Father, We Missed You It was a cold winter day. After a long day of photographing, I stopped at a small shop to eat a sandwich. My chair was positioned beside a large window, looking out onto the street. Suddenly, I noticed an old man carrying a large bag, searching through the trash bins outside. Something about the scene immediately caught my attention. I had my camera with me, and, fortunately, I was just about to leave. I went outside and said hello. He welcomed me with an unexpected warmth. There was something in his presence that made me feel he was deeply alone, as though he had been waiting for someone to speak to him. I introduced myself and told him that I wanted to make his portrait as part of my photographic collection and this particular series of stories. He agreed. A few moments later, I noticed tears forming in his eyes. Then he asked me a question I will never forget: “Do you think my children will ever see my photograph?” I was surprised. I asked him why he thought about that. He told me that his son and daughter had left him years ago and now lived in another city. He no longer knew their exact address or had any way of contacting them. They never called. They never asked about him. He told me that he missed them terribly. His wife had passed away many years earlier, and since then, he had been living alone. I didn't want to take away the small hope I could see in his eyes. So I told him, “Yes. It is possible they will see your photograph.” For a few moments, something changed in his face. There was a small light in his eyes, a fragile hope, surrounded by years of loneliness and loss. When I finally said goodbye and walked away, I carried his story with me for the rest of the day. I kept thinking about that question, and about the possibility that somewhere, somehow, his children might one day see the face of their father in a photograph. Some photographs stay with you long after you take them. This is one of the heaviest photographs I have ever captured. Photo By Ebrahim Elmi Edition:1/1 Epilogue II: Love Your Neighbor Among the people I encountered throughout my journey in the Homeless Epilogue series, I met many friends, artists, and art lovers. But the person who was always there with me, standing by my side and supporting this cause, is my dear friend David Chidgey. David shared his visions with me about the concept and offered me the name for the second series: “Love Your Neighbor.” I found the title deeply meaningful and profoundly connected to the spirit of this work. I asked David to share his own thoughts and mindset behind these words, and he kindly honored me by accepting. I have attached his words to this description, not only to give the title another voice, but to preserve a part of our friendship, our shared vision, and this journey forever on the blockchain. "When I first saw Ebrahim’s portraits of people on the streets, I thought of the call to love our neighbor as ourselves. That means paying attention to every person with the same care and dignity you would want for yourself, especially those on the margins the ones who are so easily overlooked. Ebrahim’s compassion allows him to truly see each individual and connect with them. In doing so, he captures the essence of their stories and the struggles they carry." David Chidgey Over the course of nearly two years, I dedicated myself to this collection, immersing myself in the lives of these individuals. What struck me the most was their undeniable kindness and their longing for consideration. All they needed was someone to listen, to lend them an ear. In my encounters with these people, their stories touched me profoundly. I discovered that behind their current circumstances, they were once living a good life, holding steady jobs. However, a specific event or an unfortunate situation had stripped them of everything they held dear. To capture the essence of these individuals, I always carried a black background with me. Through their eyes and hands, I aimed to convey their emotions and invite viewers to feel a connection to these powerful images. What resonated with me the most was the overwhelming generosity of these individuals. Despite their own hardships, they accepted my help with great difficulty. In these moments of communication, I realized that their past lives and present struggles were much more complex than what met the eye. This collection was Nominated in 35Awards International Photography competition in between 400 thousand entries as the best male portraits of the year. License: Primary NFT holder is free to use in display privately and in groups, including virtual galleries, documentaries, and essays by the holder of the NFT, as long as the creator is credited. Provides no rights to create commercial merchandise, commercial distribution, or derivative works. Copyright remains with the creator.