globe every single day. Everyone should be as cool as him.

Wind is the enemy with umbrellas, and he prevented me from having to buy a third umbrella this week. (He's holding his ticket in case you're wondering)

Name

Age 23

Hometown Worcester

Residence Allston

Occupation Teacher

Location of Photograph My amazing living room

On my mind I feel as though most people don't know the difference between electro music and tecno... [More], [Page 2]

Name

Age 16

Hometown Manizales, Colombia

Residence East Boston

Occupation Student and Slacking

Location of Photograph EBSC (East Boston Social Centers) BYN (Boston Youth Network)

On my mind What I'm worried about is global warming... [More], [Page 2]

Name

Age 36

Hometown Cambridge

Residence Boston

Occupation Student

Location of Photograph Pine Street Inn

On my mind I came from a beautiful home and chose the street life... [More]

Name

Age 31

Hometown Tampa, FL

Residence Providence, RI

Occupation Child Psychiatry Fellow

Location of Photograph Felt, Boston, Mass.

On my mind Young, single and ready to meet someone... [More]

After asking the 20 or so participants who showed up to the 8 minute dating event at the Felt Club, I was so thankful that Jamie, the last person I approached was willing to be photographed for the column.

I had my laptop open to the web version of the column and went around explaining it to people and showing them the photos. I felt kind of like a door-to-door salesman, and a failed one at that, as everyone gave me the same "wow, that's really cool...but, no, I'm not interested," response.

I was also pleasantly surprised that the one person who was willing to participate was male. I say that because so far my empirical experiences have proven that most men don't like to be photographed and share their thoughts and feelings on paper. Shocking, I know. So, it was a really nice change to have someone with a Y chromosome share their thoughts on love at a playful dating event.

I really hope it worked out for Jamie...but if it didn't, ladies, he is single!

I'm out of town for work for a few weeks and may not often have access to the internet. I apologize ahead of time if your comments don't get posted within a timely manner. Thanks!

Name

Age 28

Hometown Newry, N. Ireland

Residence Dorchester

Occupation Dog walker, Business owner

Location of Photograph The Shambhala Center, Brookline, MA

On my mind I'm a good listener... [More], [Page 2]

Name

Age 72 (John), 70 (Louise)

Hometown/Residence Somerset, MA 02725

Occupation Retired

Location of Photograph Springstep - Medford, MA

On my mind We travel 50 miles at least once a week to dance Argentine tango... [More]

I went to a tango night held by the The Tango Society of Boston at Springstep with hopes of finding an interesting couple to photograph.

Within moments upon entering the dimly lit hall I was whisked away by lovely lady and we started dancing the tango around the room. Well, at least she was doing the tango...I was trying not step on her feet. I'm embarassed to admit that I can't tango, although I used to live in Argentina, my mother is married to an Argentine, and as a result I have many Argentine relatives.

The dances came in sets of 3 or 4, the music had kind of a scratchy gramophonic quality to it. There was no talking, just couples mixed of all age-ranges and nationalities making swift poetic strides throughout the room.

John and Louise were weekly regulars. I asked them to stand how they normally would while doing the tango. My hope is that the photograph communicates how they feel when they dance.

Name

Age 24

Hometown/Residence Dunstable

Occupation Carpenter

Location of Photograph Roller Derby

On my mind The amount of interesting questions I get about my hair... [More], [Page 2]

This is Joe...

...and that's my strobe not firing.

This was the week where I broke a plastic strobe foot and snapped off the shoe to my wireless transmitter...photo-speak for "I busted my stuff." Joe was very patient as I awkwardly pushed loose camera parts to my face and cursed gravity repeatedly.

When I saw Joe, I thought to myself, "Wow, when was the last time I saw someone with a mohawk?" And not just any mohawk - a well-manicured, well-grown hawk, with five perfectly shaped spikes.

Evidently, I wasn't alone, as a woman walked up to Joe and asked, "Hey, can my friend take a picture with you and pretend he's eating one of your spikes?"

While I was setting up, I apparently missed Joe getting down on all fours while these two took a few amusing snapshots with him.

So, although I did start a conversation with him about what was on his mind, the obvious question for me was, "What are all the crazy requests you get from people because of your mohawk?" It started out at 1 inch and grew 12 inches through the course of a year. Read what he says...it's pretty funny.

Name

Age 25

Hometown Wareham

Residence Lowell

Occupation Student

Location of Photograph Shambhala Buddhist Group Boston

On my mind I used to be very shy growing up... [More], [Page 2]

A quick note: I finally uploaded the poem Tyrone recited to me. He was featured on February 11th. You can hear it here and get the backstory on it here. Or just scroll down.

I met Erin as well as another column at an Under Thirty Meditation Night at the Shambhala Meditation Center of Boston.

I admit it's not easy to just sit and write cohesively about what's on your mind. What I've discovered as this column evolves is that having a conversation before and while making the portrait helps flesh out what people have on their minds. Most of the time it's not some kind of life philosophy that they're elaborating on, but something that's more relevant to that moment in time.

Erin was easy - she just started scribbling away. Even before photographing her, she very eagerly shared her thoughts in the group on discussions ranging anywhere from smiling at strangers to some thoughts on politics after the group disseminated. She's getting a master's in anthropology, and if I remember correctly is doing her thesis on perceptions Americans have on Tibet.

When she was done, I found what she wrote to be a wonderfully honest and insightful collection of thoughts that made me smile.

I was advised to let you know that comments are available, but also to inform you that I need to approve comments for web publication. Due to the nature of my job, I'm not continuously in front of a computer, so I apologize in advance if you don't see your comments immediately. I'll try to update them as often as possible!

Name

Age 75 (Jim), 72 (Pat)

Hometown/Residence Lynnfield

Occupation retired

Location of Photograph home

On my mind The "Dumbing Down of America" concerns me... [More], Pat's Thoughts, Jim's Thoughts

I don't ever feel like it's my responsibility to direct or tell people what to do. In fact, it really goes against the ethics of what photojournalists do in their every day work, except for portrait situations.

I feel like that tenet holds true even more for this column. This is your story, your space, and what's on your mind. So when Pat and Jim told me they wanted more time to write their thoughts and would right them on lined paper, I agreed. Although twice, I'd had two unusable columns because I made the photos but the people were never able to get back to me. I didn't think that would be the case with the Moore's.

Having the handwriting is very important to me - and I've been a bit stubborn about it. Text is read. Handwriting is deciphered. Reading cold, hard, perfect, uniform text lacks personality and is quick to read. With handwriting, you first have to understand the writing, study it, maybe look it over a few times. You see where a person may have rushed a thought, paused, or scratched out a thought. You get a much more personalized, intimate look at their personality as well. It makes me wonder what ever happened to handwritten letters, and makes me miss receiving postcards. Post Secret is one of my favorite Sunday pastimes.

It really was a joy to come back a week later to read their thoughts, so well articulated. I loved that Pat wrote a title at the top of her sheet and called it "Pat Moore's Essay."

I met Pat and Jim at The Burren for an event organized by comedian Jimmy Tingle, for the closing of his theater. I remember what stood out about them were their hats. It was a snowy day, and Jim had what looked like a traditional Austrian hat on, and if my memory serves me right, Pat had on kind of a wintery furry hat (I could be wrong). Two months later, we met again for the photo.

Whenever I got together with these two, the conversation just flowed. Anything ranging from Jim's former job as a co-owner of a typographic company in South Boston, to their many travels all around the world, to how the two had met, and how the garage door opener had changed the way neighbors interact with each other.

Pat was a little concerned that her thoughts might come off as too negative, but she also felt the responsibility to bring up issues that she felt were important. She also said putting down her age was "traumatic," and I sincerely appreciate her and Jim being so open with me.

When we started making pictures I wrote down a cute exchange between the two:

Pat (to me): Don't get my bad side

Jim: You don't have a bad side

Pat: Oh aren't you sweet

Name

Age Many Years

Hometown Manhattan

Residence Arlington

Occupation Physician - Internist

Location of Photograph North Atlantic Physical Therapy

On my mind Health Care + Health Care Financing as depicted in the media... [More]

Name

Age 32

Hometown Montreal, QC

Residence Dorchester

Occupation Architect

Location of Photograph My kitchen in the Dot.

On my mind The environment. The lack of awareness... [More]

Name

Age 32

Hometown/Residence Live in the South End

Occupation Hair Colorist

Location of Photograph Shag Salon

On my mind I recently lost a good friend. He was stabbed to death and found in an apartment... [More], [Page 2]

Name

Age 25

Hometown/Residence Cambridge / Boston

Occupation Bouncer

Location of Photograph CCtv (cambridge community television)

On my mind I'm driven I won't become a statistic I've come this far in life putting my trust in the right people... [More]

Tyrone was a trip.

I met him on the red line T as I was heading home late one night with my friend Noah. The minute Noah and I walked into the car, cameras slung around our shoulders (yes, we usually have them with us), he told us to take pictures of him. He struck various poses with his friends, then with strangers, then danced up and down the train car.

His conversation was like improvisational stand-up. His movements, gestures and facial contortions provided more than enough entertainment for every single person - yes, every single person - he stopped to talk to.

When I met him again for the photo, I met another side of Tyrone. He talked about the challenges he faced growing up as a young black male. He told me he is determined to not be part of a "statistic" and wants to make something of himself. Walking from the street to the CCTV station in Cambridge, some people called out his name. He was quite the local celebrity. At CCTV, workers, and other show hosts greeted him like surrogate family members. He records a public access TV show every Wednesday. Community is important to Tyrone, and I saw that with his interactions with people.

He recited a very moving poem to me that he wrote when he was 16, about a girl who died of a brain aneurysm [listen to it]. Who would have known that someone you'd run into on the T could be such a unique and talented person.

Name

Age 56

Hometown Brockton and West Bridgewater

Residence Somerville

Occupation Nanny

Location of Photograph Nave Gallery, Be a Villen Show - which was fantastic

On my mind I'm thinking about how grateful I am that my own kids made it to 25 and how much I love them... [More]

Meeting Jan was a moving experience. I met her at Be A Villen! The show was a collection of artwork made by students, to help them cope with loss. The exhibit was in part in memory of Brian Liberatore.

She said she had been to too many funerals. Funerals for young people. I didn't realize there was so much tragedy among the youth in Somerville. When I asked her what was on her mind, her words opened a floodgate to her thoughts, from violence and art, to gentrification in her neighborhood. Tears occasionally welled up in her eyes.

I feel like so much of what we do as photojournalists is listen. Sometimes it just takes asking the right questions for people to share something with you...

On a side note, she mentioned she had been photographed by Amy Arbus, daughter of renown photographer Diane Arbus over 25 years ago. She's on page 37 of Arbus' book On the Street. I'll let her tell you in her own words. Read the review entitled "I'm page 37!"

The beauty of the story is that almost 25 years later after meeting on the street the two met again in Boston. Apparently Arbus had been looking for Jan. So, I had to go to the library and see the picture. You should too.

Name

Age Drumming for over 50 years

Hometown/Residence Roxbury

Occupation Principal and Teacher for "The Drum Experience" Program (all classes are free)

Location of Photograph Haley House Bakery & Cafe

On my mind Listening is the key to life... [More]

"You sure you aren't with the CIA? They've already got all those pictures," joked Salim. I noticed him when I was setting up at the Haley House for a picture. He walked in with his walking stick - he's legally blind. He has been for the past three years and I can't recall what had caused it.

I enjoy meeting people who try to make a difference in their own community. Salim is from Roxbury, born and raised, and he provides free drumming lessons to the youth every Saturday.

As a bus passed in the distance Salim told me he could see it. He could see the shapes and brightness. He just couldn't see in the conventional way we do...

Name

Age 3

Hometown Born in Iran

Residence Lives in Somerville

Occupation Crayon Enthusiast

Location of Photograph At Home

On my mind Where my baby sister should sleep... [More]

Name

Age 26

Hometown/Residence Dorchester

Occupation Development Assistant

Location of Photograph My kitchen

On my mind Passion – the importance of having a love for what you do... [More]