http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/gallery/000046cf.xml http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/gallery/000046cf This is the documentary project that I completed in the Fall of 2004. It surrounds the business of AAA Check Cashing and Bail Bonding in downtown Raleigh. http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/00017445.xml Looking in from the street late on a Friday afternoon. http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/00013b9x.xml ed7ec77f23a98e3ffdc26eff5c6ca903 image/jpeg 976 664 149466 http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/00013b9x The repo man will take your car if you are delinquent on your personal loan payments. http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/000156xy.xml ba5a9c63a3d8be7cfb60e165aa287716 image/jpeg 986 678 177709 http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/000156xy This woman is trying to find the money to pay the bondsman to get her boyfriend out of jail. She needs the money within the next half hour, or they can't help. http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/00016qge.xml dea4e70d8bede6b6a1f3098274c87ee2 image/jpeg 1005 667 129136 http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/00016qge One of my favorite pictures. Peering back over the counter. Looking in, with me looking out. http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/00017445.xml 382c1a86efba8654a8d1375eb3f3a12a image/jpeg 1009 670 117358 http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/00017445 They call it the cage; I like the lines in this picture. Check cashing is their primary business for most people. http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/00018pw8.xml 298664e13619f999f97aef746ca28780 image/jpeg 1001 663 144286 http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/00018pw8 Another favorite photograph. Waiting to have their checks cashed by the ever-rapid staff of AAA Check Cashing. Each person is a regular customer. http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/000194p8.xml db905395be71b7c74ec986172492b29e image/jpeg 1014 672 120958 http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/000194p8 The counter area is more festive and seasonal than you expect. It really is a community service that is performed, and not something of back alleys. http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/0001a56s.xml 401239fe231f9baf149ce8b59dd9dda3 image/jpeg 1009 669 135844 http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/0001a56s This is my favorite photograph of the series. It's a reflection over his reality, and over our own. I got this image after coming back upstairs after all the customers had left; this is what was there. http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/0001b6h6.xml 3607faf71441c1db9a51488ebcf6b341 image/jpeg 995 666 141979 http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/0001b6h6 This is Lorealla, who skipped court and didn't pay her bond. The bondsman has until February to turn her back into the police to avoid paying the $30000 bond. We went out looking for her this night. http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/0001ct17.xml a4b11275828f46892e35cd2716722148 image/jpeg 989 673 109040 http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/0001ct17 At the counter, there is always something to be explained. http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/00014ybx.xml b5d124c54229f25057bdb63cf89393ef image/jpeg 987 672 149127 http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/00014ybx Some of the people that work here also live here. This is Donna's wall, in her room. It is filled with scripture, phone numbers, and bail agent contacts. http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/0001dxga.xml e2014cbabf286ffc74393f10292abdd4 image/jpeg 1000 672 150837 http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/0001dxga This was the answer to the question if I wanted to see the money. She dumped a couple bags of cash onto the floor and stepped back for me to make the image. With my 18mm lens, I could also have her in the image with out her knowing it. http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/0001ex7f.xml 0bee2d99df0cd2c1c33b31ad9746667e image/jpeg 664 989 167696 http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/0001ex7f Every month, they cash around $300,000 in checks. They take 3-10% off the top of that as profit, so a bad check every now and then doesn't do much to them. http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/0001fqrd.xml 298c86ef97e801940325a1dfa3cc2f45 image/jpeg 1003 674 147231 http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/0001fqrd This man is trying to get his girlfriend out of jail. They take him downstairs to qualify the bond, if possible. http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/0001gfg7.xml 11482624b690f6e5914055d01a0f721f image/jpeg 1009 673 149656 http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/0001gfg7 He brought a $1000 check from his girlfriend to use for the bailbond fee, but they can't verify that the funds are in the account, so they won't take the check and in the end, can't help him. http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/0001h71p.xml 61c4cea1ea48dd732970b24786f4d31b image/jpeg 1012 670 138051 http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/0001h71p Buster the dog. Don't get too close to him, because he doesn't like you. This image speaks to the overall environment. http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/0001k0gc.xml 659f3894d3f1a5a93b84a8d541e92007 image/jpeg 1009 671 127380 http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/0001k0gc Donna traces people and finds them. This is her corner and "where the magic happens". http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/0001pbkf.xml a2d1142af55a800b3cdea3a6a647db8b image/jpeg 1009 671 113817 http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/0001pbkf This is the owner of everything: David Beasley. He says he likes this picture because it has everything he needs: "my bible, my phone, everything!" http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/0001qxzy.xml 6e0169a4198f154e890f1fbddf232709 image/jpeg 1016 672 173243 http://pics.livejournal.com/virga/pic/0001qxzy