Photographer turns camera on teenage 'freighthoppers'

I apologise for the illiterate below you who not only can't read hyperbole, but doesn't get sarcasm or DPReview forum zeitgeist, either.

I for one was almost offended by the lack of shadow detail, and the fact that he didn't shoot in raw.

I agree with WellyNZ. The young WOMAN in the photograph is hardly a child. And the photograph is not even sexual. She is likely more street smart than the vast majority of suit and tie wearing adults, I would wager, based on the powerful messages being given by these photos. I bet she could kick a lot of our butts, literally. So, it is one thing to dislike it or consider it in poor taste, but to call it a reason to get authorities involved? It is this attitude that is precisely the problem. Let's not desperately and irrationally cry for big brother to come 'protect us from ourselves' anymore then we have collectively done so already.

Excellent solution. Call in the authority to protect the people the authority already failed to protect. I see it so clearly now.

I originally interpreted the photo as "sanitary products are hard to come by when you illegally ride the freight train", and I don't think that's a pleasant situation whether you're 12 or 40.

But if you wan't to give it a pedo meaning, I'd go with "escaping the 'protection' of authority".

Pedophilia is "a primary or exclusive sexual interest toward prepubescent children". If a girl is already menstruating, she is outside the reach of pedophiles... Get your definitions straight, Anepo.

Anepo,
Perhaps you don't like this photo because of its context rather than its content? Censoring documents of dire social issues using such pathetic excuses has been done before, you know.

I think the photo is quite appropriate. It fits the context well. Its a bunch of dirty kids, and the sanitary situation they live in is very poor. The menstruating girl illustrates that better than all the other together. It makes you think - how can the manage living like this - and why do they choose it?

If you get going on that image sexually or if you think it is in any way a criminal offence to show it, that's your personal problem, I would say.

Underage (under legal age to have sex?) and pedophilia are not the same, reread the definition of pedophilia, Anepo. Besides we do not know if she is 18 or not, and she has more clothes on than 99% of beach goers of her age. So?

Anepo. That US calls 17 year old girls under age say lots about US morale. I don't know about US, but over here about 20 % have had sex before they are 15 years old, which is our definition of under aged. Being 18 before legally having sex is just a joke. It probably makes more than half of your populations into criminals.

If you have a problem with that image, but not with the others... well, you've got a problem, not the photographer.

Somehow, I think they need a lot more than mumbles to a false deity...,

And what good would it do to the kids if you give them a prayer? Maybe a visit by the police to their parents (or equivalent) would be more appropriate. And an investigation why they are on the run. Very few kids would choose this if they had a good home.

Indeed!

To all the kids in the pictures: Go to church, have job, consume stuff, be a good citizen.

*sarcasm

For all the talk of moral decay, there are far fewer people living this kind of lifestyle than ever before.

I had to look that up too, because although I really like the work... many didn't look possible from an old discarded polaroid. He actually went through 3 polaroid cameras until settling on the SX70. Then switched to the Nikon 35mm after they stopped making the Polaroid film.

Great stuff though... doesn't matter which camera he was using but it did imply that he did it all with an abandoned Polaroid, when that really isn't the case. Took a good deal of digging to even discover that, so it's likely they're indeed letting the Polaroid vagueness sweeten the story in general. Worked... got my attention.

Very good images regardless.

I went to his website and I thought plenty of the photographs have good image quality which I thought couldn't possible with a polaroid or even a digital camera.

hater. this photos are amazing.

I'd rather see more photos of Yosemite. There just aren't enough.

So where is your wonderful portfolio. I am sure that it would entrance me.

meh, nevermind

Dpnick is just a st*pid right winger extremist, ignore him.

Jeez DPnick, what does it take? By all means, show us better.

@DPNick Then you should also take up being a diesel mechanic and hang up your camera, because these are some of the most powerful images I've ever seen.