Miguel and I chatted as he was filling up jugs of water from a tap along a brick wall. He had collected several gallons and said he was working around the corner. Despite his poor posture and age I could tell he was strong and a hard worker. He wished me good luck and I did the same.

Alvin said he’s from Chicago and eventually wants get into the entertainment business. Right now he’s trying to get on track and into a program and agreed to let me take his portrait. “This will be the before picture,” he said.

Near Maple and Pico I met up with “The Prime Suspects” a group of guys doing some really interesting and creative photography work down a quiet alley. They seemed like a good group of dudes. Check out there work here.

Gilbert is an LA native who says he hasn’t ventured too far from home, except for a road trip up to Canada to show his kids the really big trees. He was super friendly, happy and high-energy. Here he is leaning against some of his work – he is contracted by the city to wrap utility boxes with art, helping to give the city some color and charm.

Danielle and Morgan were on their way to audition for NBC’s ‘The Voice’ . Next time you see us”, they said, “we’ll be famous.”

Sophia was adorable and inquisitive in her Sunday best as she practiced rolling pupusa dough in her hands. She had lots of questions. “What’s your favorite animal?”, “Can you take MY picture?” But my favorite was her last: “what’s your cell phone password?”

I had a pupusa with loroco for lunch in the front of a small church, and the young guy working there gathered these girls for a photo. Parishioners gather after services each Sunday to cook, eat and celebrate together.

I don’t know this guys name, or any thing about him, other than this fact – He is the man. Not pictured: his gold teeth!

Nelson says LA’s heat doesn’t compare to that of El Salvador, where he’s from, but he is looking forward to winter. He was selling VCRs and DVD players near the corner of Orchard and Pico.

When I first saw Javier he was holding something against a chain link fence, pointed towards an empty high school. We chatted and walked a few blocks west together, but I didn’t ask what he was doing. Later, when I got home, I realize he must have been sending a blessing to the kids and staff that go there. On his framed painting [translated from Spanish] a prayer reads “Guardian angel, my dear, do not forsake me, night or day.”

Sandy stands up and Jessy crouches low in front of his “Minionmobile.” They were hanging around with some friends and before the conversation was over they were both following Brightman Photography on Instagram and looking forward to seeing the pic.

Kay smiling in her Mystical Apothecary and Creative Studio, a really interesting spot where she sells crystals, essential oils, alternative healing and more. She is an advocate for more people visiting and shopping along Pico, and I couldn’t agree more.

Joyce, and 13-year-old Snowball, at her international gift shop. Along with selling amazing products from every continent she also does custom high-end gift wrapping. She was very kind and insisted I drink some water before leaving.

Dale and his buddy were trying to fix a battery-operated stereo when we chatted near South Shenandoah Street. Under the shade of some trees, he sipped beer and watched the people and cars pass up and down central Pico on a hot Sunday afternoon.

Fresh off a 15-hour flight for Australia, we walked several blocks together towards the ocean. He was in town for business, but also to see family and friends. “I went to Hollywood once,” he said, “once was enough.”

Katherine atop her pedicab under the palmtrees and setting sun. She gives rides along the beach between Venice and Santa Monica and seems to love her job. With a view like that, who wouldn’t?