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Trevor

Trevor likes photography too. He shows me some photos that he saved after a happy woman had discarded them. He didn't understand why a happy woman would toss away such beautiful pictures.

He then told me of how he once had a good camera like mine but had thrown it in the ocean one day when he was angry.

The photos are of China, he tells me, and they're beautiful! One day he'd like to live there.

 

He took the prayer book from the church, and hoped they didn't mind him taking it. He said he was borrowing it. I told him that I thought they would be pleased that he found it be so inspiring that he couldn't leave it behind.

I thanked Trevor for talking to me and letting me take his picture. I gave him a few bucks to get some breakfast other than the liquid one that he was having already. Somehow I doubt he went to Macdonald's with the money.
COMMENTS
Andre. said at 11:21 p.m. on Jan 15, 2008:
A story well told. Nice.
Keeli said at 11:24 p.m. on Jan 15, 2008:
How many of us would have stopped to listen to this man's story, how many of us would have even noticed him? Dar, you did a wonderful thing sharing his words and giving us a face to place them with ;-)
Pkeener said at 11:24 p.m. on Jan 15, 2008:
thanks Dar. wow. i am speechless.
JuDeck said at 11:33 p.m. on Jan 15, 2008:
Great series Dar. I esp like the first and last pictures. You can tell by Trevor's swollen hands that he's living a hard life now. I bet you made his day by asking to take some pictures of him. Good job.
Lifequest22 said at 11:52 p.m. on Jan 15, 2008:
Dar, great photos and narrative. Excellent example of photo journalism. And you made a difference in Trevors life by showing interest and treating him with kindness. One small act of kindness touched someones life. You are so Cooool, girl. And to make Pam speechless, now that is a miracle. Way to go.
AliDar said at 12:03 a.m. on Jan 16, 2008:
(Beaming) Thank you!
Hollyridger said at 12:16 a.m. on Jan 16, 2008:
Dar, this is really very touching. You are to be congratulated on a very moving series of photos, a small part of a day in Trevor's life that obviously he was thrilled to share with you. I wonder if he has any idea that people around the world are enjoying his story. The fact that you took the time to talk to him and and took some wonderful photos is commendable - I am so proud of you.
Abking said at 1:34 a.m. on Jan 16, 2008:
The ping pong of awareness from photographer to subject, subject to photographer gets my attention and feelings. I really like #3 but I can't look at it too long. Your wonderful narrative is an extra bonus to this tabblo. Good work!
Shenresi said at 2:36 a.m. on Jan 16, 2008:
A great picture- story Dar. Very good told, but his outfit and his fiew are telling storys, too. I know how life is on the ground and it is very difficult to get out of there, because there is nothing left and there is no money to say, o. k. I change my life and took me an appartement to start a new lile- nothing - good luck Trevor !!!
Tishfish said at 6:55 a.m. on Jan 16, 2008:
I think I liked the first tabblo better because there was no face to it and now that there is, I worry about him and feel very sorry people have to live like this. I would love to reach out to him with aid and a place to live, but I am on the other side of the world. God bless him.
Leftofcenter said at 7:01 a.m. on Jan 16, 2008:
I knew you had to tell Trevor's story, the story behind "that" cart. You did it in a very touching way, makes u wonder how did he get "here" and why did that women throw those pics away...
LatentE said at 7:25 a.m. on Jan 16, 2008:
He probably once had a good life ..
Excellent tabblo. Personal, touching and cutting.
PaulBarfoot said at 8:13 a.m. on Jan 16, 2008:
A poignant story well told! I can't help but think about how so many people subsist on society's leftovers. In Trevor's case - the shopping cart, the discarded photographs, the "borrowed" prayer book . . . Thank you for taking the time to get to know him and for telling some of his story.

Every city has its street people and I'm sure I'm not the only one here who, having seen your tabblo, will be able to just walk by without at the very least a greeting or some other acknowledgement of shared humanity. Homeless people may be forced to live on society's discards, but they shouldn't ever be treated as if they ARE discards. You have inspired me with your caring and creativity. Thank you!
Charlespop said at 8:21 a.m. on Jan 16, 2008:
A very moving and powerful story told equally well by both images and words.
Pkeener said at 8:31 a.m. on Jan 16, 2008:
Linda is correct. But i can't let this tabbblo go by without the poper critique it deserves. i think i could just say what Allan already did. Dar, this is very excellent reporting of real life. real feelings. real photography.
Wflorence said at 9:10 a.m. on Jan 16, 2008:
Excellent work!!!
Domieb2 said at 9:37 a.m. on Jan 16, 2008:
Oh wow... I'm so glad that you shared this. What a special person you must be to take the time to get to know Trevor and find out about his story. Thank you for sharing this.
Bxrgirl27 said at 10:20 a.m. on Jan 16, 2008:
I'm speechless - this is an amazing piece of work - you are a special person to take time to talk to Trevor and share his story. Thanks for doing this - it's a reminder of how many folks are out there just surviving day to day.
AliDar said at 1:03 p.m. on Jan 16, 2008:
I'm the one who's speechless... Again I don't know what to say about all of your wonderful compliments. ... I'm feeling a little guilty about them, sort of like I've taken advantage of Trevor's bad luck to get kudos from all of you, but then I think about what my intention was when I thought I wanted to do something like this and I can tell by the comments here that I've accomplished what I wanted to do, put a face a name ... and a heart to someone that's fallen through the cracks, and someone who most of us DO tend to try to avoid for one reason or another. Annelies and Latent, I learned alot more about Trevor than I put in this tabblo; how he came to Victoria to go to college, (when I asked him what he studied in college he got all frazzled so I changed the subject quickly) - how he's worked all over the city, how he use to be a painter, but there was some incident where he was upset with his boss and lost his job.... And how he always finds really good stuff, but likes to give it away rather than sell it.

