The Cockatoo Man

I sat on the edge of the lake, at Hyde Park, about to capture a small duckling paddling toward me. I noticed an unusual figure to the left of my sight.

There stood an old man huddled over his bicycle, reaching into his basket to retrieve his pet cockatoo. As he sat down, he tied his pet cockatoo to his ankle.

I found this individual ever so intriguing, so I wound on my film in my 1983 35mm OM-20 camera, and built up the courage to approach him.

"May I take a photograph of you and your pet cockatoo?" I asked.

As he took a draw from his cigarette and blew out what seemed to be relief and comfort, he said "Sure thing."

I studied this man through the lense.

While I took photographs of him, we spoke for two hours about lifes journey, gambling and the rules of chess.