Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Pecan Park Road Flea Market: Jacksonville, FL 10-9-11

There was a time in my life where I was thrilled to go to two flea markets in one weekend.

This was my fourth in one weekend.

It was such a crummy, rainy weekend in Jacksonville. Off and on storms did not make this the easiest weather to shoot in, but it's all part of life.

If you haven't gotten it by now, let me lay out the basis of this project:

I want to see the world for what it really is. How can I be successful at that when I don't even know what my own country looks like.  What are we doing with our free time? What are we collecting, selling, buying? What is going on outside of the big cities? Who are What is true Americana? Who are we? What do we look like? What are the stories?

Jean was someone I just wanted to approach solely because I needed somewhere to start my afternoon. She sat in her little folding chair, so contently as I passed by.

Jean Euler: Jacksonville, FL
Jean has been selling since 1997 at flea markets. Originally selling at Mt. Dora (one of the major flea markets I plan on going to soon!), Jean now sells here in Jacksonville. I asked her how the transition was from a huge venue like Mt. Dora, to a newer, smaller venue. She said that it's been pretty great! She now sells flags, because it was something that this market was missing!

She said that it was her husbands idea, & that he is usually here with her, but he was in the hospital that day. She told me that he recently broke his hip. I later said that I was sorry about that. She laughed & said "It's his fault! Typical man!!! I warned him it wasn't a smart move to (do what ever she had told me he did to break his hip)."

Funny gal!

As you know, one of my goals is to find unique people, selling unique things.

This was the first time I had ever seen anyone making stained glass ever, let alone at a flea market!

Billie & Jerry Childers: Yulee, FL


Billie began making stained glass when her second husband got sick. She needed to find something to do in order to make some money, and keep herself busy. She began taking classes in stained glass, & has been making wonderful, quality pieces for quite some time now.

Her new husband, Jerry, was actually also another stained-glass artist & they had been on the same website/forum for years but never actually met, until a show (I believe) brought them together.


Jerry Childers: Yulee, FL

Its so wonderful seeing artists, happy, making money. Doing what they love.

Other times, people love their jobs because of the perks, their bosses... the hours.

This would describe Tom perfectly!

Tom Mastropietro: Palm Coast, FL
After twenty years of selling nuts, dried fruits, snacks & candy I'm note sure how Tom hasn't lost all of his teeth! I know I probably would have. In stead, Tom thought it would be funny to say "Wanna take a picture of my nuts!" when I walked by.

He's lucky I had the balls to stand up and say SURE!

Connie seems like someone who would have also laughed at Tom's joke. She had that super spunky, IDGAF attitude about her.

Connie Higginbottom: Jacksonville, FL

Connie started selling at the flea market after her divorce in June. She needed the extra money and this seemed simple enough.

After finding out what does does for a living, anything seems simple compared to that...

Connie has been a bus driver for special education children since 1985! I know what a challenging job this can be. My mom is a special education assistant at my former high school. I was a bus counselor at a day camp & I had a few kids that had special needs I was in charge of.

She says that after 9-11, kids have really changed. I don't know what she means by this. But I let her continue, not wanting to offend her.

"You gotta protest, like I did in the 70's" - Connie Higginbottom

So since Macon, I'm on this power trip of seeing who I can push into being photographed. I am looking for a struggle. I am waiting for someone to flip out on me, or call me nuts! Not like excited waiting, but apprehensive about me.


Bob is someone who I was SURE was going to shoo me out once I asked him if he'd allow me to photograph him.

Complete oposite! He light up! He became so animated!!! Sadly, all of the photos I took of him "animated" were too blurry to use, he was just so excited.

Bob Shartrand: Kingsly, GA
Bob was a character! This photo makes him look so stern, and rough (which is what drew me to him initially) but he really was such a super sweet guy.


Bob has bought over 500 storage lockers while in this business. He said that only about three of them have been real winners. I can totally relate to this as a photographer- no matter how many images I shoot, I only really get one or two really GREAT images per every few hundred I take.


Since then, he has collected anything, and everything.


"I can do anything I want!"- Bob Shartrand


Bob has been told he does look like Santa a few too many times he told me, which may be the reason he never became a school teacher- didn't want to ruin it for the kids.


But I like his logic on this:
Bob got a job with UPS.
They said congrats.
He said HELL NO.
I DON'T WEAR ALL BROWN.
Brown shirt, brown shorts, brown shoes, brown socks. Hell, I'm sure those guys were brown underwear.


This is something I can get behind.


Currently Bob is a mail bitch. Or maybe a male bitch. I asked which one he meant, and said he wouldn't tell me.


Theressa & Randy Gunter: Kingsland, GA
STORY TIME:
Randy's dad was a Church of G-d preacher way back when. He kept bees. Randy hated bee keeping. Randy now has a few hundred hives.

I learned a lot about honey from Theressa & Randy. I loved the fact that they dont artificially their bee's!

Bought some "creamed honey" from them... Lets just say- PHENOMNOMNOMNOMNOMENAL





HOARDER ALERT!


HOARDER ALERT!

HOARDER ALERT!

HOARDER ALERT!

HOARDER ALERT! 

I don't care that Walk is selling all of this stuff. He is still a hoarder. He is still traveling every 2 weekends, to get more stuff. This is a disease . A disease that's been going on for 51 years. Seriously. This is sad. This is heart breaking. This is almost gross.

Walt is blind to this. I asked if he was a hoarder- he said "Naw." Thats about all I could get out of him.


*UPDATE: I apologize if I offended anyone of Walt's family. I should probably do some more research of the definition of what a hoarder is and when is the line crossed when it comes to business (especially when it is something as unregulated as flea markets).  Maybe I over reacted to the volume of inventory in such a confined space.




Walt Wilk: St. Marys, GA
 

Monday, October 24, 2011

Beach Boulevard Flea Market: Jacksonville, FL 10-9-11

So obviously, House of Fleas was not the gold mine I hoped it to be. 

After my little mishap with the trash I thought of to be a friend in Jacksonville, I was encouraged by my father to stay with his friends (and tax clients) in Orange Park.

They were absolutely wonderful in helping me decide which flea markets to go to. I really would like to extend my gratitude to the their family.

On to my second flea market in one day: Beach Boulevard Flea Market.

This market was filled with everything... but mostly new things, which I am not interested in.

But it wasn't something new that caught my eye. It was a someone.

Ryan N.: Jacksonville, FL

Ryan is ten years old. A little ironic since my little brothers are Ryan: 13, & Hunter, 10. Kind of cute to me.

Ryan is a hardcore entrupenure. He shares a booth every weekend with his grandpa, Bob.

Bob Powell & Ryan N: Jacksonville, FL
I was so excited to see someone young really into flea marketing/making money! When I asked him what he planned on doing with all the money he was making, he seemed bashful when he answered "go buy more stuff to sell!" Ryan gets all of his stuff from yard & estate sales. He is so intense about his selling. He told me that he hates missing yard sales (just like I hate missing flea marketing!) so much so that his family gave him an option weather or not he wanted to go to his older sibilings college graduation in order to go to yard sales. I'm glad he picked the graduation, and he was glad too, he admited!

I was so impressed with this 10 year old. He really knew his stuff. He only buys what he knows is good quality and will sell easily. If he doesn't know a brand, he will research it a lot before he puts anything on his table. He is truly an honest, hard working, ethical little man!

His grandpa's fishing buddy, Louie (27), got the guys into selling at the flea market. Louie's booth is right next to theirs.

"I want to be like Louie when I grow up." -Ryan N.

He really has a lot of great people to look up to in his life. In addition to his grandpa, & Louie, his dad is also a major life influence. His plan is to become a CEO of a "big company" Ryan told me. He wants to open up grocery stores, and such with his dad. What a crazy dream at ten years old, to want to open a grocery store...

At ten, all I could think about was marrying Ashton Kutcher, or being a cosmetologist!

On the oposite end of the specturm is Dot.

Dot Anderson: Jacksonville, FL
For the past 65 years, Dot has been known as the Lace Lady. She has been restoring lace, repurposing lace, and having fun with it since as long as she can remember. She showed me a scrapbook of the numerous articles written about her the newspapers. She was just beaming when she spoke about her lace work.

"The name of the game is: LOVE WHAT YOU DO." -Dot Anderson.

Dot had such a youth to her that my portrait of her does no justice, but this thumbnail may.

Dot Anderson's hair
Dot was just such a delightful lady. She loves being active and the perks of wonderful people passing by, is her favorite thing about this.

"I'd be dead in six months if I wasn't doing this. Seriously." -Dot Anderson

Sounds a lot like Nana.




Away from the flea market blog I would like to give special recognition to Nana right now.

Nana is my hero for obvious reasons. She has always done everything for me. She handles my life even 1,000 miles away at 78 years young.

Nana was about to have her hip replaced when the doctors found breast cancer. Not able to proceed with the hip until other matters were fully taken care of, she recently just finished her 5 weeks of radiation.

I am so proud of her.

I am sure she does not want all of this sad attention drawn to her, and I'm sure she is going to call me, yell at me and tell me to take this off IMMEDIATLY, that nobody needs to know about this.

But Nan, I'm not going to.

You are my hero. I am so thankful to have you, and I am so happy that I am meeting so many old people that can't compare to you. You are such an amazing lady.

Your constant support by reading this (on the iPad I got you!) and talking to me about it means the world to me.

I want all of my readers to know that Nana is absolutly fine. There is nothing to worry about, other than her dirty jokes. Oh, but for the love of Flea Markets, will someone get that lady a new hip!!!


My parents have been such a great help in this project too. I literally could not do it without them. They deserve a lot of credit as to why I am able to do this project.

xoxoxo





The Bargain House of Fleas: Jacksonville, FL 10-9-11

DO I HAVE NEWS FOR YOU! I HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO FIX THE ECONOMY!!!!


THIS IS A SURE FIRE WAY TO PAY YOUR HOUSE OFF!

DON'T BELIEVE ME?! ASK BONNIE! SHE DID IT!


READY!?

ARE YOU SUUUUURE!?

OHKAY!

Sell you're entire Star Wars collection.

That's all you have to do! It's THAT easy.

Seriously?! I mean... SHUT UP.

Bonnie is a collector. Some would say collector. Others, like my sister who is a professional organizer, would say hoarder.
Bonnie Lucas: Jacksonville, FL
Bonnie knows everything in the world about Beanie Babies. She has over $20,000 invested in her personal collection alone.

With over 4,000 outside of her collection (for sales at the market) she says that shes not doing this for the money. I asked her if she could even make money in Beanie Babies these days, the answer was without a doubt "yes". For the past few years, Bonnie has been selling Beanie Babies at The Bargain House of Fleas in Jacksonville. She also sells toys, books and other childrens items.

She is one of those people that if I saw her randomly again, I know she would come up to me and catch up as if we were old friends.

This market was small, and not a lot of interesting people, or interesting things, but Bonnie did catch my eye. She was really a sweet lady. She made sure to hug me before I left, and reminded me to be safe driving and at the other flea markets.

That is one thing I never get over, is the sweet charm of the south. I would never hear something like that out of the mouths of another midwesterner. Not because we are rude, but because when we say it, it's said to someone we know, love & care about.

Down here- they care about everyone.

The only other things that caught my attention were the following photos:

Live crabs

Coming out to play! (or snap my face off!)

Unique produce stand

$17 for ???? whatever that is

What are these!?!

Love this lady!!!!

The Market Place in Jacksonville: Jacksonville, FL 10-8-1

I want to keep this more about the work I’m making and less about my personal stories along the way, but let me tell you: I’m looking for flea markets, NOT flea bags. Don’t get the wrong impression boys. I will slap you.

This has nothing to do with anyone I met at the market this weekend!!!



I walk in, and hear “Pea-NUUUUTS!” like I were at a ball game. I knew I had to find whoever was yelling about peanuts at 9 am!

Jay Watson: Jacksonville, FL

Jay was one of those people who I saw & didn’t see him as a three-dimension person… I saw him as if he were already being printed into the pages of this book.

Jay is no stranger to the camera. He told me that just last year someone from a local newspaper came to do an article about “stupid people in the cold” as he states it, coming out to the flea markets in the snow. This made me laugh… oh southerners! They do hate the cold!! Joe has been selling at his mother-in-laws hot boiled peanut stand forever he says. They have been in the same spot for FOURTY years! He hasn’t ever missed a single weekend. EVER (hence why he was in the newspaper). Jay loves coming out to The Marketplace weekend, after weekend because it makes good money! The product sells itself as he says, which during our little interview, he made several transactions, without missing a beat.

He explained that business hasn’t worsened since the economy went sour because people love to eat!

There are certain people that during this project change my life, or that I certainly will never forget. Gay happens to be one of them.

From the moment I approached her shed until the moment I left I had a huge smile just because of the person she is.



Thirty-two years ago Gay moved from New Zealand when she married a US sailor. She sold antiques on and off for twenty years and now finds herself selling baby stuff, because that’s where the money is these days. Although Gay is not in this for the money she does appreciate having her own money & not totally dependent of her husband.

In her free time, she volunteers with new refugees from counties like Bosnia, Afghanistan, Sudan & the Ukraine.

As I left, Gay offered me a bottle of water. Just a simple gesture like that really sums up who she really is.

After my encounter with the bounty hunter, I felt like I could take on some bikers.

Abraham Bernstein & Brian Charpiat: Jacksonville, FL

Abraham & Bryan have been friends for over thirty years. They have known each other their entire lives, but have probably only been close for the past twenty some years. The guys hated each other when they were little. Like despised. It got to the point where both of their grandmothers went into their back yard, picked up all of the rocks & sticks and set the boys loose on each other until they could work out their problems. They fought and fought for three hours! By the end of the fight, they were both lying on the ground, barely able to move, but still trying to beat the shit out of the other one.

Since then, they have become best buds. They both were in the Army, but never together (however they did run into each other at one point in the service which they said was really wild!).

They now sell homemade crafted toys, like Marshmallow guns & “Courtney’s Bubble Wand”. The profits for the bubble wands go towards funding for Bryan’s daughter, Courtney’s, cochlear implants.

LaBarba: Jacksonville, FL

La Barbra saw my camera and asked to check it out. She does photography on the side, as a hobby. She began selling at flea markets because she became a compulsive shopper. Now she has people buying things from her!

George had that scowl on his face that was just so precious!
George Sewen: Orange Park, FL

George nodded in approval when I told him I shot Nikon. He was a Navy photographer long ago. During George’s family history research he found out that most of his family were bandits!

At first I am really apprehensive about Eric, he seemed like a crazy man, but turns out that he is really knowledgeable & knows his shit!

Eric was looking at Georges’ cauldron. He was super excited about the piece (he is photographed with) he just acquired. He was so proud to show me that it was signed by the artist & that it had care instructions taped to it- therefor making it art & not a usable vessel any longer.
Eric Garrett: Jacksonville, FL

While asking Eric about his collection he admitted that he has three non-livable houses filled with different collections of shit. Eric seemed to be a serious kook, until he started telling me stuff about Savannah only a true historian would know. The only reason I know what he was saying was true because I also am a huge Savannah history buff!

I learned that Eric is a descendant of some very prominent members of Savannah’s history.

Doesn’t matter what flea market you are at, there is bound to be a few people setting knit goods or knitting.Penny is one of those people but today she was working on a different project; knitted figurines.
Penny McGregor: Jacksonville, FL

I approached Penny truly just because she seemed to be a very welcoming, warm person; which she was. Penny’s gentle nature may come from the fact that she is a Jibawah Indian.

It may be part of her Indian blood to never stay put too long, or do the same thing for a long period of time, but thats only a suggestion as to why she has had such an extensive background. She was in the Air Force for 2 1/2 years, has been a school teacher, fire fighter... and a million other things I couldn’t even write down!

The only constant “job” in her life is knitting & selling at flea markets for the past 20 years.

“Way back in the day”, as Penny puts it, she used to bring her rabbits and  grandma’s spinning wheel to the market, pluck rabbit hair (which apparently doesn’t hurt them) and spin it into the yarn. This tradition ceased when her ex-husband forgot to pay for their storage unit and it was no longer her property. She claims that this isn’t why he is her ex, but I know I sure as hell would make sure he suffered in some way for that! Maybe I’m just a bitch.

Penny says that the worst part of the market is the drunks. Apparently this market has a beer stand somewhere which is obviously a big hit for vendors & shoppers alike.

I had to excuse myself from the conversation after a while, not because Penny wasn't interesting, but because she was too interesting. I could have done a whole project on her (if I were a writer!). I needed a new face for a moment...

Holly Lomison: Jacksonville, FL

Holly was the first person to admit to me that she finds some of her merchandise on the side of the street. Yard sales are obviously another means of collecting goods, but  it all just accumulates after a while so she has no idea where the majority of it comes from. I’m sure it all starts blending together if you’ve been doing this for 44 years!

This story is one that I will always remember.

I’ll be the first to admit, I LOVE the t.v. show Toddlers & Tiaras. LOVE IT! I can’t wait to have children (in a million years!) and hopefully have a daughter who may show interest in doing something on stage like pageants or dance or theater (or we can only hope cheerleading like mommy haha). I’ve even talked to the mom of one of the family I babysit in Savannah about getting any of her three daughters into pageants so I can coach them, and dress them up & help them win money for college/ savings bonds. So when I saw what looked like pageant dresses from a distance I knew I had to go check it out.

Tabitha & her husband James were out with their children Emilee & Zachary to help with the costs of Emilee’s pageants.
Tabitha, James & Emilee Moody: Jacksonville, FL

Emilee was the sweetest little thing ever. She was so polite & adorable; wanting to show me her puppy in his sweater kind of adorable.
Tabitha showing me some of the dresses she is selling

The Moody’s have recently moved out of their large family home, into a mobile home, with two storage lockers in order to be able to afford pageants & live stably.

I was shocked by this. I honestly couldn’t understand how a family could give up so much for pageants for a six year old, who doesn’t even really understand what is going on.

I don't think that this man really knew what was going on either.
Jimeny Cricket: Earth? (maybe...)

Jimeny Cricket. That’s all I got.

Same story for these folks:

Felix & Guadalupe Austin: Jacksonville, FL

Felix did make it a point though to get all of his knock off designer brand boots off the table before I photographed them. I thought it was actually quite funny. Coach would NEVER make those crazy pointy cowboy boots, so why anyone would believe they were real is beyond me. Goodness...

Neon yellow gator skin?

Raw from Nolu: Jacksonville, FL

“Raw” is a rapper from Jacksonville. He generally doesn’t sell at his booth, but has other people selling for him. Raw owns a club in Jacksonville called The Pentagon. Away from that business he is trying to get more involved in the advertising business. “Rappin’ aint free”- Raw From Nolu

Monday, October 17, 2011

Smiley's Flea Market: Macon, Ga 10-1-11

I promised this post a long time ago! Im sorry everyone!


So back to my wonderful people.

And their stories.

Midaeaeias Davis: Washington County
But then there are people who are wonderful to photograph, but have no story... Or, at least a story I could understand. Like this lady...

Midaeaeias Davis is one of them. All I could pick up from her was that she has twelve children. Either people are mumbling more, I need my hearing checked. But twelve kids... WOW

So if you know me, you know I love the cold. You know I love snow. You know I think southerners are funny when they bundle up when its 60 out. They snuggle up in their blankets at the flea markets... usually have on their heavy winter down coats, geared up like they are ready for the North Pole. Maybe they were truly convinced. But by what?

I turn around and there he is. Santa! And that exactly what a little girl exclaimed as she saw him too!
Neil Cowan (AKA Santa Claus): Macon, GA


I turned to him, said “Santa, may I please photograph you?” He giggled, and said that no it was true, he does play Santa for the holidays at his business called The Santa Express.  He even told me has a friend who plays Santa as well but he is better, because his wife even looks like Mrs. Claus too! Goodness, that must be precious!
Before we parted ways asked again what school I went to again. I responded with “Savannah College of Art & Design in Savannah”. He smiled and told me he would be at the Gun & Knife Expo in two weekends in Savannah, that I should go photograph him there too!
What more could a kid want than to see Santa at the Gun & Knife Expo...
Oh, the joys of the south!

Don’t get me wrong- I love the south. My friends like to joke and say that I wont be let back up north if I keep drinking so much Sweet Tea. Love the sweet tea, love the weather, love the people. Prime example; Helen Butler. Helen had just a few plastic jars on the table, but I was curious what was in them.
Helen Butler: Elko, GA

She had invented her own product called “Stay Tied”. They clip around the knot of your shoe lace so they don’t come untied. She said that she invented them herself because her grandchild (I believe grandson) was always getting in trouble because his laces came undone and he was all over the place. I think this is a really great idea, that every family should invest in! She said that she also has plans to sell this on QVC & HSN! I can really only wish her the best!

Over my shoulder I saw someone who just seemed to need to be in my blog/book!

Bill Stithem: Warner Robins, GA

Bill made me laugh a little. I approached him by asking if I could photograph him. He said sure. I started shooting and I asked how business was this morning. He pulled out all the money in his pocket & said “Don’t see no hundreds now do ya?!”

So I began to realize, most everyone was chilling in the back of their pick-up. Normally I don’t aproach tough guys, but I took a chance with Ron & I’m glad I did.

Ron Kirby: Tifton, GA


Ron got into antiques and cool nick-nacks when he was in the service. Based in Texas, he was able to find a lot of really interesting things he told me. He had buddies just give him money & told him to buy them cool stuff. And he did. And thats how he got bit by the bug! Sometimes is hard to find unique things but he told me that you can’t quit & you just have to drive around. Just drive.

Other times, you’ll find things that you think are really cool & you’ll splurge on them. Like an ice chest Ron once picked up for $600. He thought it was so awesome & vintage until he found out it was only worth $125.
Ron has it all!

After that, Ron has learned about anything before he has bought it. Selling since 1982, and at Smiley’s for the past 7 years he’s seen a lot of cool, great things, but not as cool as the stuff he must see as a bounty hunter. Yeah- He would be!


A lot of the time, there are tables just littered with JUNK. Your eye wanders to see if there are any usable items in the heap. Sometimes head aches & neausea kick in because you are so disoriented from all the junk. Sometimes the cure is to stop, and look for something familiar.

After my  eyes settled down I had to find out who had all these piles of clothes, and random things.

Shevie McDaniel was NOT who I was expecting to have this massive collection of everything under the sun.
Shevie McDaniel: Macon, GA

At 70 years young, Shevie has been selling for about 9 years now. She was truly just a sweet, sweet lady. She said that she obviously isn’t doing this for the money. She really just feels obligated to help others. She said that if a family doesn’t look like they have much that she’ll just fill a bag full of stuff for them. Now this may just seem like the right thing to do, but we have to remember that not everyone sees the world for all of its good anymore. Shevie does. She told me that “G-d gives me what I need, not what I want. I have to figure out the rest”. There are sweet people because they have G-d in their life, and then there are just good sweet people. Shevie is a little of both.

So there has been one group of people I have avoided during this project so far & I’m not sure why: children. A lot of parents would generally find it creepy to ask if a stranger could photograph their child. However, after talking to Mikayla’s parents and explain this project they were all for it.
Mikayla H.: Central GA

Mikayla is an adorable little girl. She even had on a little fanny pack to keep all of her money in that she made. Precious

I asked Mikayla what her favorite toy that she was selling was. She pointed to these dolls. She told me that they are special to her because they are Indians, and the Indians helped the Pilgrams & that we need to be thankful for the Indians.

On a good day, Mikayla can make $50 selling her old toys.  Pretty impressive paycheck for an elementary school girl. When she grows up she wants to work for the Farm Bauru, like her mommy.

My favorite thing about meeting Mikayla was the amount of excitement she emitted when she told me she’s excited that she is getting to go to Disney for the first time soon. There is something truly magical about that & it reminded me of how wonderful & simple it was to be little again.

I now felt like I had made a major breakthough in this project. I have now photographed people from every age group. I felt brave as I walked up to Deanna & Blake McKinney.

Deanna & Blake McKinney: Macon, GA

Blake reminded me so much of my little brothers. He was out selling his old toys, and books and whatnot with his mom.

I personally think the photograph speaks for itself as far as their relationship goes. She said that they’ve been selling for five years now, and the best advice she has for me is “don’t buy it if ya don’t need it”. Hmmm… if this were true, I would be done with the project. No more weird things. Just people.

Speaking of weird people… Kidding! Ken wasn’t a weird-o. He was actually quite charming in his own little way.
Ken Mcbrearty: Montezuma, GA

I asked if I could photograph him after chatting it up with him for a bit & he agreed only if he could wear his hat. I was so confused, he was already wearing a hat. He took his hat off, and put his hat on.

He got into selling these products simply by luck. He’s been selling them for about 30 years now. You can tell that he was way too much fun at work! When he’s not at flea markets, he usually shows at fairs, and other expos & that’s where the real money is.

Pat is someone I would have expected to cross paths with up north. Just the way he had all of his stuff set up reminded me of how we do it up north!
Pat Powell: Macon, GA

Pat’s been selling since 1978. He said that things have changed a lot since he started- mostly internet selling is very much integrated. The worst parts to him are the back pain from all the lifting & standing, and the people with the bad attitudes. Even worse than that is cultural differences he said. He said that foreigners are generally very aggressive hagglers. They can come off offensive with offers & then the art of the deal is lost & so is business.

Now a lot of people don’t want me to use their full names (probably because they are criminals hah!) but I have never had someone give me multiple alias’s.
Shane "Smith": Macon, GA

Mr. Pica “88” said he has been “pickin trash since before it was cool”. I totally agree that this is a huge fad right now. There are so many tv shows that are about pickin’ or junkin’ or whatever way you want word it- getting collectable trash. “I collect dust” –Shane “Smith”

I was interested in something Shane was selling, but I admitted I had no money on me. My odd sense of humor thought it would be funny to offer to pay him in rubies.  He got up, walked to the truck and got something. I thought he was going to yell at me or something. But instead he had a purple Royal Crown bag full of actual rubies. I thought that was highly amusing. Who has a bag full of rubies in their truck?!

Mr. Pica does, that’s who. But that’s not all he has hidden from the shoppers at the flea market. Shane also has a kennel called Dogstreet Kennels, here in Georgia. This rough exterior would have never revealed that soft tender spot for dogs, had I not sat and talked long enough.

I wish I could have talked longer to Shane and his buddy Martin, but they were in the shade, and the wind was blowing, and I had on shorts… too cold this early. I needed to get back into the sun.
Bill Roberston: Macon, GA

In the sun was Bill Roberston, better known as Trader Bill.

Bill has been selling (custom) knives since 1977, and at the flea market for 30 years. He got interested in knives just because of the fact that it’s “man’s oldest tool”. He started doing custom leather work (for knives) at age 14. He did this in order to “make my own stuff the way I wanted it”, which is an art almost lost this day in age.
Bill can make around $200 a day at the market.

I’m sure we’ll see Bill around for a lot longer since he is driven to be out there every weekend because he loves what he does out there.

There are times when I am not driven to photograph a person at first, but I feel obligated once I explain the project to them, to then photograph them.

Joe happened to be one of those cases.
Joe Croehet: Macon, GA

Joe comes out to the flea market because he enjoys doing it. He said that the best part about it is seeing so many people he hasn’t seen in a while, or just having 15 minutes of good conversation with a stranger; like myself.  By the way- Joe is the first actual Cajun I have met in my life, and I loved the accent. He told me his daddy was a gator hunter! I can relate because I watch Swamp People. Pretty much makes me an expert doesn’t it?

At this point, I’m ready to quit. I’m tired. My legs hurt. My neck is killing from the weight of the camera being hung all day. I was really ready to just give up and get back into the car. But I didn’t. Only because I saw a smile that light up my day.

Janice was just a precious little thing. She was true Americana in her little outfit for the day. Wonderful!
Janice Scarborough: Lizella, GA

Janice prides herself on selling only quality items. It must be something in the Macon air, because all of the sellers seem to be doing this for more of a social environment! But she was so flattered by the fact that I wanted to photograph her. She felt super special, which gave me all the energy I needed for the rest of the day.

I think I was so energized from Janice that I was ready to take on a lot more challenges, like photographing people who looked like they really wanted nothing to do with me. People like Mike.
Mike Astumian: Macon, GA

Mike intimidated the hell out of me! He was sitting on the back of his tuck, arms crossed, product almost hiding him from shoppers. 
But he wasn’t all that intimidating. He just didn’t want to talk much, but would rather have me lead the conversation. Mike has been selling things for 32 years. He began as an antique dealer long ago & now finds himself getting rid of  excess. There was a point in his life where he was going to shows every Sunday. Now he finds himself at his roots- back at Smiley’s, where he used work back when they first opened, long ago!

Now we know I have a thing for facial hair, especially on grandpas. So I was almost pulled by a magnetic-photo-attraction-force to John Clark’s beard.
Phyllis Astumian & John Clark: Macon, GA

John was not the one selling at the market, but he was also just a hoot with his commentary.

Phyllis was selling her handmade jewelry. She is very interested in beading & gem stones. An art of her own I commented. She replied by saying “No, I’m an actual artist” which I took as I offended her. She went on by smiling  while explaining she was a painter. Following that she became a nun- a Sister of Mercy for 13 years. Out of nowhere, she went from artist, to nun. She did have a show with her paintings in 1988 at the Lincoln Art Center. I wasn’t told the timeline of these events. She is currently a behavioral disorder teacher.

At this point I had not asked Phyllis for her last name, so Mike hollers over next to us, saying “Ask her HER last name!” which I obliged. Phyllis Astumian- Mikes sister.

“Thanks for the heads up, she was family Mike” was all I could think of saying at the time. He laughed so hard.

John looks to Phyllis & directed his conversation to me by saying “She's smarter the average cookie” which made me giggle. John just had lots of funny commentary of things that Phyllis were talking about. As a disabled vet, he finds a great sense of loyalty in anything he does.

“My daddy only expected three things out of us: shoot a gun, ride a horse, and play an instrument.” –John Clark

John & Phylis are not married, but are best friends. I explained that my roommates mom was about to get remarried and she was uncomfortable with it, especially the fact that the word wedding was being used. I suggested to her that we refer to it as a permanent friendship ceremony. John nudged Phylis, and said- we need to have one of those!

My next subject was Jane.
Jane Hollingsworth: Forsyth, GA

Jane told me she had stomach cancer a few years back. Her husband of a long time didn’t know how to react so he just left. She had to fend for herself without him. She then got into selling at flea markets to help pay for bills.
Nell Wallse: GA

Her table neighbor, Nell, was down on her luck too when she decided to get into selling. She was in a wreck and got laid off because she wasn’t able to work.  This is a terrible scenario but, sadly it happens all the time.

I asked her what she would grab if the flea market caught on fire. She shrugged, and said “Nothin. I wouldn’t sell anything I couldn’t part with”.

As the day was winding down, I was still not all the way through the market. I was nervous I was going to miss someone phenomenal. As I turned the corner, I saw them.
Leon & James Wilton: Macon, GA

Leon & James were characters I made up in my mind. I knew I was looking for an old man, with a puppy… with a scowel. There he was!

Leon said that selling was just for fun, that today he’d probably loose money. When I told him more myself, he asked me if I knew about Kellers Flea Market in Savannah. I nodded yes. He told me that his dad was in Navy with Kellers dad. Leon started picking up storage units back in 1982 to get his collection together. He currently has what sounds to be a large collection of vintage tractors, and about 18 forklifts! *LOVE!!!  He says that its important to do honest business for people, that’s why he helps fix tractors for people in the area, free of charge- just because he has the wealth of knowledge.

I was ready to be done but Zack caught my attention. I was curious as to what the deal was behind him- lots of people had these oils or whatever it was.
Turns out, it has something to do with importing stuff from Egypt. We didn’t really get into product, because neither of us were really ecstatic about it.
Zack Glen: Atlanta, GA

Zack is currently trying to make it as a hip hop artist. His lyrics give him freedom to be creative and witty he says. He said that if he thinks about things positively, that everything will fall into place, and that by that he means that the mainstream will love him! He says that business, is “just a hustle, a pretty good hustle”.

I asked Zack how he spelled his name, and he said the normal way- like the power ranger!!! I found this to be adorable, because I was the pink power ranger for Halloween when I was little, he was the red one one year, and the black one another.

On my way out I had to stop and see all the flea market puppies. They break my heart, but I always have to walk past them. I stopped and talked to Terrance about his puppies.
Terrance Ripley: Savannah/Macon, GA

He said that to do this he has to have good ethics, so all of his puppies have had their shots. He also commented that he has to get a good vibe from the potential owner, to make sure they are going to a good home, otherwise, he wont sell them to them. He said it’s hard to sell his puppies, but he has to leave with a good conscience that he was doing the right thing.



Till next time!