When two strangers meet it happens many times that there is this immediate connection. And a short encounter can feel sometimes closer than knowing someone since your childhood. Photographer Keitaro Cloward and model and designer Willow Wren captured those first moments of two people randomly meeting; how you perceive your familiar surrounding in a different way when walking with a stranger and about talking until the sun rises.

“Sunday night, after a weekend with friends. I decided to crash at their place and leave in the morning. Later as I was sleeping, I heard some commotion happening around me. Too comfortable to move , I kept my eyes shut and drifted back into my dreamland. When I awoke there was a girl sleeping in front of me. She opened her eyes as I sat up.The she asked “Are you part Asian?” . I said ” Yes , my mom’s Japanese and I grew up there” . She said she was part Filipino , Islander and Native American. Then, she told me how she had just come up from Texas a few days ago. I asked what she had seen so far , here in LA. She said she hadn’t seen much a couple of places here in downtown, since her friend lives in that area. I told her ” Today I’m busy , but if you want , I’ll give you tomorrow. I know a few places.” She smiled and said ” I’d like that” . We exchanged our info and I left.

The next day I googled the address she sent me and longboarded over , carrying another board under my arm. When I arrived we said our “hi“s. Then her eyes widened as she saw the longboard and asked if I expected her to get on it and said she’d better go back in and put on a different set of shoes. When she came out, she asked ” Where are we going?”. I said I was thinking about going to Venice beach first. She said “Ok” and we headed to the bus stop. On the bus ride she said she hadn’t had breakfast yet and was starving. I said ” for what (since Venice has almost every kind of food available) . She said she was craving sushi. After we go off the bus (as we were looking for a place to eat).

There was this small clothing boutique called “Gotta have it” . “Can we look in here first?” she asked, a little too excitedly. ” Sure ” I said. We entered and found ourselves surrounded by Venice beach style clothing and accessories. After spending a good amount of time there I was also starting to feel the pangs of hunger. So I suggested we go and find a place to eat. Reluctantly she agreed , she bought her favorite pieces and we headed out to find some food.

Once we started eating and talking time seemed to lose its meaning. It’s funny how good food and a mutually foreign environment can create bonds with strangers. When we finally finished and left it was dark, we had missed not only the sun but the sunset. “So much for seeing the beach” I sighed. But we were in a good mood and decided to go down to the beach regardless. In a way at night the beach seems more magical. The ever present beating sun is replaced by a soft glowing moon. The glow of the streetlights adding a strange colors to faces , while palm lie silhouetted in the sky by the stars . All the noise and drama of the day leaves with the light and in it’s place is a different world of sand and waves.

We Uberred back to her friend’s place. “What’s your plan for tomorrow?” I asked. ” No plan” she said, lips pursed into a slight smile as she lightly lifted her shoulders. ” I have a couple of Head shots I need to do in Hollywood. You can come along if you want and after we can walk the Boulevard “. “Love to ” she said. We said “Goodnight” and I got on my board and headed home.

Next morning, we met headed up to Hollywood together. After finishing up with the shots, we headed down the Boulevard. We started at Hollywood and Vine street and continued down. We dropped in place for a Happy Hour drink and walked in and out of little shops selling Hollywood paraphernalia. Ended up buying two CDs from street artist selling their music and met everyone from Batman to Spongebob.

While circling back, in search for a place to grab something to eat we found a little midwestern diner. We ordered a burger and coffee came “on the house” which made us love the place even more.

After that we left Hollywood to try and catch the Santa Monica Pier before it was too late. Walking on the pier, looking into the Pacific, standing where the sun sets for the last time. Everything was so beautiful and warm, a real midwinter LA evening. We started to walk the beach talk about the lives we’ve lived and worlds we’ve come from. It’s amazing how with strangers intimate secrets seem to flow smoother. Maybe it’s because you aren’t yet worried about losing something you had. We talked until the sun began to slowly rise. Then we started off toward Hollywood (I had an appointment later on that day) . That night we took the Metro back to downtown , our minds still not capable of processing the last couple of days. She arranged her flight back to Texas . As we parted ways she said ” Now I know what I need to set up here , Thank you“. We said our “Goodbye“s and secretly wondered when the next time our roads would cross again.”