Homelessman in gutter

Sorry dida. I understand now.

Michael, many of the people who live on the street here in Michigan hop a train to head south for the winter. Ann Arbor is known as a good place to be during the warm months, if you're homeless. Of the ones I photographed & interviewed (for an article a while back), many prefer to live this way.

This should be a thread on the forum (perhaps). Or have we had enough?

Marc

Ide like to see some of the images you shot of the homeless Marc, actually ide like to see everyone who has commented here photograph a homeless person and see how everyone portrays them and their situation.

It'll take a little bit to find them in my files, Stephen. I photographed for the article eight years ago. The releases were kept by the magazine ("Credo Magazine"), who's since gone under, but I should have a few images where the subject is unrecognizable. Or, I could scan the cover of the magazine. That might be easier. I'll see how it works this week.

Marc

wow! 3 pages! good stuff.

i do not understand all this talk about permission and portrayal. the way i see it is this man is on a public street. he may be having a low moment in his life....maybe not. maybe that low moment was yesterday....maybe it has yet to come. it may be a low point in the viewers life but maybe not for this man. he could be scoring some much needed stuff right then!

i do not think you need to ask permission in street photography! i do not usually ask. as far as stephan portraying something....what is it? it is a homeless man. the man is doing his daily ritual! stephan did nothing other than capture the moment. he did nothing to the man to cause him to become homeless and his photo has done nothing to the man either! BUT is seems to have gotten into everyones bonnet!

again, i applaud stephan for a photo that has cause an emotional stir.

I know I said I wouldn't comment anymore but thanks eddie

This is a strong documentary photograph which is successful because of the eye contact.

stephen

this photo reminds me of people i saw every day when i lived in boston
the homeless lived in the tunnel under the expressway between
haymarket and the north end ... where i was living.

i always had a camera with me, but i never made a photograph of them. instead
every day as i passed, they asked me for money for a "cup of coffee" or " a bite to eat"
and every day i gave them nearly my whole lunch:
2 of my 3 sandwiches, and fruit.
( and i wonder why i lost weight that year.)
people on their daily commute looked at me like i was part of the problem.
at least i did something i thought ...

maybe you should stop and give the guy you photographed some lunch or breakfast or dinner someday.

images like this open our eyes to a problem we try to ignore, but
DOING SOMETHING might have more impact on his life and your own.
i am sure he would appreciate it seeing he is living life on the edge.

tough image, honest and straight fowards. I do not like the car on the right and might have focused more on the face and less on the garbage (to humanize him somewhat). The photo seems a bit distant in nature, maybe that is the idea behind the photograph.

There's no compassion here at all. Stephen, why are you trying to spin it any other way? The lens doesn't lie, nor does the fact that it was cropped to bring it closer than you chose to bring yourself. Zero connection, distance all the way through. Do you not ask yourself what effect you might have had on the guy in just taking this photo, let alone posting it?

It angers me that you're trying to parallel that shot by Tom Stoddart with your own contribution here. There's a world of difference between your approach and his. His approach was being there for purposes of documenting a dire situation. It required closeness, compassion, and communication. He didn't just shoot the photograph and hop in his car - and it wasn't just that shot, there are others from the same center.

Seriously, it's a sad photo. I don't know why you post it nor why you try to justify it. Let the guy have his dignity - he's living in the damn trash, man.

I too am very uncomfortable with this picture and feel there is a disconnect between the photographers' (genuine) intentions and the actual picture. To me this picture feels exploitative and degrading, and the feeling of 'grab and run' is strong...

I do think it is valid to take photos that are uncomfortable and show the awful reality of many folks lives however. This can be done in a way which respects dignity, rather than treats the person as an 'object' to make a point through. It's a really difficult line to walk, but I think this picture falls on the wrong side of that line.

Cheers,
Gavin