100 Strangers | 90: Ray - a photo on Flickriver

A man who is smitten. That’s Ray, my stranger 90/100.

At merely 22 years old, he is the father of two precious little girls (4 yrs., and 3 mos); and partnered with a woman who amazes him (Brittany, No.89 flic.kr/p/GGd7g3). Everything that matters to Ray revolves around his nuclear family, which lifts his pride and supplies his life with purpose.

Before capturing this portrait, I photographed Ray with his three ladies. Here, we see when he revealed to me the tattoo on his inner arm that is usually obscured by its placement and covered in clothing. Ray explained that he wrote the words to himself and had them lettered in free-hand, onto his skin.

It reads, “Family, like branches / on a tree we all grow in / different directions yet / our roots remain as one”. Even as he revealed the ink to me, he couldn’t take his eyes off the mother of his children, and those same little girls. It was touching to see how enamored he was.

In three words, Brittany described Ray as, “loving, strong, and caring.”

Ray currently works in a medical facility preparing supplies and equipment for people who get pheresis. The work is not physically taxing, though his hours are long. He explained pheresis as process where components of blood (such as plasma, leukocytes, or platelets) are collected from a donor and then the remaining blood get transfused back to the same donor. Other times it’s used as a treatment to remove from blood certain harmful substances that can cause swelling in ill patients’ organs; for example, patients with sickle cell disease or leukemia.

In a previous job, Ray worked as a health aide for people who are elderly and infirm. While that was very challenging work, he saw that small acts of kindness were received with gratitude. It comes naturally to him to want to be helpful to those he loves. Ray alternates his work schedule to coordinate with that of his wife. One of them is always present to care for their children. On the occasion of our meeting, Ray was relieving Brittany from pushing their infant stroller.

Ray explained that when their free time overlaps, which isn't often enough, they enjoy family walks together so the girls get fresh air and they can all take in pleasant scenery outdoors. That’s why they were at the Botanical garden in the ABQ Biopark when we met.

My 100 Strangers submissions are catalogued in an album you can visit: flic.kr/s/aHsk9s8ZQb

Images from all the participants in this world-wide project can be enjoyed here: flic.kr/g/42zLY.

Taken in: United States / New Mexico / Albuquerque / West Park (show map)

Taken on: April 30, 2016

Tags:

100 Strangers

outdoor portrait

street portrait

Albuquerque

New Mexico

father

medical worker

hat

Tattoo

Albuquerque Botanic Garden

stranger

New Mexican

young father

Canon EOS 70D

EF50mm f/1.4 USM

50mm

horizontal

90/100 « less

Sets appears in: • 100 Strangers Project • New Mexico

Groups appears in: • Portraits That Tell a Story (READ RULES BEFORE POSTING!) • CLICK the CAMERA more » • The World Through My Eyes ... • The Portrait Group • Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 • STRANGERS! • Natural Illumination • 100 Strangers • Fantastic 50mm • **Explore Unexplored!** (10 Favs & No Explored) • The Little Things ~ • Portraits with soul • Street Portraits Close Ups Only • Your Perspective and Creative « less

Camera: Canon EOS 70D, f/1.8, 1/500 sec, 50mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 70D
Lens:	EF50mm f/1.4 USM
Aperture:	f/1.8
Exposure Time:	0.002 sec (1/500)
Focal Length:	50mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Spot
White Balance:	Manual
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CS6 (Windows)
Show full info

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