Reading mode: Light Dark

homeless man --c/C--

Go to last post
rob good point. thanks for sharing.
Rob D40 said:
Good capture, just as a sidenote, to lowell...he said "Haven't you
read stories about homeless men attacking ordinary people on the
streets", he should perhaps question whether he is one of "us
ordinary" people, just goes to show he's putting himself in a higher
class than homeless people...we are all still people right?

Rob
Click to expand...
--



http://www.flickr.com/arthurseabra
 
larsbc said:
Re-reading your original post, it looks like you were more interested
in comments on your post-processing of the image rather than its
content:
Click to expand...
larsbc said:
chosen1 wrote"

"luckly i had my camera next to me and enough time to take it out of
the bag and shot this before the light turned green. original was
nothing spectacular, comments on the post processing are appreciated."

;-)
Click to expand...
larsbc said:
I also sympathize with you because this is a very sensitive topic,
partly due to the fact that photographing the homeless for aspiring
street photographers seeking that edgy impact is the equivalent of
aspiring bird photographers shooting seagulls loitering near the
garbage cans at beach. Easy subjects and done to death. But we're
all subject to this kind of influence, myself included.

Seeing yet another street person photo causes me to roll my eyes
because it's so cliche and it smacks of exploitation because
generally, it is. It'd be different if you had actually talked to
the person and they were okay with you photographing them in such a
demeaning position. At least that's my opinion. And I can see the
counter-arguments, too: "if we had to talk to everyone before
photographing them, it'd ruin the dynamic and candid nature of street
photography." True, it would. But my personal view on it is that
when someone is in that kind of position, they deserve that gesture.

And after saying all that, I'd say your pic is, if nothing else,
better than some of the other homeless person photos I've seen on
this forum. And at least the person isn't identifiable.

larsbc
Click to expand...
larsbc yes originally i did want c/C on the pp as well as the picture itself. the topic turned however, since the picture sparked sensitive views amongst a couple people. which is understandable and completely acceptable. what is a picture if it dosent cause people to think ?? this was my first attempt, and not even on purpose, at candid street photojournalism.
i appreciate you expressing your point of view larsbc

--



http://www.flickr.com/arthurseabra
 
Did some digging and found the photographer....Nick Ut who is himself Vietnamese. Picture taken June of 1972.Young girls name is Kim Phuc who now has a child and lives in Toronto Canada..Nick Ut was awarded the " Pulitzer " for this photograph. I feel his real reward was helping Kim in a time of great disstress where a life was saved by his unselfish act of kindness.....Jon
 
Hansa Yindee said:
This photograph sure has brought out the emotions in a number of
people,but isn't that what you want to do?..
Click to expand...
with every picture that we take, or at least me, we try to capture it in a way that when someone else later sees it, feels how you felt while taking it.

With that all ready
Hansa Yindee said:
beat to death I would like to leave one comment if I may...For the
life of me I just can't remember the photographers name who took the
picture of the little Vietnamese girl who was burnt by napalm. We all
remember the photograph running down the road flesh dripping off of
her. The photographer saw the girl with his camera all ready in his
hand took one shot,set the camera down and Ran To Help Her.He was
responsable getting her to a hospital and saw she was carred
for.Looking back in hind sight when I was there sure wish I was
shooting with a camera rather than rifle..........................Jon
Click to expand...
hansa not to get off topic but i just want to recgonize the photographer for that amazing picture. His name is Huỳnh Công Út, also known as Nick Ut and he won the Pulitzer Prize in 1972 for that picture, and apparantely caring for the girl.

Here is a video of what happened before and after that picture was taken. I think you can see Mr. Ut about 56 seconds into the video clip taking the famous picture of that little girl, who's name by the way is Phan Thị Kim Phúc also known as Kim Phúc .
Again not to get off topic, but i just wanted to share this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev2dEqrN4i0

Thanks for your post Hansa

--



http://www.flickr.com/arthurseabra
 
Boy that was a short walk down memory lane......Thanks C 1#...................Jon
 
I did not want to get into this anymore but I know the streets of New York City more than you will ever know and yes, homeless people can attack ordinary people without being provoked but I stick to my opinion on the subject of taking photos of them, but of course I was critized pretty good about my how I felt about homeless people being photographed. I have never seen people take pictures of them only walk past them us they looking for a handout which I do give at times. Yes , there are many of them that can get jobs but they refuse to do so. Besides the city has done a good job in eliminatiing most of them from most of the tourist areas. I worked for 35 years on a job that had Vietnam vets, WW 11 vets, and Korean war vets that scared me more than the homeless people. A lot of them were physically and mentally scared from war time service and you did sometimes know how to approach them. I appreciate the way you posted your comment on my feelings on the whole subject in a civil manner.
 
