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chinesestunna — Cost of Happiness

Published: 2006-03-10 03:58:21 +0000 UTC; Views: 1307; Favourites: 26; Downloads: 49
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Description This is a transient man I met in the subway station, I was coming down the escalader to the tracks and saw him with his cart. His smile was so pure and gravitating, filled with happiness. I snapped a photo of him, during which he noticed me and asked me to approach him. I walked towards him with a certain apprehension overshadowed by curiosity.
He began explaining to me the various pieces of decorations on his cart: the little american flag, a flyer for a homeless shelter, a religious pamphlet, a map of the US marking the places where he's been to. His voice was filled with warmth I didn't expect, his eyes gleamed with a passion I don't see in many who possess far more than he does.
Before we parted, I asked to take a few more shots and he agreed, giving me this radiant smile. He reached out his hand, I hesitated for a bit and shook it, for that belief moment, I understood the true cost of happiness.
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Comments: 53

krim98 [2009-10-18 15:39:10 +0000 UTC]

Haha to be honest i would love to go and try to find this man myself. Id spend years looking for him, but it would all be worth the chance to sit down and speak to him over dinner. Honestly the only thing i would have done different is learned how to live in wilderness. It is people like him that give me hope in our rotting society, and ironically he only got there because he separated himself from it. I feel he could teach me so much about life. Excellent shot!

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el-face [2009-09-07 12:26:46 +0000 UTC]

He's so cute
It's amazing how even though he may not be in a suit or branded labels that you still see such beauty and satisfaction in him

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MorbidandMasked [2009-01-30 00:39:51 +0000 UTC]

Every time I look at the picture it makes me smile :]]

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DragonTreasureArt [2007-02-11 13:48:20 +0000 UTC]

Wonderful photo made even more poignant by the story. Little random meetings with people are often the ones which stay with us the longest I think. Strangers can have more impact than the people we spend most of our lives with. This man has a wonderful face, and his eyes are smiling which really gives the measure of his soul.

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Dandelion-lion [2007-02-03 14:38:59 +0000 UTC]

Hi I featured this deviation in my article: Expressing emotion - Happiness [link]

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chinesestunna In reply to Dandelion-lion [2007-02-04 03:00:00 +0000 UTC]

thank you so much for the honor

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Dandelion-lion In reply to chinesestunna [2007-02-04 10:35:30 +0000 UTC]

Well, I wouldnt really call it an honor..But, you welcome all the same

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futabi [2006-10-31 15:01:20 +0000 UTC]

I find his expression really endearing. <3 He seems so peaceful.. and his smile's so radiant! I find his happiness rather inspiring.

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chinesestunna In reply to futabi [2006-11-03 02:47:19 +0000 UTC]

thank you so much

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aquarius-galuxy [2006-10-03 08:37:34 +0000 UTC]

Very nice photo! I like the essence of life that has been captured in the old man's smile. ^^

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chinesestunna In reply to aquarius-galuxy [2006-10-03 15:03:01 +0000 UTC]

thank you

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aquarius-galuxy In reply to chinesestunna [2006-10-04 07:20:46 +0000 UTC]

^^ You're welcome!

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F-Body [2006-06-22 09:14:14 +0000 UTC]

It is wonderful that you have seen the trouble to write such I great description to go with such a great portrait photo. Even though they say that picture can tell more than thousand words I still think that those words you wrote really makes this photo a lot better.

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chinesestunna In reply to F-Body [2006-06-22 11:42:18 +0000 UTC]

thank you

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andalasur [2006-03-10 21:55:59 +0000 UTC]

what a beautiful and moving picture! you captured the essence of this man's joy in a way that explains the photo even without a description.

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chinesestunna In reply to andalasur [2006-03-11 02:52:59 +0000 UTC]

Haha, thank you so much a picture is worth a thousand words (takes 1000 times the storage space too, lol).

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andalasur In reply to chinesestunna [2006-03-17 22:52:25 +0000 UTC]

too true

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BeyondTheHorizon [2006-03-10 19:50:52 +0000 UTC]

Look at his eyes...



I see wisdom, happiness...and sorrow.



Awesome shot man...truly.

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chinesestunna In reply to BeyondTheHorizon [2006-03-10 21:16:24 +0000 UTC]

You are very observant I was waiting for someone to see the sorrow behind the surface.

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moonview [2006-03-10 19:10:24 +0000 UTC]

awesome description...and what a smile!!!!

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chinesestunna In reply to moonview [2006-03-10 19:13:02 +0000 UTC]

thank you

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rubberman542 [2006-03-10 15:22:59 +0000 UTC]

Amazing shot... so full of happiness and character, you've captured not only his image here, but his essence as well!

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chinesestunna In reply to rubberman542 [2006-03-10 15:33:12 +0000 UTC]

that's what I was striving for thank you so much!

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Sadalmelik [2006-03-10 15:11:39 +0000 UTC]

lovely shot
lovely true story

I see the pic, and I feel that he can make the winter a little coldless

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chinesestunna In reply to Sadalmelik [2006-03-10 15:34:51 +0000 UTC]

thank you I only wish I had more time to interact with him

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Sadalmelik In reply to chinesestunna [2006-03-10 16:05:24 +0000 UTC]

yeah... i would like to meet him someday in this life
(i live a few... lots! of miles away )

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chinesestunna In reply to Sadalmelik [2006-03-10 16:41:41 +0000 UTC]

oops, posted the wrong comment to the wrong person sorry

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chinesestunna In reply to Sadalmelik [2006-03-10 16:39:49 +0000 UTC]

Haha, these people are all around us, you just have to look a bit harder. I would've not met him either had I not stopped right before my train got there and speak with him. It was strange, his smile made me abandon my apprehensions and reservations - before this trip, I wasn't one who talk with strangers, but somehow it all changed and I made lots of new friends
I didn't get a chance to get him something, as I was in the subway station and the train came shortly after I arrived on the platform, but I would've if this was a different set of circumstances... Regarding the person you met, if someone acted that way towards me, I would've taken the chips back... But ah well, perhaps it's that attitude of that person causing him not to have a smile like this guy

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chemical-bee [2006-03-10 14:46:42 +0000 UTC]

what a very beautiful photo. I enjoyed the photo as much as I enjoyed the description. Now there's a man who's really figured it out.

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chinesestunna In reply to chemical-bee [2006-03-10 16:08:04 +0000 UTC]

thank you so much he is awesome!

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dannishez [2006-03-10 14:08:26 +0000 UTC]

so beautiful to see a human being who has truly learned to live his life. Its just... wow. Awesome shot hon. The more I look at it the more I like it. I'd love to see his cart!!
Nice work sweet.

xo

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chinesestunna In reply to dannishez [2006-03-10 15:40:43 +0000 UTC]

thank you NYC has brought me such inspiration and lifted my spirits with a variety of new friends and people I've met. Such colorful characters they all are.

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Angel-Awaiting [2006-03-10 12:37:38 +0000 UTC]

I absolutely love this piece, Stunna! Looking at the picture brought a smile to my face, and reading the story made it grower wider and wider till finally I shed a tear! Is this going to be available for print? Oh yea, and I hope you bought him lunch, hehe You are very lucky Stunna to have met him... not only because of the invaluable piece of art and story, but because here in South Florida I have met so many bogus people who pretend to be homeless just to get handouts. They're all over the place! You want to help them, but you don't know if they really need it or if they are just lazy people who want to sit around all day asking for money in rich towns... why reward people like that? They should get real jobs instead of making people doubt those who really do need help. Also, the actual homeless people here are horribly ungrateful -- I once was at Burger King and this man came in asking for a cup of water, his nails were almost black and 2 inches long, his hair matted and beard grown out almost to his stomach with dirt all over him. I had already finished my lunch and had no money left on me, but I did have an unopened bag of chips in my purse from earlier. I approached him and gave it to him explaining it's all I had. He grumbled and sneered, "Why can't you just buy me a burger?" I told him it's all I have right now, but I'd like that he take it. He mumbled something under his breath and snatched the bag of chips from my hands. I felt pretty heartbroken when I left. LoL... I'm rambling now... all in all Stunna very nice work, hun

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chinesestunna In reply to Angel-Awaiting [2006-03-10 16:41:52 +0000 UTC]

Haha, these people are all around us, you just have to look a bit harder. I would've not met him either had I not stopped right before my train got there and speak with him. It was strange, his smile made me abandon my apprehensions and reservations - before this trip, I wasn't one who talk with strangers, but somehow it all changed and I made lots of new friends
I didn't get a chance to get him something, as I was in the subway station and the train came shortly after I arrived on the platform, but I would've if this was a different set of circumstances... Regarding the person you met, if someone acted that way towards me, I would've taken the chips back... But ah well, perhaps it's that attitude of that person causing him not to have a smile like this guy

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Angel-Awaiting In reply to chinesestunna [2006-03-10 19:25:36 +0000 UTC]

Yea, hehe everyone's different in that way which makes this world an artist's best resource in my opinion. I wouldn't (and didn't) take the chips back, but I'm the type that talks to strangers lol... see how wonderful and funny differences can be?

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chinesestunna In reply to Angel-Awaiting [2006-03-10 21:25:10 +0000 UTC]

The funny differences are what makes life!

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Angel-Awaiting In reply to chinesestunna [2006-03-10 22:02:36 +0000 UTC]

Amen

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joaobelo [2006-03-10 12:01:48 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful story, you can feel the warmth in his face

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chinesestunna In reply to joaobelo [2006-03-10 13:34:34 +0000 UTC]

thank you

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KommandantSven [2006-03-10 10:53:07 +0000 UTC]

It's very heartwarming. :]

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chinesestunna In reply to KommandantSven [2006-03-10 13:34:50 +0000 UTC]

glad you were able to feel what I felt

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meendee [2006-03-10 08:25:00 +0000 UTC]

The bokeh is beautiful, placing emphasis on his eyes that speaks for himself. His smile is so natural and expressive. Maybe having him looking at the camera would have a greater impact on the picture??!!

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chinesestunna In reply to meendee [2006-03-10 13:39:49 +0000 UTC]

thank you so much he actually was looking at the camera - this is one of the "posed" shots before I had to leave (my train was coming). He had a slightly lazy eye because notice the left eye which is a bit more in the shadows is trained on us (looking at the camera) but the right eye is slightly off, but that being the more lit area of his face throughs us off.

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riprescott [2006-03-10 07:45:06 +0000 UTC]

the question to be or to have?
he chose to be. very good shot and very interesting story.
there so many unhappy people having everything but happiness.
this what they think...

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chinesestunna In reply to riprescott [2006-03-10 16:07:51 +0000 UTC]

so true, and I was one of them sadly...

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riprescott In reply to chinesestunna [2006-03-10 17:01:17 +0000 UTC]

sometimes i still feel like one of them

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chinesestunna In reply to riprescott [2006-03-10 17:02:26 +0000 UTC]

I know same here.

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riprescott In reply to chinesestunna [2006-03-10 17:55:10 +0000 UTC]

the hell, so we stop worrying start being happy?

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chinesestunna In reply to riprescott [2006-03-10 19:09:35 +0000 UTC]

exactly, the desire to be happy is inhierantly unhappy, if we were happy already, there would be no desire to be "happy"

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riprescott In reply to chinesestunna [2006-03-10 19:12:50 +0000 UTC]

wise words

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