Smallitmore

"George White drags on a cigarette on Eastern Avenue in Baltimore City, Friday, March 18, 2011. 'I'm like a bad penny, I keep popping up,' White said, in reference to where he can usually be found. White has lived in Baltimore since 1958 and is a self-proclaimed 'bum' who has been on the streets for about a year."

This week at my four month post-op spinal surgery follow-up, I was told by my doctor to "break in" my back. In other words, start doing more, get out and start shooting, and see how I feel.

I thought what better way to start break in my back, which in my book is a fine line with breaking my back again, than to shoot some street photos and street portraits.

I've been eager, and very anxious, to dust my cameras off and start shooting again, but have been terrified. This marks the first time I've picked up my cameras since having surgery back in December 2010. Of course, I am lying because my iPhone blog is frequently updated.

I don't want to ramble, so I'll make this short. You have to love Smallitmore, otherwise known as Baltimore. Today I walked around East Baltimore in Highlandtown and Canton. Different in many ways.

As I packed up for the day I bumped into a self proclaimed "bum" who I wanted to shoot a portrait of back in October. I had seen him in his Orioles gear back in October when I was back east from Utah. This time I had my cameras. We talked. I shot a handful of frames and we both moved out separate ways.

While sore, it felt really good to get back out again today. One day at a time. One day at a time.