Heading up on a dark Monday evening, tail-lights illuminate my path to the city for an evening meeting with Prospect’s new head chef/part owner, Ravi Kapur, and magical word slinger Adam Starr.  It’s been some time since our last creative meeting, and I am excited to hear good news ranging from full funding of  the restaurant to everyone’s latest and greatest ideas.  I really didn’t know what to expect beyond that.  I was just hoping to have a few drinks, brainstorm, and walk away with the creative juices flowing.

Reaching the city, I found an unusually amazing parking spot close to my destination on what seemed to be a very crowded night in the Mission for a Monday.  As I walked to our meeting place, I passed by a few people whom I thought were dressed pretty far out for even SF standards.  Capes and goth galore, it slowly dawned on me that everyone was dressing up for the Day of the Dead.  Ah yes, my birthday is also in line with hoards of people, some in costume, pilgrimaging candies and favorite foods to the grave sites of  loved ones gone the way of the Dodo.  Glad I brought my camera.

I truly love photographing people, but how do you approach someone off the street, bust out an intimidating camera, and then make them comfortable with you?  A good starting to point is to just ask.  I couldn’t let all these great faces, images, and shadows drift off into the night.  Once a year my friend…  So I bucked up the courage and asked a few kind-hearted souls to allow me to photograph them.  And it felt damn good.

 A new goal is emerging: Making a point to ask people if I may photograph them.  The more uncomfortable I am, the more reason for me to stretch my boundaries and push my creative ideas.  

I swear it’s like asking your high school sweetheart out for the first time.  And after she says yes, you think, “Why didn’t I do that sooner?”

-Todd