After stopping, opening his arms wide and howling at the sky, this older gentleman then started to kick up his heels & dance along the River front trail where I often walk for exercise. When he first passed me a few moments earlier, I saw him smoking something. I had assumed that was a cigarette. However, the object in his hand here is not a cigarette.

About an hour later, he unexpectedly popped into our Yoga Class in the park. The Yoga Instructor asked if he wanted to join the class. However, he said, "No, I'm too tired. Had too much Agent Orange and haven't slept in 6 days." He then proceeded to lay down on one of the Yoga mats. Following his hour long rest, the senior (in his tye dyed splendor ) then went back to dancing in the park. For someone who hadn't slept in days, he seemed to be quite frisky & have a joy for life. Actually, he did seem to be very sweet.
Thanks to him, my Saturday in the Park this week definitely was a bit more interesting than usual. I later saw him smoking something once again.

The scene was somewhat difficult to shoot because shooting conditions were quite contrasty. There was harsh backlighting; plus the main subject was in the shade. Still, I wanted to get both him and the river background in one single shot.

Happily, this image did end up as being a memory keeper.
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COPYRIGHT 2009, Elizabeth Bickel. All Rights Reserved. Any and/or all usage or copying of photos, without express written permission from the photographer, is prohibited by law. For information concerning the use or purchase of an image, contact the artist.