The other day I wrote a blog post about continuing with my 100 Strangers Project, a project designed to get me over my fear asking strangers if I can photograph them. Today’s post is a continuation of that effort and it feels fitting that this “stranger” was photographed just minutes after I finished photographing Hernan. Meet Marco Pat Uh:
Marco is quite the amazing artist. He was set up on the pedestrian avenue in Playa del Carmen selling his custom painted tiles, trivets, and refrigerator magnets. What drew me, however, was his method of painting. He was using his fingernail. The one on his pinkie finger. And he was fast at it.
Emboldened by my success carrying on a conversation with Hernan 5 minutes earlier I approached Marco, explained my project, and expressed an interest in photographing him while working. A true Yucatecan, he was humble and sweet and obliged gently. I felt I was free to shoot as much as I would have liked but I didn’t want to take advantage of his hospitality and so I made 4 or 5 images before buying one of his magnets (the one he is painting in the image above.)
Below are a few more of the photographs I made of him and his work:
