Street Shorts - October 19, 2026

Be Open to Learning Lessons on the Street

During my recent trip to Baltimore, Maryland, I visited Lexington Market, located just north of downtown.  Lexington Market, and its neighboring community, are historically significant for Baltimore, dating back to the late 1700s.  Steeped in tradition and cultural values, residents, vendors and shoppers respect one another to the highest standards.  Those standards apply to both inside the Market itself, and to the outside surrounding streets.  After lunching on Faidley’s famous crab cakes inside the Market, I ventured outside to capture candid moments. But I immediately became versed, and dressed down, on the importance of asking permission first before snapping pictures.  And I didn’t need to be advised twice.  Surprisingly, I learned that by introducing myself first and asking permission to snap the photo, I developed a level of trust with my subjects and even made some new friends along the way.  The captures were not considered candid, but the people who granted me permission opened up their personalities in a profound way. 

This lady and her dog were absolute joys to meet.  As she was bending down to grab his attention, I couldn’t resist taking the initial shot.  For various reasons.  The second shot shows a better representation of her and her loyal friend.