Thank you again everyone for the kudos, and for giving Trevor some of your time. Paul you said it best: " ...people may be forced to live on society's discards, but they shouldn't ever be treated as if they ARE discards."
NavyMom said at 4:08 p.m. on Jan 16, 2008:
wha a powerful tabblo.
Candlepower said at 5:00 p.m. on Jan 16, 2008:
It is sad but I dought if your money got spent on food! Good shots!
Decoy said at 5:59 p.m. on Jan 16, 2008:
Beautifully done, even if the story is sad! It really moved me! I can't pick a fave because they do all belong in this tabblo! Very well done!
Rheap said at 6:18 p.m. on Jan 16, 2008:
Brilliant work Dar, ever thought of journalism for a living? :)
Debdog said at 8:02 p.m. on Jan 16, 2008:
you stopped and noticed the HUMAN BEING...most people never even look :) you tocheda life..and YOU won't forget, and it has changed you in a way by that!
Gretel said at 8:14 p.m. on Jan 16, 2008:
I'm not speechless. I just dont know wot 2 say... no words can describe my feelins... (No "LOL"s here). I could say twas a poignant story (if I knew da meanin of "poignant"). Hope U will never throw your cam in da ocean!
Pkeener said at 8:59 p.m. on Jan 16, 2008:
yes, gretel, Dar has really done something great here.
JeroldsSis said at 12:58 a.m. on Jan 17, 2008:
Wow. This may be a little long so I'll apologize in advance. When I saw this tabblo, my heart stopped. Five years ago my family befriended a homeless man in our neighborhood who would come by on trash day to dig through the trash containers for plastic and glass to recycle for money. When I saw this we began to save them for him. At first, he wouldn't even make eye contact with us but after a month or so, he began to warm up to us and we even told him where we would keep the bottles for him on the side of our garage. He was pretty clean and well spoken. Alcohol had taken over his life. He was a vietnam war vet. We gave him little Christmas gifts and he would always leave little trinkets for my boys when he came across something they might like. If he needed a ride somewhere, we were happy to do it. Then last August after we got back from vacation, I noticed the bottles had not been taken. I waited to see him and started going to the places I knew where he might be. I feared the worst. Even though I knew him, I didn't know enough. I had no last name; I didn't know where his family lived accept that they were somewhere within 20 miles of my home. Sadly, after all my searching, I found out that he had died at the school across the street while we were on vacation. He would climb on the roof to stay away from the skateboarders that hung out there on the weekend and apparenly had been drinking and rolled off of the roof which killed him instantly. He died alone and his family wanted nothing of him. I, as well as my husband and kids were devestated. I took it really, really hard. I felt guilty for not knowing more about him. It effected me so much that I did not pick my camera again until last week. I had no desire and went into a horrible funk. This is my first time back to Tabblo since last August. Then, I see this Tabblo and it reminded me so much of my friend who I miss terribly, but I'm so glad you did this! I wish I would have thought of this. I think this tabblo is absolutely wonderful. (Again, sorry this is so long. Feel free to delete)
Chiloedream said at 1:28 a.m. on Jan 17, 2008:
Un immense tabblo, merci Dar, salut mon ami
Memotions said at 10:25 a.m. on Jan 17, 2008:
You've lovingly presented Trevor's story. I found this very moving. God bless Trevor and how blessed you were to have him trust you enough to share his thoughts. You listened and probably made his day.
Magedimages said at 3:11 p.m. on Jan 17, 2008:
La 6e photo est remarquable. Ce visage marqué par les blessures de la vie avec ce regard direct sans pudeur qui vous transperce, un œil exprimant l'espoir et l'autre clairement la désilution... Je suis retourné par cette photo et l'émotion qu'elle dégage. Grande photo !
Sheila said at 7:34 p.m. on Jan 18, 2008:
Thanks for sharing this Ali... a simple reminder on how we should be thankful for all the blessings. This is very moving.
Sativa said at 5:59 p.m. on Jan 20, 2008:
This tabblo is absolutely awesome...!!! GREAT WORK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Marranei said at 6:38 a.m. on Jan 22, 2008:
Such a great idea for a tabblo! We pass by so many homeless people each day without ever wondering if they are good people or not... I loved his story about the photographs...
PhotoPop said at 9:53 a.m. on Jan 22, 2008:
Wonderful tabblo, obviously done with feeling and understanding. Thanks
Noe said at 2:49 p.m. on Jan 23, 2008:
Great work Dar... very nice tabblo =)
AliDar said at 11:59 p.m. on May 7, 2008:
Thanks again everyone... I looked for Trevor the last time I was downtown; couldn't find him.
Debdog said at 10:41 a.m. on May 8, 2008:
this was a TOD for me...i wonder what happened to him?
Hollyridger said at 9:26 p.m. on Jun 9, 2008:
I wonder if you have found Trevor by now. This was such a moving tabblo.... for many of us.
Jantass said at 10:07 p.m. on Jun 9, 2008:
excellent images and face ..great shots !!
AliDar said at 10:24 p.m. on Jun 9, 2008:
Deb was right; that day talking with, and taking photographs of Trevor has changed me, and because of it, I keep looking for him whenever I go downtown, like I'm looking for an old friend.
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