Beauty In The Struggle: Mind If I Smoke

As I walked around West Oakland with my camera strapped to me, I met this woman, a native of the area. A rare occurrence, as neighborhoods like this are succumbing to gentrification.

She told me, "I hate taking photos--my daughter up the block is at the laundromat...she loves taking pictures." I told her that I would love to have this portrait of her and she responded, "Mind if I smoke?" I told her to go ahead and she to a pull from her cigarette as I pressed down the shutter.

01.03.2017