Emiliano Jose came to the United States fifty years ago from
Panama in search of the American Dream. Through whatever
twists and turns his life took, his path led him ultimately to these
makeshift outdoor living quarters in South Florida. I discovered
him living on a cot sheltered under a stairwell outside an
abandoned factory. He could no longer manage the walk across
the road to the chairs among the trees where he used to pass his
days. In his fifty years in America, Emiliano had not learned the
English language. Over the next month or two after I took these
images, I had thought many times about returning to see him, but
I put it off for one reason or another. I worried that he would not
make it through the chilly winter. When I finally returned after a
couple of months, there was no trace of either Emiliano or of his
meager belongings. The chairs still sit empty under the trees.
Awards 2014 (IPA) International Photography Award FIrst Place Non-Professional People: Family
2015 Camera USA
