There But For The Grace Of God Go I

This was a difficult photograph on so many levels.

Taking the long way home from work today I began walk east from the Chelsea Piers when I happened upon this man in a wheelchair. He asked me for a smoke and I was able to comply having bought a pack today to make good on a promise to student (I owed him another cigarette because he agreed to stay after school for a meeting with his grandmother on Friday. He was absent yesterday and he didn't take kindly to me smoking half of the loosey I got for him yesterday - - a deal is a deal).

As I was pulling the cigarette from the box to give to the man in the wheelchair I noticed that his hands and face were completely covered in a thick dry black grime and he smelled as if he had been soiling himself for quite some time.

"Do you want to light that now?", I asked pulling out a lighter.

"Sure. Can I ask you something?"

"Okay."

"Do you want to take my picture?"

It's hard not to notice the big ole digital SLR hanging from my neck. I said "Okay" and bent my knees to get to his level and his odor became more noticeable and didn't pay any attention to the camera's settings. I just wanted to try get a decent portrait.

I was already standing with my hand in my pocket when asked, "Can you help me out with something?".

I looked down and he had lost his legs from above his knees. I also noticed and thought that despite the filth that surrounded him and his odor, the blanket that covered his lap and legs was powder blue.

"Hey, it's not a problem".

"You can take a picture of my leg."

"Here, look at the picture I just took of you." I showed him his image as it appeared on the back of the camera.

Again he says, "You can take a picture of my leg."

"Nah man, there's no need for that."

Suddenly feeling horrible about my own self I gave him money as he insisted that I take a picture of his leg.

Minutes later i thought about what had occurred. Amidst the upscale Chelsea galleries of New York City this man lives this existence. And the money I gave him - - what a joke! What would he be able to do with it?