On a trip to St. Petersburg, Russia, shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, this man was waiting where tourbuses discharged their passengers. He stood quietly, hat in hand, looking straight ahead and silent. Upon closer observation, I noted the quality of his coat which was beautifully tailored and of fine fabric. I checked his shoes and they were spotless.
As passersby dropped bills into his hat, he would furtively remove them and put them in his coat pocket, leaving the hat always empty.
I would have loved to hear his story. Was he a prosperous man thrown into poverty because of the devaluation of Soviet currency? Or was he a clever rogue collecting foreign dollars which were more valuable in a currency exchange? I'll never know, but it gave me a satisfying chuckle.
- Subject Matter: PORTRAT
Other Work From Susan F Greaves
