Sourcing photos from an overseas subject for a magazine feature could be impervious and tough. Last week, I found nothing from Googling photos of John Kochis, a famous tie-maker of the bespoke kind in New York. (He’s that grey-haired guy above.) Yes, his number and address come out but not even an email or a photo diary surfaced. It was like he didn’t even exist.

So i finally dialed his number one day…

JOHN (with the impression of a grumpy old guy): YOU NEED PHOTOS?

ME: Yeah.

JOHN: I CAN’T HEAR YOU.

ME: Can I just get your email so we could communicate from there?

JOHN: SURE, WHAT’S YOUR EMAIL?

ME: (I recite scrupulously two of my email addresses in case he misses the other one).

JOHN: OKAY. BYE.

Hours later…

ME: You haven’t emailed me yet, John.

JOHN: I don’t have a computer around here.

*Face palming*