Recently I had to spend a few months in LA for a family emergency. When I had some free time, of course, I would check out the city and photograph.

One of the most intriguing area in the city was Skid Row. It is probably 25 square blocks, just South of the skyscrapers, and is home to approximately 8,000 homeless people.

After 9 p.m., the homeless are allowed to put up tents to sleep in and they must remove them by 5a.m. This is right in the middle of the Fashion District, which is crammed with smaller independent retail shops. A policeman told me that it is the largest concentration of felons outside of a prison in the US - most have mental problems or addictions.

Since most of my free time was after 9p.m. (visiting hours), I took a few night trips through Skid Row. The first few times through, I just shot from the car with the 70 - 200, but finally worked up the courage to get out and mill around on a busier street (7th) and sit around in front of a little store, slowly eating a snack and observing.

While walking, I traded the 70 - 200 for the 18 - 55 kit lens and tucked the camera under my jacket. Nobobdy payed me much attention, except a few homeless people approached my while I was actively photographing and offered to model for me for a small fee. I took a few of them up on it just for the adventure and shot the bull with them.

Everyone was pretty nice, except for the one obviously schizophrenic woman that threatened to stab me while I was taking a picture of a sculpture that I was actively searching for - made for a good story, but I just left her alone.

My point in exploring this area was to satisfy my curiousity about these folks and the environment. There semed to be al ot of hard luck stories, a lot of bad decisions and a suprising number of people who thrived on the "scene" and wanted to be there.











--
Keep it fun.
 
no problem lowell, everyone is entitled to their opinios...including you.
Lowell Schechter said:
I did not want to get into this anymore but I know the streets of New
York City more than you will ever know and yes, homeless people can
attack ordinary people without being provoked but I stick to my
opinion on the subject of taking photos of them, but of course I was
critized pretty good about my how I felt about homeless people being
photographed. I have never seen people take pictures of them only
walk past them us they looking for a handout which I do give at
times. Yes , there are many of them that can get jobs but they refuse
to do so. Besides the city has done a good job in eliminatiing most
of them from most of the tourist areas. I worked for 35 years on a
job that had Vietnam vets, WW 11 vets, and Korean war vets that
scared me more than the homeless people. A lot of them were
physically and mentally scared from war time service and you did
sometimes know how to approach them. I appreciate the way you posted
your comment on my feelings on the whole subject in a civil manner.
Click to expand...
--



http://www.flickr.com/arthurseabra
 
I recall a similar discussion some time ago. I posed the question of how people deal with the whole issue of shooting street candids. I have a tough enough time trying to deal with general candids, but I have a high discomfort level when it comes to photographing the less fortunate. I suppose it comes down to the intent and use of the photo. As has been pointed out in this thread again, there is no real answer, and each of us has to find our own comfort level. Chosen, I think that you have made an excellent capture, but I'm not sure that I would have taken it.
--

 
thanks Chosen I. I am very passionate about photography and I normally don't get into any thing thats confrontational on this site but I guess the homeless thing struck a nerve. I enjoy seeing all these very good or sometimes great photos on the site and I let the photographer know how much I like them. I also enjoy the feedback from them and that makes feel pretty good.
 
I am from Montgomery, Alabama and we have a steady stream of homeless coming through our downtown, but I have never seen homelessness on the level of Skid Row.

It was a real experience to get out there and touch the tip of the iceburg.
--
Keep it fun.
 
i didnt think i would take it either, i also get a bit overwhelmed when it comes to stranger candids. im great at taking pictures of people i know, because there is a level of intimacy, you can joke around and such. however something came over me, spur of the moment, maybe it was the general composition of the shot, the way the light was hitting him moved me, i had to tell myself three times...'the bag's right next to you arthur, take the camera out of the bag." im glad i did !
REBlue said:
I recall a similar discussion some time ago. I posed the question of
how people deal with the whole issue of shooting street candids. I
have a tough enough time trying to deal with general candids, but I
have a high discomfort level when it comes to photographing the less
fortunate. I suppose it comes down to the intent and use of the
photo. As has been pointed out in this thread again, there is no real
answer, and each of us has to find our own comfort level. Chosen, I
think that you have made an excellent capture, but I'm not sure that
I would have taken it.
--

Click to expand...
--



http://www.flickr.com/arthurseabra
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top